Carson Kelly drove in pinch-runner Scott Kingery with one out in the ninth inning to give the host Chicago Cubs a 7-6 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates Sunday.
Kelly’s RBI single delivered the Cubs’ first lead of the day as they rallied from deficits of 5-0 and 6-2 to avoid being swept. Cubs closer Daniel Palencia (1-0) tossed a scoreless ninth.
The Pirates wasted two home runs by Brandon Lowe. The second baseman drove in five runs with a grand slam in the second and a solo shot in the fifth. Jose Urquidy (0-1) was responsible for the ninth-inning rally.
Pinch-hitter Michael Conforto led off the ninth with a double to right, then stepped aside for Kingery. He stayed at second as Alex Bregman hustled out a hit to short. Ian Happ beat out a fielder’s choice to avoid a double play.
After Seiya Suzuki drew a full-count walk to load the bases, Kelly drove the first pitch he saw to right-center.
Pirates starter Bubba Chandler went 5 1/3 innings, giving up five hits and three earned runs. The 23-year-old right-hander walked two and struck out four in 91 pitches.
Cubs starter Jameson Taillon surrendered six earned runs and six hits in six innings. The right-hander only walked two and struck out 10 in 102 pitches. He came one strikeout short of tying his career high.
The Pirates led 5-0 after two innings as Oneil Cruz opened the game with a solo home run and Lowe hit his grand slam in the second.
Lowe made it 6-2 in the fifth by crushing a one-out homer to deep right field for his 10th multi-homer game. He owns five homers on the season, which account for all nine of his RBIs.
The Cubs had a chance to take the lead in the seventh when they loaded the bases with one out, but they only scored one.
Bregman hit a one-out popup just behind Lowe at second base. The infield fly rule was called, but Lowe fell down after making the catch and Dansby Swanson sprinted home to make it 6-4.
The Cubs tied it in the eighth by scoring a pair of runs off Pirates reliever Justin Lawrence. Pinch-hitter Michael Busch broke an 0-for-30 streak with a two-out single to drive in Suzuki from second. Pittsburgh left fielder Bryan Reynolds threw wide of the cutoff man and, as the ball rolled in the infield, Swanson sprinted home with the tying run.
