Chicago CubsvsPittsburgh Pirates
CHC 7/PIT 8
Things to say
The Pirates edged the Cubs 8-7 at PNC Park to snap off a one-run win over first-place Chicago.
01
opener
Man, that one was a rollercoaster. Bucs and Cubs traded punches all afternoon and Pittsburgh grabbed it 8-7. Fifteen runs in a getaway-day game, nobody's arm was safe.
02
key player
Somebody in the heart of the Pirates order carried it — you don't put up eight on a contender without a couple of guys leaving the yard. Check the box score, but the middle of that lineup was locked in.
03
hot take
Cubs are 59-46 and still let the last-place feel of this one get to them. When you've got a road lead you close it, and their pen let it slip.
04
deep cut
Pittsburgh's now 54-52 and playing spoiler nobody asked for. That one-run margin is the whole story — bullpen holds the line and this is a totally different conversation.
05
exit
Anyway, it's a series — curious if the Cubs bounce back tomorrow or Pittsburgh's actually got their number right now.
The recap
Pirates walked it off 8-7 over the Cubs at PNC in a back-and-forth slugfest that never let anybody sit down. Both starters got knocked around early, and once the bullpens took over it turned into a track meet with the lead changing hands more than once.
Pittsburgh clawed back late and pushed across the winner to steal one from a Cubs club that's been sitting comfortably atop the standings. Getaway-day baseball at its messiest, and the home nine sent everybody out happy.