Surging Pirates slip past Cubs, 5-4
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[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.
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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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