Bryant Hits 2 HRs, Rizzo Connects Too In Cubs' 6-1 Win Over Pirates
CHICAGO (AP) — Kris Bryant hit two homers and drove in four runs, Anthony Rizzo went deep and the Chicago Cubs beat the Pittsburgh Pirates, 6-1, on Friday.
Rizzo chased Trevor Williams with a two-run drive in the fourth that made it 3-0.
Bryant hit a solo shot against Jhan Marinez in the sixth that cleared the left-field bleachers and added a two-run drive in the eighth off Antonio Bastardo. He also had an RBI triple and finished with four hits, helping Chicago start the weekend series on a winning note after dropping six of nine.
Both teams committed three errors and wasted some big scoring opportunities in the early going. Chicago was 2 of 13 with runners in scoring position, while Pirates were 1 for 11.
The Cubs stranded seven through the first three innings before grabbing a 3-0 lead in the fourth.
Ben Zobrist singled with two outs and Bryant ripped a triple past third baseman Josh Harrison. Rizzo then drove a 2-2 pitch to a party deck in right, giving him 20 homers before the All-Star break for the third time in his career.
That was it for Williams (3-4), who threw 98 pitches and gave up six hits.
Bryant made it 4-0 in the sixth with a drive that sailed just past the lower corner of the video board and the outstretched arm of a fan in the back row of the left-field bleachers. His shot in the eighth gave him three multi-homer games this season and 10 in his career.
Chicago's Eddie Butler left after hitting Harrison with a pitch leading off the fifth. He allowed four hits and walked three.
Carl Edwards Jr. (3-1) threw 1 2/3 innings. Pedro Strop gave up an RBI single to Josh Bell in the seventh. But Koji Uehara retired the side in the eighth, and Wade Davis worked the ninth.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Cubs: RHP Kyle Hendricks (right hand tendinitis) threw 35 pitches in a bullpen session on Friday. Depending on how he feels on Saturday, the Cubs will decide when he goes on a minor league rehab assignment.
UP NEXT
Cubs RHP Jake Arrieta (8-6, 4.33 ERA) looks to build on his strongest start of the season, while the Pirates go with RHP Ivan Nova (8-6, 3.24) as Chicago and Pittsburgh continue their weekend series. Arrieta tossed one-hit ball over seven scoreless innings in a win at Cincinnati on Sunday.
Copyright 2017 The Associated Press.