Surging Pirates slip past Cubs, 5-4

[August 01, 2018]  Francisco Cervelli hit a two-run homer and Gregory Polanco added a solo shot for the winning margin Tuesday as the Pittsburgh Pirates downed the visiting Chicago Cubs 5-4.

David Freese added two RBI doubles for the Pirates, who have won three of four games and 14 of 17.

Javy Baez belted a three-run homer and finished a triple shy of hitting for the cycle for the Cubs, who have lost three of four.

Pittsburgh starter Jameson Taillon (8-8) gave up three runs and seven hits in 6 2/3 innings, with two strikeouts and two walks. He has allowed three earned runs or fewer in 12 consecutive starts and in 19 of his 22 starts this season.

Felipe Vazquez allowed a run in the ninth but picked up his 24th save.

Cubs left-hander Jon Lester (12-4) yielded four runs and seven hits in five innings, with three strikeouts and three walks.

Pittsburgh scored three times in the third inning with two outs. Polanco singled to right and scored on Freese's double off the wall in right. Cervelli followed with a homer, his 10th, just over the fence in left and just inside the foul pole to make it 3-0.

The Cubs answered in the fourth. Ben Zobrist led off with a double to right-center and went to third on Jason Heyward's single to shallow right. Baez smacked an 0-2 hanging curveball from Taillon to the stands in left for his 22nd homer to tie it 3-3.

Cubs starting pitcher Jon Lester (34) delivers a pitch against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Freese gave the Pirates a 4-3 lead in the fifth with his second RBI double, this one to the warning track in eight-center. It came with two outs after Polanco walked.

In the eighth, Polanco lined Justin Wilson's first pitch out to right for his 19th homer and a 5-3 Pittsburgh lead.

Chicago's Addison Russell hit an RBI double in the ninth to bring home David Bote, who opened the inning with a pinch-hit single, but Russell was thrown out trying to get to third. Vazquez retired the next two batters to end the game.

--Field Level Media

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