Chi. Cubs 9, Pittsburgh 8
When: 7:05 PM ET, Tuesday, April 21, 2015
Where: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Temperature:
55°
Umpires:
Home -
Joe West, 1B -
Gabe Morales, 2B -
Kerwin Danley, 3B -
D.J. Reyburn
Attendance:
13680
By The Sports Xchange
PITTSBURGH -- Starlin Castro hit a tying two-run single then Welington Castillo drove in the winning run with a ground out in a three-run ninth inning Tuesday night as the Chicago Cubs rallied for a 9-8 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates and closer Mark Melancon.
With the Cubs down 8-6, first baseman Anthony Rizzo led off the ninth with a single and went to third on right fielder Jorge Soler's double. Rookie third baseman Kris Bryant walked to load the bases and Castro, the three-time All-Star shortstop, then bounced a two-run single over third baseman Josh Harrison's head.
Castillo, the Cubs' third-string catcher, then bounced out to second on a high chopper that enabled Bryant to score and pin Melancon (0-1) with his first blown save in three opportunities. The right-hander's ERA rose to 8.53.
Castro led the Cubs' 12-hit attack by going 3-for-4 with his second home run and four RBIs.
Castillo also hit his second homer and had two hits and two RBIs along with Bryant, who is 8-for-14 in his last four games after going 0-for-4 in his much-ballyhooed debut last Friday. Soler, who ran his hitting streak to eight games, and Rizzo also had two hits.
Castillo's homer drew the Cubs within 8-6 in the eighth inning after Castro's homer had put ahead 4-2 lead in the sixth.
The rally made a winner of right-hander Edwin Jackson, who pitched one scoreless inning of relief. Closer Hector Rondon pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his third save.
Rookie shortstop Jung Ho Kang had given the Pirates an 8-5 lead with a three-run double in the seventh inning, which were the first three RBIs of his MLB career. The hit came after Cubs manager Joe Maddon intentionally walked left fielder Starling Marte, who hit his fourth home run in five games in the second inning, with runners on first and third to face Kang.
Kang entered the game hitting .077 while becoming first native South Korean to make the transition from the Korean Baseball Organization to the major leagues, but went 2-for-4. Marte and catcher Francisco Cervelli each had two hits and two RBIs.
Marte hit an RBI single and Cervelli had a two-run double in a three-run sixth that put the Pirates briefly ahead, 5-4.
The Cubs tied it in the top of the seventh as Soler scored from third base when Harrison booted Castro's two-out grounder for an error.
Both lefty starters allowed three runs in five innings. The Pirates' Francisco Liriano gave up three hits, walked two and struck out nine while the Cubs' Travis Wood surrendered four hits with two walks and five hits.
The Cubs scored twice in the third inning to pull in front 3-2.
Center fielder Dexter Fowler scored from third base when Pirates first baseman Corey Hart misplayed Bryant's grounder for an error. Castro followed with an RBI single.
The Pirates used a pair of solo home runs to build a 2-1 lead. Harrison connected for his second to lead off the bottom of the first inning, and Marte started the second with his fifth of the season and fourth in the past five games.
Bryant doubled home the game's first run in the top of the first.
NOTES: The Cubs selected the contract of INF Addison Russell from Triple-A Iowa and optioned INF/OF Arismendy Alcantara to the same club. ... 3B Mike Olt (broken right wrist) was transferred from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day DL to open a 40-man roster spot for Russell. ... Pirates SS Jordy Mercer sat out a second straight game with a bruised chest. ... Pittsburgh RHP Charlie Morton, who is returning from right hip surgery, will throw a 65-pitch simulated game Thursday at extended spring training, then will begin a rehab assignment with one of the organization's farm clubs.
Top Game Performances
Team Stats Summary
| Team |
Hits |
HR |
TB |
Avg |
LOB |
K |
RBI |
BB |
SB |
Errors |
| Chi. Cubs
|
12 |
2 |
21 |
.300 |
21 |
14 |
8 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
| Pittsburgh
|
9 |
2 |
16 |
.257 |
14 |
8 |
8 |
4 |
0 |
2 |
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