Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Andrew McCutchen and Clint Barmes each hit solo
home runs, and the Pittsburgh Pirates snapped a season-high seven-game losing
streak with a 7-6 victory over the Chicago Cubs despite a shaky ninth-inning
performance from Joel Hanrahan.
The Cubs scored twice off the Pirates closer and had the winning run on second
base before Hanrahan struck out Dave Sappelt to close out the much-needed win.
Starling Marte doubled, tripled, drove in a run and scored twice for the
Pirates, who were mired in a 5-17 slump since winning a 19-inning marathon in
St. Louis on Aug. 19.
Wandy Rodriguez helped end the swoon, which had dropped Pittsburgh three games
back in the race to the last NL wild-card spot, with a quality start.
Rodriguez (11-13) scattered nine hits and three runs -- one earned -- over six
innings to earn the win.
Jason Berken (0-1), making his first big-league start since Oct. 2, 2009, was
touched for six runs -- just two earned -- on eight hits in four innings of
work for the Cubs, who had won six of seven coming into the second meeting of
this four-game series.
The Sports Network