Pro Sports

Cubs crushed 12-1 in Pittsburgh

Posted June 20, 2022 1:00 am

By JOHN PERROTTO Associated Press

Pittsburgh Pirates' Oneil Cruz, left, scores ahead of the throw to Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras on a sacrifice fly by Hoy Park during the second inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Monday, June 20, 2022. Associated Press

PITTSBURGH - Newly promoted Oneil Cruz drove in 4 runs and Bligh Madris got 3 hits in his major league debut, sparking the Pirates to a 12-1 romp over the Cubs on Monday night.

Both Pittsburgh rookies were called up from Triple-A Indianapolis earlier in the day and delivered right away.

The Pirates took advantage of 5 walks by Cubs rookie Caleb Kilian (0-2), who was tagged for 7 runs in 2⅓ innings. Kilian was making his third career start.

The Cubs scored their lone run in the seventh on Ian Happ's single. Happ, Rafael Ortega and Nico Hoerner had 2 hits apiece.

Cruz, considered Pittsburgh's top prospect, hit a 3-run double to deep center field that capped a 4-run third inning to push the Pirates' lead to 7-0. He was playing in the third big league game of his career.

The 6-foot-7 Cruz also hit an RBI single in a 5-run seventh as the Pirates set a season high for runs. He started the final two games of last season when he became the tallest shortstop in major league history.

Madris hit a 2-run single in the second inning in his first MLB at-bat. The outfielder keyed a 3-run inning that included the first of Hoy Park's 2 sacrifice flies.

Madris became the first Pirates player to have a 3-hit game in his debut since Jason Kendall in 1996.

JT Brubaker (1-7) pitched 6 scoreless innings for his first win since last Aug. 24, a span of 14 starts.

Brubaker scattered 5 hits while striking out 5 and walking three. He has a 2.65 ERA in his last six starts.

Daniel Vogelbach hit a 2-run double in the Pirates' big seventh inning and Tyler Heineman's RBI double made it 12-1.

Both teams came into Monday having lost 11 of their last 13 games.

Squirrel delay:

The game was delayed for a few minutes in the bottom of the second inning when a squirrel ran on to the field.

The squirrel appeared to enter from along the stands on the third base side. He then scampered into the left field corner.

Three members of the grounds crew were able to coax the critter into exiting the field through the bullpen gate.

Pittsburgh Pirates' Bligh Madris (66) singles off Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Caleb Kilian, driving in two runs during the second inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Monday, June 20, 2022. Associated Press

Pittsburgh Pirates' Oneil Cruz, second from right, stands for the singing of the national anthem before a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in Pittsburgh, Monday, June 20, 2022. Associated Press

A squirrel eludes capture as it scampers around left field of PNC Park during a baseball game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Chicago Cubs in Pittsburgh, Monday, June 20, 2022. Associated Press

Pittsburgh Pirates' Bligh Madris (66) is greeted at the dugout steps by manager Derek Shelton, center, after driving in two runs with a single off Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Caleb Kilian, during the second inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Monday, June 20, 2022. Associated Press

Pittsburgh Pirates' Oneil Cruz takes the field for a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in Pittsburgh, Monday, June 20, 2022. Associated Press

Pittsburgh Pirates Oneil Cruz doubles off Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Caleb Kilian, driving in three runs, during the third inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Monday, June 20, 2022. Associated Press

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Caleb Kilian, center, hands the ball to manager David Ross during a pitching change in the third inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh, Monday, June 20, 2022. Associated Press

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