Pirates beat Cubs on Suwinski’s homer
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CHICAGO -- Jack Suwinski hit a tiebreaking solo homer in the ninth inning to give the Pittsburgh Pirates a 3-2 win over the struggling Chicago Cubs on Friday.
Suwinski, a Chicago native, hit Daniel Palencia's (1-3) 1-1 fastball the opposite way, into the left-field bleachers for his third homer. The Pirates ended a five-game losing steak and sent the Cubs to their fourth loss in five games.
Pete Crow-Armstrong broke out of a 3-for-41 slump by going 3 for 3 with his first RBI since July 30. Crow-Armstrong also was hit by a pitch and scored a run. The Cubs All-Star was thrown out twice on the bases; trying to stretch a single to double in the fourth and was caught stealing in the ninth after leading off with a single.
Andrew McCutchen and Isaiah Kiner-Falefa each had an RBI double.
The Cubs entered eight games behind surging NL Central-leading Milwaukee. Matt Shaw added a sac fly.
Dennis Santana (4-4) got the final four outs for the win.
Pirates rookie Braxton Ashcraft allowed one run on three hits in five innings, striking our four and walking none in his third and longest start.
Cubs starter Colin Rea allowed one run on three hits in five innings.
The Pirates took a 1-0 lead in the fourth on McCutchen's double. The Cubs tied it in the bottom half on Crow-Armstrong's RBI single.
Kiner-Falefa's RBI double in the seventh put Pittsburgh ahead 2-1. The Cubs tied it at 2 in the bottom half on Shaw's sac fly with the bases loaded, scoring Crow-Armstrong from third.
Key moment
The Cubs loaded the bases with none out in the seventh and scored only one run. After Shaw's sac fly, reliever Isaac Mattson got pinch hitter Carson Kelly and Justin Turner to pop out.
Key stat
Crow-Armstrong's double was his first extra base hit since Aug. 1.
Up next
Pirates RHP Mike Burrows (1-4, 4.66 ERA) faces Cubs LHP Shota Imanaga (8-5, 3.19) today.
Roster moves
The Pittsburgh Pirates today recalled left-handed pitcher Evan Sisk and right-handed pitcher Colin Holderman from Triple-A Indianapolis.
Right-handed pitcher Cam Sanders was optioned to Indianapolis following Wednesday's game at Milwaukee. Left-handed pitcher Ryan Borucki has been designated for assignment.
The 28-year-old Sisk recorded a 1.69 ERA in five appearances with Kansas City earlier this season before being acquired by the Pirates on July 31.
Sisk also had a combined 0-2 record with five saves, a 4.76 ERA and 41 strikeouts in 36 appearances with Triple-A Omaha and Indianapolis.
Sisk will wear uniform No. 51.
Holderman made 14 appearances for the Pirates earlier this season before being optioned to Indianapolis on July 7.
He has gone 1-1 with one save and a 5.51 ERA in 16 appearances this season with Indianapolis, which included time on two separate rehab assignments.