Cubs beat Pirates 6-5 on Difo error in 11th

CHICAGO (AP) — Sergio Alcántara scampered home when second baseman Wilmer Difo mishandled a popup in the 11th inning, and the Chicago Cubs beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-5 on Thursday night for their third straight win.

Rafael Ortega and Ian Happ homered for Chicago, and Alcántara logged the first three-hit game of his career. Codi Heuer (6-2) got three outs for the win.

Alcántara began the 11th on second base and advanced on Ortega's sacrifice bunt against Sam Howard (2-3). Happ then sent a high fly to second, where Difo committed the game-ending error.

It's the first three-game win streak for the Cubs since a five-game run from June 8-13.

The last-place Pirates wasted a stellar start by Mitch Keller, who struck out eight in six scoreless innings. Colin Moran hit a three-run homer in the first, and Bryan Reynolds finished with two hits.

The Cubs rallied after Keller departed. Ortega tied it at 3 with a three-run shot against Chad Kuhl in the seventh. Frank Schwindel then singled and Happ connected for his 18th homer, sending a drive deep to right-center.

The Pirates tied it in the ninth against Rowan Wick. With one out and the bases loaded, Michael Perez drove in two runs with a pinch-hit single to right. But Cole Tucker then bounced into a double play.

Rookie right-hander Keegan Thompson got just five outs for Chicago, allowing three runs and four hits. He also struggled in his previous start, yielding four earned runs in two-plus innings in a 17-13 loss to the White Sox.

Adrian Sampson, Scott Effross and Adam Morgan combined for 6 1/3 innings of hitless relief for Chicago.

Pittsburgh has lost five of its last six games after winning three of four.

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Cubs-beat-Pirates-6-5-on-Difo-error-in-11th-16432718.php