Pinch-hitter Cole Tucker drew a bases-loaded walk and Kevin Newman hit an RBI single, all with two out in the ninth inning, as the Pittsburgh Pirates rallied to beat the Chicago Cubs 3-2 on Friday night.
Tucker, pinch-hitting, worked a bases-loaded walk off Brandon Kintzler (2-2), and Newman followed with a single to center field on a full-count for his third game-ending hit of the season.
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Pinch-hitter Cole Tucker drew a bases-loaded walk and Kevin Newman hit an RBI single, all with two out in the ninth inning, as the Pittsburgh Pirates rallied to beat the Chicago Cubs 3-2 on Friday night.
The Cubs fell to 23-39 on the road. They have also lost 17 of their last 25 games away from Wrigley Field. The loss left Chicago a game behind the NL Central-leading St. Louis.
Joe Musgrove carried a shutout into the eighth inning before giving up consecutive singles to Jonathan Lucroy and pinch-hitter Ian Happ with one out. Musgrove was charged with two runs in 7 1/3 innings, giving up four hits and no walks. He matched his career high with nine strikeouts.
Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks allowed only one run and three hits in seven innings with one strikeout and one walk.
GM Jed Hoyer said Almora is expected to be recalled Sept. 1, when the roster limit expands to 40 from 25. Almora made 75 starts in center field and hit .232 with 12 home runs and 32 RBIs in 114 games.
TRAINER'S ROOM
UP NEXT
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks throws against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, Aug. 16, 2019, in Pittsburgh. (AP PhotoKeith Srakocic)
Kintzler walked three batters in 1/3 of an inning, including an intentional walk to Josh Bell with two outs and the Cubs leading 2-1. Erik Gonzalez entered as a pinch runner for Bell and scored on Newman's single.
Chicago Cubs' Jonathan Lucroy (25) looks back as Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Joe Musgrove looks to catch his pop fly for an out in the fifth inning of a baseball game, Friday, Aug. 16, 2019, in Pittsburgh. (AP PhotoKeith Srakocic)
The Cubs fell to 23-39 on the road. They have also lost 17 of their last 25 games away from Wrigley Field. The loss left Chicago a game behind the NL Central-leading St. Louis.
The Pirates won for the third time in four games.
Tony Kemp's two-run triple in the eighth inning off closer Felipe Vazquez gave the Cubs a 2-1 lead.
Chicago Cubs' Tony Kemp hits a triple to drive in two runs off Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Felipe Vazquez in the eighth inning of a baseball game, Friday, Aug. 16, 2019, in Pittsburgh. (AP PhotoKeith Srakocic)
Joe Musgrove carried a shutout into the eighth inning before giving up consecutive singles to Jonathan Lucroy and pinch-hitter Ian Happ with one out. Musgrove was charged with two runs in 7 1/3 innings, giving up four hits and no walks. He matched his career high with nine strikeouts.
Musgrove retired his first 11 batters before Kris Bryant singled with two outs in the fourth inning. He also set down 10 straight hitters before the hits in the eighth inning.
Keone Kela (2-0) pitched a scoreless ninth for the win.
Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Felipe Vazquez kicks at the mound after giving up a triple to Chicago Cubs' Tony Kemp that drove in two runs in the eighth inning of a baseball game, Friday, Aug. 16, 2019, in Pittsburgh. (AP PhotoKeith Srakocic)
Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks allowed only one run and three hits in seven innings with one strikeout and one walk.
The Pirates' Colin Moran had an RBI single in the fourth.
R0STER MOVES
Cubs: INF Addison Russell was recalled from Triple-A Iowa, RHP Brandon Kintzler (right pectoral inflammation) was activated from the injured list and CF Albert Almora Jr. and RHP James Norwood were optioned to Iowa.
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Joe Musgrove wipes his head after giving up a hit to Chicago Cubs' Ian Happ in the eighth inning of a baseball game, Friday, Aug. 16, 2019, in Pittsburgh. (AP PhotoKeith Srakocic)
GM Jed Hoyer said Almora is expected to be recalled Sept. 1, when the roster limit expands to 40 from 25. Almora made 75 starts in center field and hit .232 with 12 home runs and 32 RBIs in 114 games.
Pirates: Tucker was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis and RHP Geoff Hartlieb was optioned there. The Pirates wanted an extra position player because INF/OF Jose Osuna is two games into the five-game suspension he received from Major League Baseball for his part in a fight at Cincinnati on July 30.
Tucker made his major-league debut April 20 and the shortstop batted .196 with two home runs and nine RBIs in 38 games.
Pittsburgh Pirates' Starling Marte (6) calls for time after stealing second base past Chicago Cubs shortstop Javier Baez in the fourth inning of a baseball game, Friday, Aug. 16, 2019, in Pittsburgh. (AP PhotoKeith Srakocic)
TRAINER'S ROOM
Cubs: SS Javier Baez (illness) and CF Jason Heyward (left knee inflammation) returned after being held of the lineup in Thursday night's loss at Philadelphia. . INF Daniel Descalso (sprained left ankle) will begin a rehab assignment with Iowa on Saturday.
Pirates: C Jason Stallings (migraine) started after being scratched from Wednesday's loss at the Los Angeles Angels.
Chicago Cubs' Nicholas Castellanos checks with the Pittsburgh Pirates dugout after he lost his bat on a swing at the plate that went into the dugout during a baseball game, Friday, Aug. 16, 2019, in Pittsburgh. (AP PhotoKeith Srakocic)
UP NEXT
Cubs LHP Jon Lester (9-8, 4.48 ERA) faces LHP Steven Brault (3-1, 4.33) on Saturday. Lester is winless in his last five starts, going 0-2 with a 7.00. Brault has had two no-decisions, allowing six runs in 10 innings, since missing a month with a strained shoulder.
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Pittsburgh Pirates starter Joe Musgrove pitches against the Chicago Cubs in the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, Aug. 16, 2019, in Pittsburgh. (AP PhotoKeith Srakocic)
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks throws against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, Aug. 16, 2019, in Pittsburgh. (AP PhotoKeith Srakocic)