The Cubs/Pirates series would see another main event this time on the mothership AKA ESPN. James Taillon would be taking on Kyle Hendricks who would have a quick first inning. Chris Coughlan would be replacing Dexter Fowler leading off with a walk and moved to third on Heyward’s single. Bryant would strike out but Rizzo would send a soft liner to short scoring Chris. But Taillon would get out of the inning. Cubs up by 1.
In the top of the second, Kyle would give two singles but would get out of the inning. In the bottom half with one out, Javier Baez would send a fly ball to left for his sixth home run of the season. The inning would end but the Cubs would put themselves up by 2. The Pirates would get a hit in the top of the third by Kyle would strike out 2.
Taillon would start the bottom of the third with back to back home runs to Bryant and Rizzo to put the Cubs up by 4. Zobrist would flyout. Miguel Montero would reach on a soft grounder to second and then steals second but gets thrown out trying to score on Baez’s single to right.
After striking out the first two batters, Josh Harrison would send a long fly ball to center for his third home run of the season but Kyle would get out of the inning but he’d strike out to start the bottom half of the inning and the Cubs wouldn’t add to the board. The Cubs 4, Pirates 1.
Kyle would give up a two out single and gives up a two out double to Gregory Polanco but strikes out McCutchen to end the inning. A.J. Schugel enters the fifth to get the Pirates second 1-2-3 inning. Kyle would start off the top of the 6th getting the first out but would give up a single to Jung Ho Kang and Jody Mercer would reach on an error but Kyle would get out of the inning without putting the Pirates closer in range. A.J. would stay in the bottom of the sixth getting the first two outs but Javier Baez would single to third and would score on new comer Wilson Contreras’s pinch hit two run home run. Cubs are up 6-1.
Justin Grimm enters the seventh to get the first out to be replaced by Clayton Richard putting Matt Joyce with a single and walks Palonco. Adam Warren would come in to get McCutchen to force out Polanco at second. With two outs, Starling Marte would triple to left scoring Joyce and McCutchen. Jung Ho Park would send a soft grounder to Baez who bare hands it but pulls Rizzo off first scoring Marte but Harrison would ground out to end the inning. Curtis Partch enters the game for the Bucs giving up a single to Heyward and walking Bryant. Rizzo would single to center scoring Heyward. Jorge Rendon would enter the game putting Zobrist on by fielders choice scoring Bryant. Montero would get two outs by grounding into a double play. Russel would blast his sixth home run to left center. After 7 it’s Cubs 10 Pirates 4.
The 8th inning would only see Heyward grabbing a single in the bottom half but neither team would score. Adam Warren stays in the game for the top of the ninth giving up a leadoff double to David Freese who makes it to third on Polanco’s ground out to Rizzo and then scores on McCutchen’s soft ground ball to short stop. Marte hits one in the hole reaching first and that would bring Maddon to the mound for the swap. Pedro Strop enters the game to get a force out and strikes out Harrison to end the game.
Kyle Hendricks would go 6 innings giving up 7 hits and 1 earned run with 12 strikeouts. Great putting for Kyle and Cubs would sweep the Pirates on this home stand.
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