Pro Sports

Pirates beat Cubs 8-6 as Chicago's skid reaches seven games

Posted September 28, 2021 7:00 am

By JOHN PERROTTO

Pittsburgh Pirates' Colin Moran (19) hits a three-run home run off Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Alec Mills in the first inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) The Associated Press

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Colin Moran hit a three-run homer and drove in four runs as the Pittsburgh Pirates dealt the Cubs their seventh straight loss, rallying to beat Chicago 8-6 on Tuesday night.

Moran's homer, his 10th of the season, to deep center field in the first inning opened the scoring. The Pirates scored four runs in the sixth to move ahead 7-6. Moran singled home an insurance run in the seventh.

Bryan Reynolds had three hits and scored three times for Pittsburgh, which won for the second time in six games. His single started the sixth-inning rally.

Moran had two hits and drew two walks, and Jacob Stallings also had two hits for the Pirates.

Chicago's Nick Martini went 4 for 4 with two RBIs. Frank Schwindel, Matt Duffy and Austin Romine had two hits apiece.

Down 6-3, the Pirates rallied in the sixth inning. Ben Gamel's sacrifice fly made it a two-run game, and Hoy Park drove a tying two-run triple to center field. Pinch-hitter Michael Chavis singled in Park with the go-ahead run.

Enyel De Los Santos (2-1) pitched one scoreless inning for his first win since the Pirates claimed him off waivers from Philadelphia earlier this month. Adam Morgan (1-1) took the loss.

Chris Stratton worked a scoreless ninth inning for his seventh save, as the Pirates snapped a seven-game losing streak to the Cubs.

Both starting pitchers were roughed up. Pittsburgh's Mitch Keller was tagged for six runs in four innings, and Chicago's Alec Mills gave up six runs in five innings.

The Cubs went ahead 6-3 with three runs off Keller in the fifth. Ian Happ hit an RBI single, Duffy doubled in a run and Martini lifted a sacrifice fly.

After Moran put the Pirates ahead 3-0, the Cubs tied it with a three-run third that included run-scoring singles by Schwindel, Duffy and Martini.

Cubs: RF Jason Heyward will miss the remainder of the season. He has been sidelined since Sept. 12 with a concussion. '¦ C Willson Contreras (wrist soreness) was not in the lineup, but pinch-hit in the ninth inning and grounded out to end the game. '¦ Rookie RHP Keegan Thompson (right shoulder inflammation) was placed on the 10-day injured list, ending his season, and RHP Jason Adam was recalled from Triple-A Iowa.

Pirates: Stallings was reinstated from the seven-day concussion IL and Chavis (right elbow strain) was activated from the 10-day IL. '¦ RHP Connor Overton (right shoulder strain) was placed on the 10-day IL '¦ C Taylor Davis was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis.

UP NEXT

The Pirates are expected to call up RHP Roansy Contreras from Indianapolis to start Wednesday night and make his major league debut. RHP Kyle Hendricks (14-7, 4.81), who is winless in his last six starts, will pitch for the Cubs.

___

More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Pittsburgh Pirates' Colin Moran (19) is greeted by Bryan Reynolds (10) and Kevin Newman after hitting a three-run home run off Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Alec Mills in the first inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) The Associated Press

Pittsburgh Pirates' Jacob Stallings (58) scores the second of two runs on a tripe by Hoy Park off Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Adam Morgan during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) The Associated Press

Chicago Cubs' Matt Duffy singles off Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Mitch Keller, driving in a run, during the third inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) The Associated Press

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Alec Mills delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) The Associated Press

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Mitch Keller (23) waits to hand the ball to manager Derek Shelton and leave the game, during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) The Associated Press

Pittsburgh Pirates' Hoy Park, center, kneels on third base after driving in two runs with a triple off Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Adam Morgan during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) The Associated Press

Pittsburgh Pirates' Michael Chavis singles off Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Adam Morgan, driving in a run, during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) The Associated Press

Article Comments

Article Comments

Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.