Happ spoils Hayes' debut, leads Cubs past Pirates 8-7

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Ian Happ finished what he started, singling home Nico Hoerner in the top of the 11th to lead the Chicago Cubs to an 8-7 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday night.

Happ, who led off the game with a home run, went 3 for 6 with two RBIs as Chicago spoiled the major league debut of Pirates prospect Ke'Bryan Hayes.

Hayes, the son of longtime major league infielder Charlie Hayes, hit a tying homer in the eighth and added an RBI double. The 23-year-old third baseman missed a chance to win the game in the bottom of the ninth when he struck out looking with two men on, but he was placed on second in the 10th and slid under a tag by Chicago catcher Willson Contreras to pull the Pirates even again.

Happ finally put the Pirates away when he sent a sharp single to center off Kyle Crick (0-1) in the 11th. Jeremy Jeffress (3-1) held Pittsburgh scoreless in the bottom of the inning as Chicago won for the third time in four games.

Happ and Kyle Schwarber each hit their 10th homer of the season for the Cubs. Kris Bryant added two hits in his return from a trip to the injured list due to a wrist issue.

The Cubs have been mostly stuck in neutral since their hot 13-3 start, but Bryant's return along with the arrival of reinforcements at the trade deadline gave first-year manager David Ross a chance to hit reset entering September.

Ross kept Happ in the leadoff spot and slotted Bryant — who spent time in the leadoff position earlier in the year — right behind Happ believing it lengthened the lineup. It only took two pitches to make it look like the right call.

Happ turned on Chad Kuhl's second offering and sent it to the concourse behind the seats in right-center field to give Chicago an early lead. Happ's third leadoff homer of the season pushed his career...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Happ-spoils-Hayes-debut-leads-Cubs-past-Pirates-15536369.php