Pirates

Cubs snap Bucs’ winning streak

CHICAGO -- Alex Bregman hit his 25th homer and doubled among three hits, Shota Imanaga tossed six effective innings and the Chicago Cubs pounded the Pittsburgh Pirates 12-2 on Friday to end a four-game slide.

Seiya Suzuki had three hits, including a wind-blown triple, scored three runs and drove in one as the Cubs finished with 16 hits against three Pittsburgh pitchers and ended the Pirates' four-game winning streak. Chicago remains well behind NL Central-leading Milwaukee but is in position for a wild card.

Michael Busch doubled and had three RBIs, and Carson Kelly doubled in a pair of runs. All of Chicago's starters had at least one hit, and five finished with two or more.

Bregman went deep in the fourth inning, a two-run shot off Khristian Curtis that made it 9-1.

Imanaga (10-10) allowed two runs on five hits in a second straight solid start and win. The left-hander struck out four and walked two.

Bryan Reynolds hit a solo shot for Pittsburgh, which came in having won 9 of 11 to climb back above .500. Rookie Konnor Griffin tripled among two hits.

The Cubs made it 3-1 in the second off Pirates opener Wilber Dotel (1-5). After Chicago loaded the bases, Michael Conforto's sac fly tied it at 1 and Kelly's double plated two more.

Valdez hurt

Pittsburgh rookie outfielder Esmerlyn Valdez left Friday's 12-2 loss to the the Chicago Cubs after injuring himself while running to first base on a grounder in the sixth inning.

Valdez grabbed the back of his left leg and limped off the field with his arms draped around the shoulders of training staff after shortstop Nico Hoerner threw him out. The Pirates said Valdez had left hamstring discomfort and was receiving treatment, but gave no further details on the severity of the condition.

Valdez was replaced in right field by Billy Cook, who misjudged Seiya Suzuki's fly ball on the first play in the bottom half of the inning and allowed it to fall for a triple.

Valdez entered batting .235 with 17 homers and 47 RBIs in 71 games. The 22-year-old made his major league debut on May 22 at Toronto.

O'Hearn returning

The Pirates ended the rehab assignment of first baseman/outfielder Ryan O'Hearn and reinstated him from the 10-day injured list (left quad muscle strain).

O'Hearn pinch hit and went in at first base Friday and finished 0-for-2.

Pittsburgh optioned outfielder Ronny Simon to Triple-A Indianapolis following Thursday night's 2-0 win at Chicago (AL).

The 33-year-old O'Hearn, who played in his last game with the Pirates on July 31 at Cincinnati before being placed on the injured list on Aug. 1, went 1-for-6 with a double, a walk and a run scored in his two rehab games with Indianapolis, which came on Tuesday and Wednesday vs. Omaha.

O'Hearn has batted .270 (97-for-359) with 15 doubles, 17 home runs, 69 RBI, 31 walks, a .788 OPS and 54 runs scored in 96 games with Pittsburgh this season.

Up next

Pirates RHP Paul Skenes (10-11, 3.83 ERA) faces Cubs RHP Clay Holmes (6-7, 2.83) on Saturday.