Despite struggling with his pitches, rookie pitcher Jared Jones showcased resilience, holding the Pittsburgh Pirates in contention with yet another solid performance.
However, the Chicago Cubs dashed any hopes of a Pirates comeback with a decisive four-run surge in the seventh inning, sealing a 7-2 victory at PNC Park on Friday evening.
Hunter Stratton took the mound in the seventh, only to concede four runs on four hits and a walk. Christopher Morel kickstarted the Cubs’ offensive onslaught with a timely single, followed by an RBI double from Ian Happ. Nick Madrigal then sealed the deal with a two-run single, extending the Cubs’ lead to 7-2.
In a pivotal moment, Nick Gonzales, just back from a recall, delivered a clutch one-out single with the bases loaded, propelling the Pirates to a fleeting 2-1 lead.
Despite Gonzales’s heroics, the Pirates struggled to capitalize with runners in scoring position, managing only one hit in 12 at-bats.
Andrew McCutchen came close to shifting the tide in the bottom of the ninth with a potential two-run homer, only to be denied by a stellar defensive play from Happ in left field.
The Pirates held onto their slim lead until the fifth inning when Cody Bellinger’s well-placed hit to right field, combined with a precise relay from Bryan Reynolds and Oneil Cruz, allowed Nico Hoerner to score, tying the game at 2-2.
Bellinger had earlier given the Cubs a 1-0 lead in the first inning with a solo home run off Jones. His impressive performance, just a triple shy of the cycle, fueled the Cubs’ offensive charge.
The Cubs surged ahead 3-2 in the sixth inning courtesy of Miguel Amaya’s clutch two-out single.
Despite the loss, Jones showcased promise, pitching six innings and conceding only three runs, with seven hits, two walks, and four strikeouts.
Ben Brown secured his maiden major-league victory with a standout relief performance for the Cubs.
On the offensive front, Cruz stood out, going 2 for 3 with a double and a walk, marking his third multi-hit game in the last four outings.
