Jack Suwinski hit a solo homer and Nick Gonzales singled in two runs as the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Chicago Cubs 3-2 on Sunday to take three of four games in the series.
Mitch Keller (5-3) allowed two runs on two hits to go along with three walks and three strikeouts over six innings. Colin Holderman and Aroldis Chapman each pitched a scoreless inning before David Bednar worked around a two-out walk in the ninth for his 10th save.
Chicago was outhit 10-2 and lost for the fifth time in its past seven games. The Cubs have lost back-to-back series for the first time this season.
Jared Triolo, Andrew McCutchen and Gonzales each had two hits for Pittsburgh. The Pirates won despite going 1-for-17 with runners in scoring position.
Suwinski homered against Jameson Taillon (3-2) with one out in the second inning to give the Pirates an early lead. The home run was Suwinski’s fourth of his career against Taillon.
Chicago pulled even in the third inning when Mike Tauchman hit a one-out triple and scored on Seiya Suzuki’s sacrifice fly.
Taillon was replaced by Hayden Wesneski with two runners on and two outs in the fifth inning. After Connor Joe walked to load the bases, Gonzales drove in two runs with a single to center field.
Taillon yielded three runs on six hits over 4 2/3 innings. He walked two and struck out four.
The Cubs cut the deficit to 3-2 with a run in the sixth inning. Suzuki was hit by a pitch to begin the frame, advanced to third on Cody Bellinger’s double and scored on Christopher Morel’s sacrifice fly.
Bellinger was stranded at second base after Ian Happ and Michael Busch each flied out.
Pittsburgh threatened to add to its lead with two runners on and no outs in the eighth inning, but Ben Brown retired the next three batters in order to escape the jam.
–Field Level Media
