Ian Happ helps Cubs slip past Pirates to take series

[April 05, 2021]  Ian Happ hit a solo homer, walked twice and scored a pair of runs Sunday in the Chicago Cubs' 4-3 win over the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates.

Kris Bryant was 2-for-3 with an RBI single, a walk and a run scored for the Cubs, who took two of three in the season-opening series.

Pittsburgh's Colin Moran hit a two-run homer and a double, and Phillip Evans had an RBI single for the Pirates.

Zach Davies (1-0), making his Cubs debut, pitched 5 2/3 innings, giving up two runs and four hits, with three walks and five strikeouts.

Craig Kimbrel pitched a perfect ninth for his first save, striking out two.

Pittsburgh starter Mitch Keller (0-1) gave up three runs and two hits with four walks and four strikeouts in throwing 77 pitches over three innings.

The Pirates played without touted rookie third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes, who was placed on the 10-day IL because of a left wrist injury.

Happ drew a walk to lead off the Cubs' first inning. After Willson Contreras struck out, Anthony Rizzo walked. Bryant followed with a single to drive in Happ for a 1-0 lead. Rizzo then scored on Joc Pederson's groundout.

In the third, Happ led off with his first homer, to center, to push Chicago's lead to 3-0.

Davies was cruising before Bryan Reynolds hit a two-out base hit to left in the sixth. Moran followed with his first homer, to left, to cut it to 3-2.

Chicago Cubs center fielder Ian Happ (8) celebrates with Chicago Cubs left fielder Joc Pederson (24) after scoring in the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Quinn Harris-USA TODAY Sports

The Cubs answered in the bottom of the sixth against Duane Underwood Jr. to gain a two-run cushion. Bryant led off with a double down the line in left and moved to third on Pederson's groundout. Javier Baez lined a shot toward Evans, starting for Hayes, and the ball grazed the bottom of his glove for an error. Bryant scored to make it 4-2.

That chased Underwood Jr. for Sam Howard, who walked two to load the bases but then initiated a 1-2-3 double play on a chopper by pinch hitter Matt Duffy.

In the eighth, against Cubs reliever Rex Brothers and with one out, Reynolds hit an infield single and went to third on Moran's double. Evans' single to left knocked in Reynolds to cut it to 4-3.

--Field Level Media
 

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