Cubs 9, Pirates 6
PITTSBURGH - Anthony Rizzo's two-run home run, his 30th of the season, started a six-run fifth inning as the Chicago Cubs rallied for a 9-6 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday afternoon to take three of four games in the series between National League contenders.
The Cubs turned a 4-3 deficit into a 9-4 lead with the fifth-inning outburst that included a two-run double by left-handed reliever Clayton Richard (4-2) and RBI singles by rookie shortstop Addison Russell and second baseman Tommy La Stella.
The Cubs (85-61) got within two games of the Pirates (87-59) for the first wild-card berth. Chicago would also have home-field advantage in the wild-card game if they tie with the Pirates by virtue of clinching the season series with 10 wins in 16 games.
Both teams trail St. Louis (91-54) in the NL Central. The Cardinals play a night game against the Brewers at Milwaukee.
Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant had his second straight three-hit game. La Stella and Russell drove in two runs each and were two of four Chicago players with two hits along with Rizzo and center fielder Dexter Fowler.
Richard allowed two runs in 3 1/3 innings for the win. Left-hander Travis Wood pitched two scoreless innings for his second save, striking out five.
Pirates right-hander Charlie Morton (9-8) lost for the fourth time in five starts as he was rocked for six runs - five earned - and nine hits in four-plus innings with five strikeouts and two walks.
Right fielder Gregory Polanco and first baseman Pedro Alvarez both homered while finishing with two hits and two RBIs for the Pirates. Left fielder Travis Snider also went deep while second baseman Neil Walker and shortstop Jordy Mercer had two hits each.
Mercer replaced Jung Ho Kang in the top of the first inning when the rookie shortstop sustained an injury to his left knee when Cubs right fielder Chris Coghlan slid into while unsuccessfully attempting to break up a double play. The Pirates did not immediately provide a report of the severity of Kang's injury.
Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks lasted just three innings, allowing four runs, six hits and three home runs with five strikeouts and no walks.
Polanco hit an RBI single in the seventh and scored on Walker's double to pull the Pirates within 9-6.
The Pirates went ahead 4-3 in the third inning when Polanco led off with his ninth home run and Alvarez hit a two-run shot, his 24th.
The Cubs built an early 3-0 lead as a first-inning run came home on a double play grounder, and then Russell and La Stella had RBI doubles in the second.
Snider hit a solo homer in the second, his fourth of the season and first since the Pirates signed him last month after he was released by the Baltimore Orioles.
NOTES: Cubs RF Jorge Soler was activated from the 15-day disabled list a day earlier than expected, though he was not in the starting lineup. Soler had been out since Aug. 24 with a strained left oblique and was on a rehab assignment with Single-A Myrtle Beach. ... Pirates CF Andrew McCutchen got the day off after playing both games of Tuesday's doubleheader split and all 12 innings of Wednesday night's loss to the Cubs. ... The Cubs open a three-game home series with St. Louis on Friday afternoon with RHP Dan Haren (9-9, 3.87 ERA) facing Cardinals RHP Lance Lynn (11-10, 3.17 ERA). ... The Pirates begin a three-game series Friday night at Los Angeles as LHP Jeff Locke (8-10, 4.43 ERA) will oppose Dodgers RHP Zack Greinke (17-3, 1.61 ERA).