Chicago Cubs: Two-out hitting leads to 6-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates

Timely hitting and baserunning for the Cubs leads to another win vs. Pittsburgh

The Chicago Cubs are doing their best hitting this series with two outs in the inning, and it’s led to when they’ve done all of their scoring. The Cubs would score all six of their runs Tuesday night with two outs. That would be enough for Travis Wood and the bullpen, as they would limit the Pirates to two and lead the Cubs to a 6-2 victory. 

The Cubs (12-7) started the scoring in the second inning with two outs with Addison Russell at the dish – he’d come through with an RBI double scoring Starlin Castro . Dexter Fowler topped that in the next at bat with a two-run single to right – scoring Junior Lake and Russell for a 3-0 early lead.

In the bottom of the third, newly promoted Junior Lake added another run to the board with a line drive double to score Castro for a 4-0 Cubs lead.

The Pirates (11-10) would cut the lead in half in the top of the fourth with a two-run homer to left by Starling Marte – his sixth on the year.

The Cubs answered back those two runs out with two more of their own in the bottom of the fourth. Kris Bryant singled in Anthony Rizzo while Jorge Soler moved up to third making the score 5-2.

That fifth run would spell the end for Pirates starting pitcher Jeff Locke. Pirates manager Clint Hurdle would pull Locke for reliever Antonio Bastardo (0-0, 4.50 ERA).

Locke (2-1, 4.76 ERA) finished the game after 3 2/3 innings pitched, giving up six runs, five o those earned, on eight hits, three walks, and five K’s.

The first batter Bastardo faced was Castro who hit a two-out single to score Soler for the sixth and final run of the game for the Cubs.

Travis Wood did his job holding the Pirates to two runs through his seven innings and help the Cubs to the 6-2 win over the Pirates for the Cubs’ fourth consecutive win.

What Stood Out:

Travis Wood (2-1, 3.04 ERA) got the win and pitched well while lasting seven innings, allowing two runs off five hits, and striking out nine without a walk.

The Chicago Cubs also pulled off two double steals in the fourth inning. The last time the Cubs had four steals in one inning was in 1997 vs. the Montreal Expos. The Chicago Cubs now lead the National League with 25 stolen bases.

Dexter Fowler finished the game going 3-for-4 at the plate with 2 runs driven in, increasing his average to .288 on the season.

Starlin Castro added to his hot start with a 3-for-5, two runs, and an RBI performance. He would increase his average on the year to .342.

Junior Lake also had a pair of hits with a run scored and an RBI in his first start since his call-up.

All 10 of the runs the Chicago Cubs have scored in the series have come with two outs in the innings.

The Cubs also successfully challenged two out of three plays – they were 0-for-5 on the season in challenges before the game.

What is Next:

Tomorrow night is the third and final game of this series and the Pirates (11-10) will look to Gerrit Cole (3-0, 2.19 ERA) to stop from being swept. The Chicago Cubs (12-7) will answer with Kyle Hendricks (0-0, 5.74 ERA) who is looking for his first win of the season.

Cole is 5-0 with a 3.48 ERA against the Cubs in his career, but this is a much different Cubs team then he has faced in his career.

First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 CT tomorrow night at Wrigley Field.

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