Jose Quintana pitched seven crisp innings, Anthony Rizzo hit a two-run homer and the Chicago Cubs beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-1 on Sunday night in the MLB Little League Classic.
Nicholas Castellanos and Jason Heyward also connected as Chicago earned its second straight win since consecutive heartbreaking losses to the Phillies and Pirates.
Click to Gallery
Chicago Cubs' Kris Bryant, center, talks with between Bowling Green, Kentucky's Grayson Newman, right, and Sol Guyer, left, in the stands at Volunteer Stadium during an International pool play baseball game at the Little League World Series tournament in South Williamsport, Pa., Sunday, Aug. 18, 2019. (AP PhotoTom E. Puskar)
Jose Quintana pitched seven crisp innings, Anthony Rizzo hit a two-run homer and the Chicago Cubs beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-1 on Sunday night in the MLB Little League Classic.
More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/MLB and www.twitter.com/AP_Sports
Chicago Cubs' Anthony Rizzo is introduced before the Little League Classic baseball game against the Chicago Cubs at Bowman Stadium in Williamsport, Pa., on Sunday, Aug. 18, 2019. (AP PhotoGene J. Puskar)
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Mitch Keller, top right, delivers to Chicago Cubs' Nicholas Castellanos during the first inning of the Little League Classic baseball game at Bowman Stadium in Williamsport, Pa., Sunday, Aug. 18, 2019. Castellanos hit the pitch for a solo home run. (AP PhotoGene J. Puskar)
Fireworks explode over Bowman Stadium as the 16 Little League Regional Champions line the infield before the Little League Classic baseball game between the Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates in Williamsport, Pa., Sunday, Aug. 18, 2019. (AP PhotoGene J. Puskar)
Chicago Cubs' Kris Bryant, center, talks with between Bowling Green, Kentucky's Grayson Newman, right, and Sol Guyer, left, in the stands at Volunteer Stadium during an International pool play baseball game at the Little League World Series tournament in South Williamsport, Pa., Sunday, Aug. 18, 2019. (AP PhotoTom E. Puskar)
The Cubs took two of three in the unusual weekend set and remain in a virtual tie with St. Louis for the top spot in the NL Central. It was the first road series win for Chicago since May 17-19 against Washington.
Chicago Cubs' Anthony Rizzo, left, celebrates with Kris Bryant (17) after hitting a two-run home run off Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Chris Stratton during the fifth inning of the Little League Classic baseball game at Bowman Stadium in Williamsport, Pa., Sunday, Aug. 18, 2019. (AP PhotoTom E. Puskar)
More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/MLB and www.twitter.com/AP_Sports
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Mitch Keller, foreground, collects himself on the mound as Chicago Cubs' Jason Heyward (22) rounds third base after hitting a solo home run during the third inning of the Little League Classic baseball game at Bowman Stadium in Williamsport, Pa., Sunday, Aug. 18, 2019. (AP PhotoTom E. Puskar)
Chicago Cubs' Anthony Rizzo is introduced before the Little League Classic baseball game against the Chicago Cubs at Bowman Stadium in Williamsport, Pa., on Sunday, Aug. 18, 2019. (AP PhotoGene J. Puskar)
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Mitch Keller, top right, delivers to Chicago Cubs' Nicholas Castellanos during the first inning of the Little League Classic baseball game at Bowman Stadium in Williamsport, Pa., Sunday, Aug. 18, 2019. Castellanos hit the pitch for a solo home run. (AP PhotoGene J. Puskar)
Fireworks explode over Bowman Stadium as the 16 Little League Regional Champions line the infield before the Little League Classic baseball game between the Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates in Williamsport, Pa., Sunday, Aug. 18, 2019. (AP PhotoGene J. Puskar)
Chicago Cubs' Kris Bryant, center, talks with between Bowling Green, Kentucky's Grayson Newman, right, and Sol Guyer, left, in the stands at Volunteer Stadium during an International pool play baseball game at the Little League World Series tournament in South Williamsport, Pa., Sunday, Aug. 18, 2019. (AP PhotoTom E. Puskar)
Roberto Perez drove in three runs, Michael Chavis broke a tie with a home run in the fourth inning, and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Chicago Cubs 4-2 on Friday night.
The Cubs were held scoreless over the final seven innings by Pirates left-hander Jose Quintana and four relievers in a game that started nearly six hours late because of forecasted inclement weather.
The Pirates have won two consecutive games, while the Cubs dropped their fourth consecutive game.
Pittsburgh Pirates' Michael Chavis is congratulated for his home run off Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Drew Smyly during the fourth inning of a baseball game Friday, April 22, 2022, in Chicago. (AP PhotoCharles Rex Arbogast)
Perez hit a two-run single in the second to snap a streak of 10 2/3 scoreless innings by Cubs left-hander Drew Smyly (1-1) to start the season. Perez led off the fifth with his first homer of the season to extend the Pirates’ lead.
After going hitless in his previous 10 at-bats, Perez has three hits in his last six at-bats.
Michael Hermosillo snapped an 0-for-12 slump to start the season by hitting a two-run double in the second to account for the Cubs’ scoring.
Chicago Cubs' Seiya Suzuki, right, dives safely back to first on a pickoff-attempt by Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher David Bednar, back left, to Michael Chavis (2) in the eighth inning of a baseball game Friday, April 22, 2022, in Chicago. (AP PhotoCharles Rex Arbogast)
Two batters earlier, Quintana was struck on the left leg by a line drive by Jonathan Villar but stayed in the game. Quintana, who pitched for the Cubs from 2017-20, pitched 4 2/3 innings, striking out three, walking three and giving up three hits.
Pirates relievers have held the Cubs scoreless over 10 1/3 innings in the first two games of this four-game series. Chicago's Nick Madrigal grounded to second with the tying run at first to give Chris Stratton his second save in as many nights. Chase De Jong (1-0) pitched two scoreless innings for the win.
Smyly pitched five innings, had four strikeouts, and gave up six hits, four runs and one walk.
Pittsburgh Pirates' Roberto Perez watches his home run off Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Drew Smyly in the fifth inning of a baseball game Friday, April 22, 2022, in Chicago. (AP PhotoCharles Rex Arbogast)
Seiya Suzuki snapped an 0-for-10 rut with a single to start the eighth, but reliever David Bednar struck out the next three batters.
A first-inning rally ended when Willson Contreras grounded into the Cubs’ major league-leading 17th double play.
Ke’Bryan Hayes hit a single in the first and is now 7-for-13 in four games against the Cubs and is batting .362 (17-for-47) lifetime against them.
Chicago Cubs' Michael Hermosillo watches his two-run double off Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jose Quintana in the second inning of a baseball game Friday, April 22, 2022, in Chicago. Cubs' Patrick Wisdom and Yan Gomes scored on the play. (AP PhotoCharles Rex Arbogast)
TRAINER’S ROOM
PIRATES: OF Anthony Alford (right wrist sprain) was reinstated from the 10-day IL. INF/OF Hoy Park was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis.
CUBS: OF Clint Frazier was placed on the 10-day injured list due to an appendicitis. OF Alfonso Rivas was recalled from Triple-A Iowa. … RHP Alec Mills (lower back strain) will make a rehab start Saturday at Iowa. … LHP Wade Miley (elbow soreness) threw a bullpen session Friday.
Chicago Cubs' Seiya Suzuki grounds into in force out the first inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Friday, April 22, 2022, in Chicago. (AP PhotoCharles Rex Arbogast)
UP NEXT
Pirates RHP Zach Thompson (0-1, 9.00) will face the Cubs on Saturday. Thompson allowed six runs in four innings Monday night in a 6-1 loss to the Brewers.
Cubs RHP Kyle Hendricks (0-1, 6.08) will take the mound against the Pirates. Hendricks allowed two runs in 4 1/3 innings Monday in a 4-2 win over the Rays.
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Drew Smyly delivers in the first inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Friday, April 22, 2022, in Chicago. (AP PhotoCharles Rex Arbogast)
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jose Quintana delivers in the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Friday, April 22, 2022, in Chicago. (AP PhotoCharles Rex Arbogast)
