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Rookies Madris, Contreras lead Pirates to 7-1 win over Cubs

Posted June 21, 2022 7:00 am

By JOHN PERROTTO

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Roansy Contreras delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, June 21, 2022. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) The Associated Press

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Bligh Madris hit his first major league home run and fellow rookie Roansy Contreras pitched five solid innings to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 7-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday night.

Madris connected in the sixth for a solo shot to right-center field off Mark Leiter Jr. to close the scoring. It came a day after Madris had three hits in his big league debut.

'œIt's been really special,'ť Madris said. 'œI don't think anyone can imagine exactly what it's going to be like when you come to the big leagues. So, I think it's pretty unexpected to think it's going to be like this. I'm just going out there and trying to help the team win, but it's been a pretty special two days. You really couldn't draw it up like this.'ť

Contreras (2-1) allowed one run and four hits while striking out three and walking two. He had given up four runs in each of his previous two starts.

He got through a 32-pitch first inning without allowing a run.

'œFor young pitchers, they can let that unravel when they don't have their best stuff, and he still was able to go out and execute pitches, get us through five, was able to spot his fastball,'ť Pittsburgh manager Derek Shelton said. 'œFor a 22-year-old, it's only going to move upward from there.'ť

Anthony Banda, Chris Stratton and rookie Yerry De Los Santos combined for four scoreless innings of relief.

Michael Perez also homered for the Pirates, and Daniel Vogelbach went 2 for 2 with two walks and two RBIs. Pittsburgh won its third straight game after losing 11 of 12.

'œWhen I feel I'm at my best is when I'm walking and I'm hitting at the same time because I'm a believer that walking is hitting,'ť Vogelbach said. 'œSometimes, you can't control whether they throw you strikes. All you can control is when they throw it over the plate, you've got to hit it hard.'ť

Cubs rookie Matt Swarmer (1-3) permitted five runs - four earned - and five hits in four innings while losing his third straight start. He had five strikeouts and two walks.

'œIt looked like they were all over his stuff,'ť Chicago manager David Ross said.

Jason Heyward had two hits for the Cubs, who lost for the 13th time in 15 games. Patrick Wisdom accounted for their lone run with a 461-foot leadoff homer into the bullpens in center field leading off the fourth inning.

Wisdom's drive came after the Pirates scored in each of the first three innings to take a 5-0 lead.

Ke'Bryan Hayes led off the first with a triple and scored on Bryan Reynolds' sacrifice fly. Perez homered in the second, then Vogelbach and Oneil Cruz hit RBI singles in the third. Another run scored in the inning on catcher Willson Contreras' throwing error.

A run-scoring double by Vogelbach in the fifth made it 6-1.

ROSTER MOVES

The Cubs optioned rookie right-hander Caleb Kilian to Triple-A Iowa and recalled Leiter from the same club. Kilian was 0-2 with a 10.32 ERA in his first three career starts.

Left-hander Sean Newcomb was sent outright to Iowa after clearing waivers. He has until Wednesday to accept or decline the assignment.

The Pirates acquired left-handed reliever Eric Stout from the Cubs for cash and assigned him to Triple-A Indianapolis. Pittsburgh opened a spot on the 40-man roster by transferring OF Jake Marisnick from the injured list to the COVID-19 IL.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Cubs: RHP Marcus Stroman (right shoulder inflammation) threw his first bullpen since going on the injured list June 9.

Pirates: LF Ben Gamel (strained left hamstring) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment with Indianapolis on Wednesday.

UP NEXT

Cubs: RHP Keegan Thompson (6-2, 3.27 ERA) will start Wednesday night. He pitched six scoreless innings against Atlanta in a no-decision last outing after getting tagged for 12 runs over 3 2/3 innings in his two previous starts combined.

Pirates: RHP Jerad Eickhoff will be called up from Indianapolis, where he is 4-3 with 4.84 ERA in 13 games, including six starts. The 31-year-old has pitched in the major leagues with Texas, Philadelphia and the New York Mets.

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Pittsburgh Pirates' Michael Perez celebrates as he crosses home plate after hitting a solo home run off Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Matt Swarmer during the second inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, June 21, 2022. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) The Associated Press

Pittsburgh Pirates' Bligh Madris (66) rounds third to get a high five from third base coach Mike Rabelo after hitting a solo home run off Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Mark Leiter Jr. during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, June 21, 2022. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) The Associated Press

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Matt Swarmer, right, gets a visit from pitching coach Tommy Hottovy, left, during the third inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, June 21, 2022. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) The Associated Press

Pittsburgh Pirates' Oneil Cruz singles off Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Matt Swarmer, driving in a run, during the third inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, June 21, 2022. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) The Associated Press

Pittsburgh Pirates' Bligh Madris (66) celebrates after hitting a solo home run off Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Mark Leiter Jr. during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, June 21, 2022. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) The Associated Press

Pittsburgh Pirates' Oneil Cruz loses his grip on his bat during the third inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, June 21, 2022. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) The Associated Press

Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton, left, greets Ke'Bryan Hayes (13) as he returns to the dugout after scoring on a sacrifice fly by Bryan Reynolds off Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Matt Swarmer during the first inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, June 21, 2022. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) The Associated Press

Chicago Cubs' Patrick Wisdom (16) celebrates with third base coach Willie Harris as he rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run off Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Roansy Contreras during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, June 21, 2022. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) The Associated Press

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Matt Swarmer delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, June 21, 2022. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) The Associated Press

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