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Bucs tie record with 7 double plays

PITTSBURGH — The Chicago Cubs tied a major league record by turning seven double plays Friday night, including a game-ending effort by rookie third baseman David Bote on a grounder by David Freese to finish off a 1-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Cubs got six double plays on grounders — five with Cole Hamels pitching — and one on a line drive. The Elias Sports Bureau said the Cubs became the third team in big league history to turn seven DPs in a nine-inning game, joining San Francisco in 1969 and the Philadelphia Athletics in 1942. Both the Giants and A’s lost those games.

Pittsburgh had runners on first and second in the ninth before Jesse Chavez got Freese to ground to Bote. Having hit a game-ending grand slam last Sunday night to beat Washington 4-3, Bote again was in the right place to cap off a win.

Hamels (8-9) pitched seven solid innings. Kyle Schwarber hit a home run in the second off Trevor Williams (10-9). Chavez got his second save as the Pirates lost their fifth in a row.

The Pirates were shut out 1-0 for the second straight day by the Cubs. The losing streak has dropped Pittsburgh back below .500 at 61-62.

The funk has been costly in the standings for the Pirates, who had been making a push in the National League wild-card standings before their recent struggles.

Pittsburgh is now 6 1/2 games out of the second wild-card spot and trails four teams, while also being tied with San Francisco.

The Pirates had seven hits and plenty of opportunities Friday, but the double plays ended all but two of their innings in frustrating fashion.

Starling Marte went 2-for-4, but he also struck out with Corey Dickerson on second base representing the tying run in the ninth inning.

Anthony Rizzo went 2-for-4 for the Cubs, who have a 4 1-2-game lead in the NL Central.

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