MLB Opening Day: Neil Walker's walk-off gives Pittsburgh Pirates 1-0 victory over Chicago Cubs

MLB Opening Day: Neil Walker’s walk-off gives Pittsburgh Pirates 1-0 victory over Chicago Cubs

Mar 31, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Jordy Mercer (10) congratulates second baseman Neil Walker (right) after Walker hit a walk-off home run against the Chicago Cubs during the tenth inning of an opening day baseball game at PNC Park. The Pirates won 1-0 in ten innings. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

The Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates kicked off the MLB’s official opening day by partaking in a pitchers’ duel at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on Monday afternoon.

Veteran pitcher Francisco Liriano pitched allowed no runs on just four hits and three walks while striking out 10 for the Pirates while Jeff Samardzija threw seven scoreless innings, allowing just five hits and two walks while striking out three.

The two teams completed nine innings without a run being scored.

After the Cubs were sat down in order (well, kind of, Emilio Bonifacio, who finished the day going 4-5 at the plate, singled, but was picked off) by Bryan Morris in the top of 10th, the Cubs brought in Carlos Villanueva to face Neil Walker.

Walker took Villanueva deep to right, giving the Pirates a 1-0 victory on opening day.

It was Walker’s only hit of the day.

Villanueva took the loss for the Cubs while Morris picked up the win.

Home/Chicago Cubs