The Cubs needed 10 innings to get past the Pirates on Friday night, and the final margin was 3-2. But the game may have turned on a call at the plate that Pittsburgh wanted overturned.
Dansby Swanson delivered the go-ahead RBI single in the 10th, and the play that put Chicago in front went to video review after Ian Happ slid home. The ruling stood, even though the Pirates argued otherwise.
On the replay, it appeared Happ’s left foot never reached the plate, and before his right knee could get to the corner, Henry Davis tagged him. With the run allowed, the Cubs moved ahead 2-1.
That set up another key sequence. Pete Crow-Armstrong was intentionally walked to load the bases with two outs, and Seiya Suzuki then drew four pitches out of the strike zone for a walk that pushed across another run. Pittsburgh did get one run back in the bottom of the 10th, but Chicago’s cushion was enough.
The Pirates still had their own chances to change the night. In extra innings, they opened with a bunt even though they were already down by two. Overall, Pittsburgh finished just 3-for-11 with runners in scoring position.
Chicago’s best escape came in the bottom of the fifth. The Pirates had already scored once and had the bases loaded with nobody out against Matthew Boyd, but the left-hander worked out of the jam without giving up another run. The very next half-inning, Crow-Armstrong answered with his 22nd home run of the season to tie the game.
The Cubs also got a big lift from their defense. Nico Hoerner saved a run with a diving play in the third inning, then finished the sequence by getting the final out when a Pittsburgh baserunner thought the ball had gotten through into the outfield and got caught between third and home. Later, in the seventh, Happ threw out Davis at home to end the inning with a double play.
Boyd gave Chicago seven innings of one-run ball, and the bullpen finished the job from there. Jacob Webb, Caleb Thielbar, and Gavin Hollowell handled the final innings to secure the win.
Now the Cubs turn to Saturday’s matchup with Paul Skenes. They enter that game 5.5 games ahead of the Pirates in the standings.
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