Dansby Swanson delivered two RBIs, including the go-ahead run in the eighth inning, to help the Chicago Cubs to a 4-3 win and take the series against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday.
The Cubs went ahead against reliever Isaac Mattson (3-2). With the bases loaded and one out, Swanson hit a sacrifice fly that brought in Carson Kelly.
Chicago has won two straight after losing four of their previous five games.
Starting pitcher Javier Assad gave up one run on five hits in four innings in his second appearance of the season. Caleb Thielbar (3-3) earned the win after getting the final out in the eighth, and Andrew Kittredge was perfect in the ninth for the save.
Carmen Mlodzinski gave up one run (unearned) on one hit as the opener for the Pirates, who have lost seven of eight.
Trailing by one in the sixth, Chicago pulled even. Andrew Heaney walked Seiya Suzuki and then gave up a single to Pete Crow-Armstrong that moved Suzuki to third.
That prompted a pitching change for Pittsburgh, with Chase Shugart replacing Heaney and giving up a single to Kelly that scored Suzuki.
Tied 1-1, the Cubs went ahead 2-1 in the fifth. With Happ on second, Swanson doubled down the left field line to bring him home.
Pittsburgh responded in the top of the sixth to jump in front 3-2. Nick Gonzales opened with a single and Jack Suwinski drew a walk to follow, giving the visitors two on with nobody out. Joey Bart then stepped up and drove the pair in with a double to the left field corner.
Chicago took a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Crow-Armstrong reached on a fielder’s choice, went to second on a wild pitch with Happ at the plate, and then came around to score when Happ knocked a single to center field.
The Pirates tied it in the top of the third. Isiah Kiner-Falefa connected for a one-out single and advanced to second on a ground-out. Spencer Horwitz brought him home when he lined a double out to center.
–Field Level Media
