Cubs collect 17 hits in rout of Pirates
PITTSBURGH -- The Chicago Cubs scored early and often against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday, cruising to a 14-3 victory at PNC Park.
The Cubs battered Pirates starter Chad Kuhl and led 10-1 after two innings. Jason Heyward hit a three-run homer and had four RBIs, and Addison Russell had four of the Cubs' 17 hits. Kris Bryant and Miguel Montero each collected three hits.
Kuhl (1-2) lasted 1 2/3 innings, giving up nine runs and eight hits while walking four.
Cubs starter Brett Anderson (2-0) yielded three runs (one earned) in six innings, allowing five hits and six walks while striking out three.
Kuhl, who was 5-4 with the Pirates last season, his first in the majors, got two quick outs to start the game, then fell apart. He walked Anthony Rizzo and then Ben Zobrist after Rizzo stole second. Russell singled through the right side. A strong throw from right fielder Jose Osuna set up a close play at the plate, but Rizzo slammed into catcher Francisco Cervelli and the ball popped loose.
The Cubs led 1-0, but not for long. Heyward slammed Kuhl's first pitch, a 94 mph fastball, 402 feet over the wall in right-center field and the Pirates trailed 4-0 before their first at-bat.
History seemed to repeat in the bottom of the first for the Bucs when Anderson walked Andrew McCutchen and Gregory Polanco with two outs, and David Freese singled to score McCutchen and make it 4-1. But the mimicry ended there. Cervelli lined out to second, stranding runners at the corners.
Kuhl ran into more trouble in the second inning. With one out, Kyle Schwarber singled and Bryant doubled, Schwarber stopping at third. Rizzo was intentionally walked, loading the bases, and Zobrist lined a shot to right field. Osuna leaped and got his glove on it but the ball went off the wall for a bases-clearing double and the Cubs led, 7-1.
Russell singled Zobrist to third and Heyward grounded out, scoring Zobrist. After Montero was intentionally walked, Anderson, batting eighth, singled to drive in Russell, and it was 9-1.
The Cubs scored their 10th run in the third on a wild pitch that caromed back to Cervelli, who raced back to the plate and tagged Schwarber but dropped the ball. It seemed fitting.
NOTES: Pirates RHP Chad Kuhl's ERA ballooned from 2.60 to 6.63. ... With his four RBIs, Chicago CF Jason Heyward has knocked in 11 runs in his past four games. He also drove in four runs on Saturday. ... Cubs 1B Anthony Rizzo hit a towering foul ball measured at 429 feet that splashed into the Allegheny River beyond right field, and he walked twice, but his major-league-leading 12-game hitting streak ended. ... Pirates CF Andrew McCutchen was lifted in the top of the fourth with the Pirates trailing 10-1. Others soon followed to the bench.