Pirates beat Cubs 8-6 as Chicago's skid reaches seven games

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Colin Moran hit a three-run homer and drove in four runs as the Pittsburgh Pirates dealt the Cubs their seventh straight loss, rallying to beat Chicago 8-6 on Tuesday night.

Moran’s homer, his 10th of the season, to deep center field in the first inning opened the scoring. The Pirates scored four runs in the sixth to move ahead 7-6. Moran singled home an insurance run in the seventh.

Coming into the game, Moran was hitting just .186 in 22 games in September.

“He’s starting to swing at the right pitches,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said. “When he does that, a hitter of his caliber is going to get hits.”

Bryan Reynolds had three hits and scored three times for Pittsburgh, which won for the second time in six games. His single started the sixth-inning rally.

Moran had two hits and drew two walks, and Jacob Stallings also had two hits for the Pirates.

Moran hits cleanup behind Reynolds in the batting order, and the duo combined for five hits.

“Hitting behind him is fun. It’s fun to watch him work up there,” Moran said of Reynolds, who is hitting .296. “I get a good feel for how they are pitching him and hopefully him being on base leads to me getting some good pitches to hit.”

Chicago’s Nick Martini went 4 for 4 with two RBIs as he set a career high for hits. Frank Schwindel, Matt Duffy and Austin Romine had two hits apiece.

Down 6-3, the Pirates rallied in the sixth inning. Ben Gamel’s sacrifice fly made it a two-run game, and Hoy Park drove a tying two-run triple to center field. Pinch-hitter Michael Chavis singled in Park with the go-ahead run.

Enyel De Los Santos (2-1) pitched one scoreless inning for his first win since the Pirates claimed him off waivers from Philadelphia earlier this month....

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Pirates-beat-Cubs-8-6-as-Chicago-s-skid-reaches-16495089.php