Pirates claim series-opening win vs. Cubs
PITTSBURGH -- A four-run seventh inning helped the Pittsburgh Pirates defeat the Chicago Cubs 8-4 Friday at PNC Park.
Chicago trailed 3-0 following a troubling second inning for right-hander Jake Arrieta, which started with a lead-off home run from third baseman David Freese, but came back to take a 4-3 lead with three runs coming off home runs by Anthony Rizzo and Miguel Montero in the sixth and seventh innings, respectively.
That lead didn't last.
Arrieta, who faced Pirates left-hander Francisco Liriano, left the game after allowing three straight hits to start the seventh inning, punctuated by a John Jaso single that scored Adam Frazier from third base to tie the game 4-4.
The Pirates took a 5-4 lead when Rizzo tossed Gregory Polanco's dribbler behind left-handed pitcher Travis Wood, allowing Josh Bell to score in his MLB debut. Andrew McCutchen then added a sixth run with his third hit of the game, a single to center field.
Starling Marte grounded out to second base, but the Cubs weren't able to turn a double play, allowing Eric Fryer to score and push the Pirates' lead to three runs.
Matt Joyce scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the eighth inning to put Pittsburgh ahead 8-4.
Pittsburgh (45-42) has won eight of its past nine games. Chicago (52-34) lost its fourth straight.
After going down in order in the first inning, the Pirates scored three runs on two homers in the second.
Freese led off the inning with his 10th home run of the season on a 1-0 pitch, going to the opposite field just over the right-field wall and inside the foul pole. The home run was Pittsburgh's first off Arrieta since Sept. 13, 2013, when Garrett Jones hit Pittsburgh's last of three home runs in four pitches.
Marte followed Freese's home run with a single to left field through shortstop Addison Russell. Marte stole second base before advancing to third on Josh Harrison's flyout to center field.
Shortstop Sean Rodriguez took Arrieta deep to left field for his eighth home run of the season. Arrieta cleaned up the inning with back-to-back strikeouts of catcher Erik Kratz and Liriano but trailed 3-0.
Friday marked the first time that Arrieta surrendered at least one home run in three consecutive starts since July 2011, when he allowed a home run in five straight starts with the Baltimore Orioles.
The three earned runs allowed in the second equaled the combined total of the earned runs Arrieta allowed in his previous six starts against Pittsburgh.
The Cubs got one run back in the top of the fourth when center fielder Jason Heyward tripled off the center-field wall before scoring on third baseman Javier Baez's groundout to cut the Pirates' lead to 3-1.
NOTES: The Cubs didn't arrive in Pittsburgh until early Friday morning after losing 4-3 in 11 innings to the Braves after the start of the game on Thursday was delayed by rain. ... Chicago moved OF Kris Bryant from right field to left on Friday. Ben Zobrist, who started in right field on Thursday, moved to second base and hit leadoff. INF Javier Baez replaced Tommy La Stella at third base. Baez played second base on Thursday. C Miguel Montero replaced Willson Contreras in the starting lineup. ... The Pirates promoted 1B Josh Bell from Triple-A Indianapolis and optioned RHP Tyler Glasnow a day after he made his major league debut. Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said Bell, the Pirates' third-best prospect according to Baseball America, would be used as a bat off of the bench in the weekend series. ... LF Starling Marte re-entered Pittsburgh's lineup after taking a day off during its 5-1 loss to the Cardinals on Thursday.