Cubs blow big lead, beat Pirates in 11 innings

[September 02, 2020]  Ian Happ's RBI single in the 11th inning Tuesday gave the visiting Chicago Cubs an 8-7 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Nico Hoerner opened at second in the 11th and came home on Happ's base hit to center off reliever Kyle Crick (0-1) to help the Cubs atone for blowing a 6-1 lead.

Kyle Schwarber hit a two-run homer and Happ a solo homer for Chicago. Javy Baez added an RBI double, and Jason Kipnis an RBI single.

Ke'Bryan Hayes had a stunning major league debut for Pittsburgh, hitting a tying home run and an RBI double. Jose Osuna added an RBI double, and Adam Frazier hit an RBI single.

Chicago starter Jon Lester went 5 1/3 innings, giving up five runs on eight hits, with three walks and three strikeouts. Jeremy Jeffress (3-1) pitched the final 1 2/3 innings.

Pittsburgh's Chad Kuhl pitched four innings, allowing four runs, three earned, and six hits, with two walks and three strikeouts.

On the game's second pitch, Happ launched his 10th homer, to right.

After two singles and an error, Kipnis drew a bases-loaded walk in the second to up Chicago's lead to 2-0.

Colin Moran doubled to right to lead off the Pirates' second, moved to third on Hayes' groundout and scored on Frazier's groundout to make it 2-1.

In the fourth, Kipnis' two-out RBI single gave Chicago a 3-1 lead.

The Cubs got three more in the fifth. Kris Bryant led off with a base hit. An out later, Baez doubled in Bryant. Schwarber followed with a two-run homer to center, his 10th, to push it to 6-1.

Cubs center fielder Ian Happ (8) leaps in vain for a ball hit for a solo home run by Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes (not pictured) during the eighth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Jacob Stallings opened the sixth with a single and Moran walked. Hayes roped a double off the wall in left. Frazier followed with an RBI single to make it 5-3. After Osuna's RBI double, Lester was pulled for Colin Rea. Erik Gonzalez's sacrifice fly brought Pittsburgh to within 6-5.

Following a 71-minute rain delay, Hayes led off the bottom of the eighth against Dan Winkler with a homer to center to tie it.

Each team scored in the 10th, on Jason Heyward's sacrifice fly and Anthony Alford's fielder's choice chopper.

--Field Level Media

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