Cubs, Bryant pound Pirates to avert
sweep
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[July 05, 2019]
Kris Bryant highlighted his
four-hit performance with a homer, and he scored three runs as the
visiting Chicago Cubs averted a four-game sweep with an 11-3 victory
over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday.
Robel Garcia, who was playing in his second career game, joined
Willson Contreras in belting a homer among their three hits, and
Albert Almora Jr. also went deep as the Cubs moved into a tie with
Milwaukee atop the National League Central with 46-42 records.
Tempers flared in the fourth inning as Chicago manager Joe Maddon
was ejected after All-Star shortstop Javier Baez was nearly hit by a
pitch from Pittsburgh starter Jordan Lyles (5-5), who had
surrendered three home runs. Maddon bolted out of the dugout and
appeared to be yelling at Pirates manager Clint Hurdle before being
tossed by plate umpire Joe West.
Jose Quintana (6-7) overcame a rocky start and retired the last 11
batters he faced to pick up his second straight win. He allowed
three runs on six hits in seven innings, striking out six and
walking one.
With the score tied at 2, Bryant belted a one-out double in the
third inning before Contreras followed two batters later by
launching a 1-1 slider from Lyles over the wall in left field for
his 18th homer of the season.
Josh Bell halved the deficit with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of
the third inning, but the Cubs erupted for five runs in the fifth
inning to take a 9-3 lead.
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Cubs manager Joe Maddon (LC) is restrained by Cubs players and
umpires after being ejected from the game against the Pittsburgh
Pirates at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY
Sports
Anthony Rizzo began the uprising with an RBI single to center field,
then David Bote reached after he was hit by pitch from Clay Holmes
with the bases loaded to give Chicago a 6-3 advantage. Pittsburgh
recorded two outs at home before Kyle Schwarber walked with the
bases loaded and Baez singled to left field to plate Almora and
Quintana.
Chicago flexed its muscles early as Bryant deposited a first-pitch
fastball from Lyles over the wall in right field in the first
inning. Almora doubled the advantage in the second after sending a
2-0 fastball over the fence in center.
The Pirates tied it at 2 in the second inning as Jung Ho Kang plated
Jose Osuna with a double to right-center field before scoring on
Elias Diaz's sacrifice fly.
--Field Level Media
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