Pine-Richland's Blake Lalli to Play Ball for Cubs This Weekend in Pittsburgh

Chicago Cubs catcher Blake Lalli—a Pine-Richland baseball star—is in town this weekend to play against the team he grew up cheering.

The rookie catcher was called up last Friday from Triple-A Iowa to play for the Cubs. This weekend the Cubs take on the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park, where Lalli's former PR teammate, Neil Walker, plays second base.

Lalli grew up cheering on the Pirates.

"His parents would take him to Three Rivers Stadium to watch Bobby Bonilla, Andy Van Slyke and Barry Bonds, who were his favorite players," according to an article on the Chicago Cubs website."He also went to lots of games at PNC Park as a fan."

The Cubs lost to the Pirates, 1-0, Friday in the opener of a three-game series against the Pirates. Lalli did not play.

The Cubs needed Lalli, who turned 29 on May 12, after losing three catchers to injuries in a short stretch of days, the Chicago Cubs website article states.

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