Trending
The Associated Press
CHICAGO -- Bryan Reynolds and Andrew McCutchen homered during Pittsburgh's four-run eighth inning, and the Pirates cooled off the Chicago Cubs with a 5-3 victory on Monday night.
Chicago returned home after closing out an 8-1 trip with six consecutive victories. It was hoping to add to its push for the third NL wild card against Pittsburgh, but it blew a 3-0 lead in the opener of a three-game series.
The Pirates began the eighth with three straight hits against Jorge Lopez (2-3). Pinch-hitter Isiah Kiner-Falefa reached on a bloop single and Nick Gonzales had an infield hit before Reynolds connected for his 22nd homer, tying it at 3 with a drive to the bleachers in left-center.
After Oneil Cruz struck out swinging, McCutchen launched his 18th homer to left-center. McCutchen also extended his hitting streak to 14 games.
"They continued to battle, they played hard," Pittsburgh manager Derek Shelton said, "IKF has a ball fall in, Nick beats out an infield hit and then, you know, Bryan does what Bryan does and then Cutch right behind him."
McCutchen, now a 37-year-old designated hitter in his second stint with the Pirates, turned on Lopez's 1-1 inside sinker.
"Bullpen comes in, one little bloop, blast and your back in the game," McCutchen said. "That's why no one has answers to reasons why things happen in this game."
Jalen Beeks (7-4) got two outs for Pittsburgh, and Dennis Santana pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his third save.
Gonzales singled in an insurance run in the ninth as the Pirates won for just the second time in seven games and avenged a three-game sweep by the Cubs in Pittsburgh last week.
Pirates rookie Jared Jones permitted three runs and six hits in 6• innings.