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 The third baseman, playing in his fourth game, hit a tiebreaking
two-run double in the seventh inning as he finished with three hits
and three RBIs to lead the Chicago Cubs to a 5-2 victory over the
Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday night.
Bryant is 6-for-15 (.400) with four RBIs in four games since his
much-anticipated call up last Friday from Triple-A Iowa. He led all
major leaguers with nine home runs during spring training.
"He's doing a nice job and there's a really nice slow heartbeat
going on right now," Chicago manager Joe Maddon said. "He's just out
there playing the game really like I thought he would coming out of
spring training."
Bryant was a spring sensation as he led all major leaguers with nine
home runs in exhibition play.
He came through Monday in a game that counted.
After right fielder Jorge Soler doubled and first baseman Anthony
Rizzo walked with one out in the seventh, Bryant hit a drive to the
base of the wall in left-center field off reliever Arquimedes
Caminero (0-1) to score both runners.
Bryant scored on the same play when he took third on the throw home
then came home when catcher Francisco Cervelli missed the ball.
"As someone that's just been here a few days, it feels good to be
able to help the team get a win," Bryant said. "Those are the
situations you definitely want to excel in."
It looked for a moment that Bryant had hit his first home run but
the ball held up in the damp night air.
"People told me it's Death Valley to left-center field (at PNC
Park)," Bryant said. "At least I got a Little League home run out of
it. I got to run all the way around the bases. I don't think I've
ever had one of those before."
Bryant hit an RBI single in the fifth inning to tie it at 1-1.
Soler, also a rookie, went 4-for-4 while Rizzo and shortstop Starlin
Castro added two hits each for the Cubs, who had 14 hits. Second
baseman Jonathan Herrera hit an RBI single in the eighth inning to
push the lead to 5-1.
Right-hander Jake Arrieta (2-1) allowed only one run -- which came
in the first inning on an RBI single by center fielder Andrew
McCutchen -- in seven innings. Arrieta limited the Pirates to three
hits, had no walks and struck out seven.
"We've seen their starting pitcher before and we know how good he
is," Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said. "Some nights, there
really isn't anything you can do but tip your hat to the opposing
pitcher. He pitched a great game, so all we can do is go wash it
off, go home and just get ready for tomorrow."
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Pirates right-hander A.J. Burnett surrendered one run in six innings
as he scattered eight hits while walking two and striking out one.
McCutchen had two of Pittsburgh's five hits and left fielder
Starling Marte homered in the ninth, his fourth of the season and
third in the last four games.
The start of the game was delayed 28 minutes because of rain, and
there was a 23-minute stoppage of play in the top of the second
inning as medics attended to a female fan sitting behind home plate
who was struck in the back of the head by a foul ball hit by Castro.
The fan was standing in the first row of seats behind the protective
screen with her back to the field. She was taken from the seating
area on a stretcher but was alert and talking while being
transported to a local hospital.
"That was scary, man," Maddon said. "You just hope and pray that
everything will turn out all right for her."
NOTES: Pirates SS Jordy Mercer was not in the lineup because of a
bruised chest, which he sustained Sunday when he was hit by a pitch
by Milwaukee RHP Matt Garza while trying to bunt. The Pirates said
Sunday that Mercer had a ribcage injury, but manager Clint Hurdle
said before Monday's game was that it was more in the chest area.
... INF Addison Russell, one of the top shortstop prospects in the
game, began playing second base over the weekend for the Cubs'
Triple-A Iowa farm club. While that has led to speculation Russell
might soon be called up, manager Joe Maddon said the move was made
primarily so the 21-year-old could have more versatility. ... The
second game of the four-game series will be played Tuesday night
with Cubs LHP Travis Wood (1-1, 2.31 ERA) facing Pirates LHP
Francisco Liriano (0-1, 2.08 ERA).
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reserved.]
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