Pirates Use 5-Run 7th To Rally Past Cubs
CHICAGO (AP) — Pedro Alvarez hit a three-run homer to cap a five-run seventh inning and Jason Grilli retired Emilio Bonifacio on a bases-loaded grounder to end the game, giving the Pittsburgh Pirates a 5-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Thursday.
The Pirates trailed 4-0 heading into the seventh, but two big drives changed things.
Pinch hitter Travis Snider cut the deficit in half with a two-run homer off Brian Schlitter. Alvarez put Pittsburgh ahead with his three-run drive against James Russell (0-1).
Chicago threatened in the bottom of the ninth before Grilli retired Bonifacio on a grounder to first. The Pirates took two of three at Wrigley Field.
That gave the Pirates their third series win — the most for them to start the season since the 1992 team took its first six.
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