PITTSBURGH — Paul Skenes struck out six Cubs in his first three innings and looked like the pitcher who won the Cy Young Award last fall. The sixth inning cost him — two throwing errors, two runs without a ball leaving the infield, and the Cubs had a 3-0 lead.
Ian Happ added a two-run homer in the eighth. The Cubs won 7-2 and split the series, leaving Pittsburgh with two wins in two days. Two days ago they were in a ten-game losing streak.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 0 |
| PIT | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 2 |
Skenes and the Sixth
Skenes struck out the side in the second, ran his total to six through three innings, and didn't allow a run for four. The Cubs put up a run in the fourth — Busch walked, Happ singled, and Suzuki's single to left scored Busch — but Skenes settled in and the game stayed 1-0 heading to the sixth.
Hoerner lined out to first to open the sixth. Busch walked. Bregman reached on a throwing error by third baseman Tyler Callihan. Happ's infield single to short scored Busch while shortstop Jared Triolo's throw sailed wide, allowing Bregman to reach third safely. Suzuki's grounder to short scored Bregman. Two runs, two errors, neither ball left the infield.
Only one of the three runs was earned. Skenes was gone after 103 pitches.
He struck out 10 Cubs. He allowed four hits. He lost his third consecutive start.
Happ, Again
Happ went 3-for-5 with a two-run homer in the eighth off Beau Bidois — 403 feet to right center, Bregman on base, two out. His 12th home run of the season. He has now reached base safely in 41 consecutive games at PNC Park, the city where he grew up and went to high school.
That is two homers in two games in Pittsburgh — Wednesday's three-run shot in the seventh to blow open the 10-4 win, Thursday's insurance shot to make it 5-2. He has been the best player on the field in both games.
Rea Holds On
Colin Rea won for the first time in five starts, allowing two runs in 5.1 innings. Bryan Reynolds hit a solo homer in the sixth, and Callihan doubled home a run off Hoby Milner later in the frame. Thielbar and Thornton combined for three scoreless innings after that.
Nick Gonzales left the game in the third with left knee discomfort and did not return.
Two Straight, Series Split
The Cubs went 2-2 in this series and are 31-26 — four back of Milwaukee.
In the ninth, Bregman reached on an overturned tag play after a Cubs challenge, scoring Crow-Armstrong for the final margin.
Pitcher Stats
| Pitcher | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K | HR | PC-ST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rea (W, 5-3) | 5.1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 92-57 |
| Milner (H, 4) | 0.2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 21-15 |
| Thielbar (H, 2) | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 27-14 |
| Thornton | 2.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22-16 |
| Skenes (L, 6-5) | 5.1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 0 | 103-62 |
| Montgomery | 1.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 27-17 |
| Bidois | 1.0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 31-18 |
| Ramirez | 1.0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 20-11 |
What's Next
The Cubs open a three-game series Friday night in St. Louis. Shota Imanaga (4-5, 4.04 ERA) starts for Chicago against Cardinals right-hander Andre Pallante (5-4, 3.76 ERA). First pitch is 6:15 p.m. Central.