Esmerlyn Valdez's homer caps five-run first, Pirates send skidding Cubs to 10th straight loss 12-1

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Esmerlyn Valdez hit a two-run home run to cap a five-run first inning on Tuesday night and the Pittsburgh Pirates routed the skidding Cubs 12-1 to extend Chicago’s losing streak to 10 games.

The rookie became the seventh player in Pirates’ history to hit two home runs within the first four games of his major league career and the first since Austin Meadows in 2018.

The Cubs are just the second team in major league history to have two 10-game winning streaks and one 10-game losing streak in the same season, joining the 2017 Los Angeles Dodgers, according to Elias Sports Bureau.

It is also the Cubs’ longest losing streak since 2022.

Braxton Ashcraft (4-3) allowed one run on seven hits in 6 1/3 innings while striking out five and walking one. He is 3-0 with a 1.82 ERA in five starts in May.

Valdez’s homer gave the Pirates a 5-0 lead after Bryan Reynolds hit a two-run double earlier in the first off Jordan Wicks (0-1), who was recalled from Triple-A Iowa on Sunday to bolster an injury-depleted rotation. Wicks was rocked for eight runs in 4 1/3 innings.

Spencer Horwitz also homered for the Pirates, who won their third consecutive game. Oneil Cruz had three hits and Brandon Lowe, Reynolds, Nick Gonzales and Horwitz added two each. Valdez drove in three runs.

Konnor Griffin, a 20-year-old rookie shortstop, became the youngest leadoff hitter for the Pirates since 1952. He was 1 for 4 with a walk and two runs scored.

The Cubs’ Alex Bregman and Carson Kelly had two hits each. Chicago went 1 for 12 with runners in scoring position and stranded nine runners.

Cubs RHP Jameson Taillon (2-4, 5.20 ERA) faces rookie RHP Bubba Chandler (1-6, 4.60) on Wednesday night in the third game of the four-game series.

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Pittsburgh Pirates' Bryan Reynolds (10) score behind Chicago Cubs catcher Carson Kelly on a single by Oneil Cruz off Cubs pitcher Jordan Wicks during the first inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Henry Davis, right, gets the force out at home plate on Chicago Cubs' Michael Busch (29) who was forced from third on a fielder's choice by Cubs' Moisés Ballesteros during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Braxton Ashcraft delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Pirates' Esmerlyn Valdez celebrates as he crosses home plate after hitting a two-run home run off Chicago Cubs pitcher Jordan Wicks during the first inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Pirates' Esmerlyn Valdez hits a two-run home run off Chicago Cubs pitcher Jordan Wicks during the first inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Arizona third baseman Nolan Arenado left the Diamondbacks’ 7-5 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday night in the seventh inning because of groin tightness.

Arenado was replaced at third base by Jose Fernandez to start the bottom of the seventh after going 1 for 2 with a walk and a run scored. The Diamondbacks announced Arenado was removed with tightness in his right groin.

“I told (Arenado) let’s be smart about this," manager Torey Lovullo said after the win. “He’s day to day, so we’ll see how he feels tonight and tomorrow morning. We feel like he’s going to be OK, feel like he’s in a good spot.”

In the locker room, Arenado said he felt his groin tighten in the second inning while running from first to home. He then felt it worsen in the sixth after beating out a grounder to reach first base.

“Obviously, a little tight right now, but I didn’t feel a pull or anything,” Arenado said. “It was more precautionary than anything."

Arenado will not undergo imaging on his right groin.

The 10-time Gold Glove winner and eight-time All-Star is hitting .271 overall with seven home runs and 27 RBIs in his first season with Arizona. Arenado was acquired from St. Louis along with $31 million in January for right-hander Jack Martinez.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Nolan Arenado fields a ground ball hit by San Francisco Giants' Casey Schmitt, which was turned into a double play, during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, May 25, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)