Cubs 3, Pirates 2
Jason Hammel pitched 6 2/3 strong innings and Mike Olt belted his first major-league homer as visiting Chicago salvaged the finale of the three-game series.
Emilio Bonifacio contributed two hits and scored twice to finish the series 11-of-16 with four stolen bases while Anthony Rizzo knocked in a run for the Cubs. Hammel (1-0) allowed one run on two hits and struck out five in his Chicago debut while Pedro Strop worked around a leadoff single in the ninth for his first save.
Pirates starter Wandy Rodriguez (0-1) allowed three runs, five hits and struck out five over six innings while delivering a single in his only at-bat. Tony Sanchez, who had the winning hit in Pittsburgh’s 16-inning triumph over the Cubs the night before, drove in a pair of runs.
Bonifacio singled to lead off the first inning, stole second with two outs and scored on Rizzo’s opposite-field single to left-center. Olt lifted his homer into the first row of the right-field seats on a 3-2 pitch in the second and Bonifacio scored on Justin Ruggiano’s double-play grounder in the third for a 3-0 lead.
Hammel retired 13 in a row before leaving after a two-out walk in the seventh and Sanchez singled home two runs off reliever Justin Grimm later in the inning to bring Pittsburgh within 3-2. Brian Schlitter came on for the Cubs to get Pedro Alvarez on a grounder with two on and two out in the eighth.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Chicago SS Starlin Castro recorded his first hit of the season after going 0-of-9 in the first two contests. … Cubs manager Rick Renteria earned his first career victory. … The Cubs, who avoided their first 0-3 start since 1997, open at home against Philadelphia while the Pirates host St. Louis to start a three-game series on Friday.