Chicago Cubs vs Pittsburgh Pirates Match Player Stats On Sep 07, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Sep 7, 2017

PITTSBURGH -- Albert Almora Jr. hit a two-run homer, and Ian Happ had three hits Thursday night as the Chicago Cubs walloped the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-2 at PNC Park.

Pittsburgh (67-74) won the first two games of the four-game series by a combined 16-3 before the Cubs (77-63) forged a series tie.

Chicago, which pounded out 13 hits Thursday, scored a run in each of the first four innings, then scored two in the fifth for a 6-1 lead. Almora's homer made it 8-1 in the seventh.

Pittsburgh added a run in the eighth on Jordan Luplow's RBI double.

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo went 2-for-2 with two runs, two RBIs and two walks.

Cubs left-hander Jon Lester (10-7), in his second start after coming off the disabled list, gave up one run and five hits in six innings. He walked four and struck out five.

Pittsburgh starter Jameson Taillon (7-6) had a rocky outing, giving up six runs and 11 hits in 4 2/3 innings, with one walk and three strikeouts. Taillon hasn't won since Aug. 11 but was coming off a no-decision against Cincinnati in which he pitched six scoreless innings.

Chicago got the leadoff batter on base in four of the five innings Taillon started.

In the first, Happ singled to right, went to third on Kris Bryant's double off the wall in right and scored on Rizzo's sacrifice fly.

The Cubs made it 2-0 when Javier Baez led off the second with a double to the corner in left, went to third on a grounder and scored on Rene Rivera's sacrifice bunt. Taillon fielded the bunt but twisted his body awkwardly and stumbled a bit as he turned to make the throw to first. He was briefly seen by a trainer.

Happ led off the third with a double high off the wall in right, and an out later, scored on Rizzo's single up the middle for a 3-0 lead.

Pittsburgh scored in the third to make it 3-1. Starling Marte and Max Moroff walked and moved up on Andrew McCutchen's groundout. Marte scored on Josh Bell's groundout.

Chicago increased its lead to 4-1 in the fourth on Lester's RBI double after back-to-back, one-out singles by Jason Heyward and Rivera.

In the fifth, Baez drove in a run with a sacrifice bunt and Heyward rapped an RBI double for a 6-1 lead as Chicago chased Taillon.

NOTES: The start was delayed 53 minutes by rain. ... Pittsburgh RHP George Kontos (groin) was reinstated from the disabled list. ... Pittsburgh RF Gregory Polanco (hamstring) and UT Adam Frazier (hamstring) could come off the DL on Friday for the series opener at St. Louis, manager Clint Hurdle said. ... Chicago begins an important NL Central series Friday against Milwaukee. RHP John Lackey (11-10, 4.74 ERA) faces the Brewers RHP Jimmy Nelson (11-6, 3.59 ERA) in the opener.