In a tense encounter at Wrigley Field, the Pittsburgh Pirates faced off against the Chicago Cubs in a tightly contested game that ultimately ended with a 3-2 win for the Cubs in extra innings. This defeat concluded a difficult four-game stretch for the Pirates, who dropped three games to their divisional rivals. Pittsburgh now holds a 29-44 overall record, struggling particularly on the road with a 10-25 mark, while the Cubs improved to 44-28, bolstered by a strong 23-12 home record.
Oneil Cruz Ignites Pirates’ Early Offense
The game opened with a burst of energy from Pirates’ center fielder Oneil Cruz, who led off with a single off Cubs right-hander Colin Rea. Momentum quickly built as Bryan Reynolds grounded out, allowing second baseman Nick Gonzales to follow with a single. First baseman Spencer Horwitz then delivered a clutch hit, driving Cruz home from second base and placing runners on first and third with no outs. Pittsburgh capitalized further when Gonzales scored on a broken-bat grounder, pushing the lead to 2-0 early in the game—a cushion that starter Mitch Keller had not enjoyed in an opening inning since September 2024 against Washington.
Pitching Duel Between Keller and Rea
Despite the promising start for Pittsburgh, the Cubs responded swiftly. Keller issued a walk to left fielder Ian Happ, who then stole second and later scored after consecutive groundouts by Pete Crow-Armstrong and Seiya Suzuki. The Cubs tied the game at 2-2 with a ground-rule double by Michael Busch and a single from Dansby Swanson. Both Keller and Rea settled into a strong pitching duel over the next five innings, limiting damage. Rea allowed only one walk and one hit while striking out four, and Keller matched with one walk, one hit, and three strikeouts. Keller’s outing marked his 11th quality start of the season, tying for the MLB lead, though his personal record remained at 1-9.
Strong Relief Pitching Keeps Game Intense
The Pirates’ bullpen showed resilience, especially through right-handed reliever Mattson, who retired all six batters he faced over the seventh and eighth innings. Impressively, Mattson has now faced 30 straight batters without issuing a walk, lowering his ERA to 0.93 over seven appearances this season. The Cubs’ bullpen also held firm, with Michael Thielbar, Genesis Cabrera, and Ryan Pressly each pitching a scoreless inning, maintaining the tightly contested nature of the game.
Extra Innings Tension and Decisive Moments
In the ninth inning, Pirates’ pitcher Dennis Santana managed two quick outs but allowed vital hits—a single from Swanson and a double from Nico Hoerner—creating a tense situation. Santana demonstrated poise by escaping the inning on a groundout from Justin Turner, forcing the game into extra innings. The top of the tenth saw the Pirates unable to produce against the Cubs’ defense, with Hoerner’s diving stop ending the inning and leaving Adam Frazier stranded on second base. The bottom half featured Cubs pitcher David Bednar issuing an intentional walk to Kyle Tucker, setting up a double steal. While Bednar struck out Jon Berti, Ian Happ’s clutch single broke the deadlock, handing the Cubs the walk-off 3-2 victory.
Looking Ahead to Upcoming Challenges
After this exhausting contest, the Pirates will pause briefly before starting a three-game road series against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park from June 17 to June 19. This series offers Pittsburgh a chance to regroup after a difficult stretch and build on the efforts of key contributors like Oneil Cruz and Mitch Keller. Their continued determination and performance will be crucial as the Pirates aim to improve their standing in the challenging months ahead.