Suzuki hits another gear as Cubs beat Pirates

Maybe it's too early in the season to call the Cubs a one-man team.

But they certainly were a one-man offense on Tuesday in Pittsburgh. Outfielder Seiya Suzuki belted 2 home runs and the Cubs beat the Pirates 2-1.

Suzuki accomplished quite a milestone. According to STATS, he's the only player to record 8 RBI and 4 walks in his first four games as a major leaguer since 1920, when the RBI became an official stat.

"He's good. It's not rocket science," bench coach Andy Green told reporters after the game. "He can flat-out swing the bat."

Green filled in for manager David Ross, who served a one-game suspension stemming from Kegan Thompson hitting Milwaukee's Andrew McCutchen over the weekend. Thompson appealed his three-game suspension, so he was available to play Tuesday, but did not take the mound.

Back to Suzuki, who is now 5-for-12 at the plate with 3 home runs, 8 RBI and 4 walks in four games. He doesn't chase bad pitches and can hit the good ones a long way.

Suzuki broke a scoreless tie in the fifth inning against former Cubs lefty Jose Quintana. He made it 2-0 in the seventh off reliever Anthony Banda.

"Really special, unbelievable," teammate Ian Happ said of Suzuki. "I think just his plate discipline's probably been the most impressive thing for me. Not chasing out of the zone, seeing a bunch of pitches. Then that oppo homer, that was really impressive for where that pitch was, to get that out to right-center. He's been awesome and I think more to come."

Through his translator, Suzuki told reporters some Cubs are trying to learn Japanese words so they can better communicate with their new teammate. But it's a tough task

"Seeing them do that for me, it just means a lot for me, and I want to win as many games as possible with them," Suzuki said. "Everyone is relatively very bad at Japanese."

Green talked about how well Suzuki adapted to his new home, despite a shortened spring training due to the lockout.

"He's been a great teammate, a blast to have around," Green said. "The guys absolutely love him. The group's bonded quickly. They like each other. You're talking about 14 free agents coming in, half your team's brand new from others clubs and you have three weeks and you don't get to talk to anybody in the offseason and you watch them gel this quickly as a group and enjoy each other, it's a credit to the quality of people they are and the quality of leadership Rossy provides."

Of course, the Cubs (3-1) also pitched well. Lefthander Drew Smyly tossed 5 scoreless inning in his Cubs debut. Chris Martin, Ethan Roberts, Mychal Givens and David Robertson followed from the bullpen. The Pirates scored their lone run on a homer by Bryan Reynolds in the eighth off Givens.

"As a pitcher, that's kind of your goal every game to get ahead early and often and kind of put them in defense mode," Smyly said. "And we've all been doing that. I try to pride myself in not walking people and just make the fielders behind you make the play."

Shortstop Nico Hoerner had the defensive play of the game in the third inning. He went deep into the hole to field a grounder and made a jump throw to get Ke'Bryan Hayes at first. The Pirates wasted a leadoff double in that inning.

"I thought he was going to put it in his back pocket, then he jumped up and threw it," Smyly said. "And Hayes is not slow, so for him to make that play, that was incredible. I think that was a big turning point for me just to get that out."

Cubs starting pitchers have combined to post an 0.89 ERA in the opening four games and the defense has yet to commit an error this season. Kyle Hendricks will make his second start of the year Wednesday.

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