Brandon Lowe drove in two runs with a pinch-hit single in the sixth inning as the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Chicago Cubs 4-3 Sunday.
The Cubs (83-67) fell into a tie with the Phillies for the first National League wild-card spot. Philadelphia beat Atlanta 9-4 Sunday. Chicago hosts the Braves in a three-game series starting Monday.
The Pirates (75-75) avoided the sweep with the win.
Cubs starter Matthew Boyd (8-5) gave up seven hits and four runs in 5 1/3 innings. The southpaw walked two and struck out three in 88 pitches.
Pirates starter Bubba Chandler (8-9) gave up five hits and three runs in 5 1/3 innings. The right-hander walked four and struck out three in 90 pitches.
Mason Montgomery picked up his 13th save with a scoreless ninth inning.
The Pirates started the scoring in the first when Konnor Griffin led off with a single and Oneil Cruz walked. Bryan Reynolds singled in Griffin for a 1-0 lead.
Chandler only allowed one Cub to reach second base through 4 2/3 innings before Chicago broke through.
Pedro Ramirez started the rally with a two-out walk, setting up Miguel Amaya for a two-run home run to left to put the Cubs in front 2-1.
The Pirates fought back in the sixth when Reynolds walked to lead off and Rafael Flores Jr. singled. Nick Gonzales followed with a long drive to right over the head of Seiya Suzuki. The ball was lost in the ivy for a ground-rule double that tied the game 2-2.
Boyd struck out Ryan O’Hearn for the first out of the inning, and Aaron Civale replaced him to face Jake Mangum.
Mangum walked and Lowe followed with his single to center, scoring Flores and Gonzales to make it 4-2 Pirates.
The Cubs cut it to one in the sixth when Michael Busch singled with one out and Alex Bregman doubled to left. Ian Happ walked to load the bases and Busch scored when Nico Hoerner grounded out.
–Field Level Media
