Russell, Ross, Bryant Homer To Lead Cubs Past Pirates
CHICAGO (AP) — Addison Russell, David Ross and Kris Bryant homered, leading Jason Hammel and the Chicago Cubs over the Pittsburgh Pirates, 9-4, on Friday.
The Cubs stopped their first losing streak of the season — it was a two-game skid, both in a doubleheader sweep by San Diego on Wednesday. Chicago leads the majors with a 26-8 record.
Russell and Ross connected for three-run shots and Bryant hit a two-run drive. That was plenty for Hammel (5-0), who struck out a season-best eight over 6 2/3 innings, giving up one earned run and eight hits.
It marked the 42nd straight regular season game a Cubs starter went at least five innings, the team's longest such streak since 1910.
Francisco Liriano (3-2) surrendered all three Cubs homers in 4 2/3 innings. Andrew McCutchen had three hits, including a two-run homer in the ninth as the Pirates fell eight games behind the Cubs in the NL Central.
Hammel is the last Cubs starter who failed to go five innings — on Sept. 26 when he lasted four in a 4-0 loss to the Pirates.
The Cubs had gone 17 innings with scoring until Russell hit a slider into the left-field bleachers in the fourth.
Bryant and Ross homered in the fifth with the wind blowing out to chase Liriano. The Pirates had won all but two of his previous 23 starts and Liriano was 4-1 in his last five starts at Wrigley Field.
Pittsburgh scored two in the sixth on Ross' throwing error and Francisco Cervelli's infield single.
McCutchen homered to left off Trevor Cahill and extended his hitting streak to seven games. He also singled and doubled for the Pirates, who have been outscored 29-9 while going 0-4 against the Cubs.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Pirates: LHP Cory Luebke (hamstring) allowed one run and one hit while getting four outs in consecutive rehab appearances for Triple-A Indianapolis this week.
Cubs: Manager Joe Maddon said C Miguel Montero (back) would be activated off the disabled list "any day now." . LHP Zac Rosscup, on the 60-day DL, had shoulder surgery and won't throw for three months. . RHP Andury Acevedo, on the 40-man roster, tore his left ACL at Double-A Tennessee and is out for the season.
DEFENDING SOLER
Jorge Soler went 1 for 3 with a walk and a run scored for the Cubs after Maddon and baseball operations chief Theo Epstein defended the 24-year-old Cuban.
Soler went 1 for 8 with four strikeouts in Wednesday's doubleheader to drop his average to .175.
"I have a lot of faith in this kid," Maddon said.
Soler was an unexpected star of last year's postseason, hitting .474 with three homers.
UP NEXT
Cubs RHP Jake Arrieta (6-0, 1.13 ERA) seeks to win his 18th straight decision on Saturday. Arrieta, who last took a loss on July 25, has lasted only five innings in two of his past three starts since his no-hitter against Cincinnati. LHP Jeff Locke (1-2, 4.68) starts for the Pirates.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.
