A PNC Park crowd finally got to boo Jake Arrieta as he walked off the field, and not because he was succeeding.
Everyone around here would have preferred it happened last October, but, at least Friday night, for the first time in a little while, it felt like exciting things were happening at the ballpark.
David Freese and Sean Rodriguez blasted early home runs off the suddenly mortal Arrieta, then the persistent Pirates fought back to retake the lead in the late innings and beat the Cubs, 8-4.
Staked to a 3-0 lead -- Freese hit a solo homer just above the Clemente Wall and inside the foul pole and Rodriguez had a little more impressive two-run shot to left -- Francisco Liriano was good enough, working through a couple walk-induced jams.