John Lackey looks to stay above .500 with another win to go into the All Star break on a good note. Jonathon Niese would get the start for the Pirates and immediately get the ball rolling for the Cubs with singles to lead off man Ben Zobrist, then on one out to Anthony Rizzo and to load the bases Wilson Contreras. Addison Russell would also smack a single but this one gives him two RBI’s. Lackey would only give up one single in the bottom half. After the 1st, Cubs 2-0.
Cubs would go down quick in the top of the 2cd but Lackey would allow a solo home run to star off the bottom half to Sean Rodriguez. Adam Frazier singles and scores on Eric Fryer’s one out double to left. With two outs, John Jaso sends a line drive to right scoring Fryer. The Pirates are now up 3-2.
Kris Bryant stars off the 3rd with a walk and advances to third on Rizzo’s double to right. Contreras would ground out to first but drives in Bryant to tie the game at 3. Andrew McCutchen would lead off the bottom half of the 3rd with a solo home run to take the lead.
The back and forth of leads would stop in the top of the 4th, after Albert Almora, Jr launches his 2cd home run of the season driving in Baez to take the lead, 5-4. Niese would then give up back to back singles to Bryant and Rizzo prompting his removal for Arquimedes Caminero to end the inning.
Lackey would make it to the 7th walking Josh Bell and giving up a single to John Jaso. With no outs, Maddon brings in Pedro Strop. He gets the first out and the second out from McCutchen but is scored as a sac fly to tie the game at 5.
Pirates set up man, Tony Watson enters the game and immediately strikes out Almora but gives up a double to Matt Szcuzr. Zo pops out on a bunt. With two outs Bryant’s sends a line drive to left scoring Szczur for the Cubs to take the lead again giving Watson a blown save.
Carl Edwards, Jr and Hector Rondon take the last two innings of the game for the hold and save as Strop is awarded the W with a blown save. Lackey would go six innings giving up five runs on seven hits but strikes out nine only walking two. Not the greatest outing but with the bats hitting and the bullpen holding, the Cubs take a game from the Pirates putting their lead at 7 above the second place Cardinals.
Go Cubs Go!
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