Cole, McCutchen Lead Pirates Past Cubs, 8-1
CHICAGO (AP) — Gerrit Cole allowed three hits over six innings, Andrew McCutchen had a two-run triple and the Pittsburgh Pirates posted an 8-1 victory Wednesday night, salvaging the finale of the three-game series and snapping the Chicago Cubs' four-game winning streak.
McCutchen, who went 2 for 5, recorded the 1,00th hit of his career with an eighth-inning single.
Starling Marte and Jung Ho Kang had two RBIs each for the Pirates, with Jordy Mercer driving in a run.
Cole (4-0) allowed an unearned run in six innings, striking out eight and lowering his ERA to 1.76. The right-hander is 6-0 in six career starts against the Cubs.
Miguel Montero went 3 for 4 and drove in Chicago's lone run.
Chicago's Kyle Hendricks (0-1) allowed two runs and five hits in five innings.
The Cubs took a 1-0 lead in the second with the unearned run. Kris Bryant led off with a walk and advanced to second when first baseman Pedro Alvarez missed a pickoff throw from Cole. Bryant scored on a single by Montero.
Pittsburgh tied the score in the fourth on an RBI single from Kang and went ahead in the fifth when Marte drew a two-out walk with the bases loaded after falling behind 0-2.
The Pirates broke the game open in the sixth by scoring four runs off reliever Gonzalez Germen. All the runs came with two outs. Mercer drove in the first with a single — after Gregory Polanco was walked intentionally to put runners on first and second — and McCutchen followed with a two-run triple to deep center. Marte then drove in McCutchen with a single to make it 6-1.
Before that hit McCutchen was batting just .171.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Pirates: Polanco (tight left groin) was back in the lineup after not starting Tuesday. Manager Clint Hurdle said Polanco "came in (Wednesday), said he felt like he was ready to go."
Cubs: RHP Justin Grimm (forearm inflammation) threw a bullpen session on Tuesday. "He felt good and tentatively he's going to throw in a game — whether it's a simulated game or a game at extended (spring training) Friday or over the weekend," GM Jed Hoyer said.
UP NEXT
Pirates: The road trip moves on to St. Louis where they open a three-game series against the Cardinals on Friday, with A.J. Burnett (1-0. 1.80) set to start the opener.
Cubs: Following a day off on Thursday, they host the struggling Milwaukee Brewers for a three-game series starting Friday. Jon Lester (0-2, 6.23) pitches the opener.
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