Russell Martin had two hits, two runs scored and the game-winning sacrifice fly in the eighth inning to help the Pittsburgh Pirates top the Chicago Cubs, 7-6, in the opener of a three-game set at Wrigley Field.
Pittsburgh's led 6-4 through five, but the Cubs tacked on a run in both the sixth and seventh innings to tie it. Pedro Strop (0-1) took the hill for Chicago in the top of the eighth and walked a pair before giving way to James Russell, who surrendered a walk to Pedro Alvarez to load the bags for Martin. His sac fly to right plated Starling Marte for the final margin.
Tony Watson (2-0) took the win after yielding a run in the seventh, Mark Melancon worked a perfect bottom of the eighth and Jason Grilli shut the door in the ninth for his second save of the season.
Alvarez and Travis Ishikawa drove in two runs apiece for Pittsburgh, which took 2-of-3 from Chicago to start the season. Marte scored three times and stole two bags in the triumph.
Emilio Bonifacio and Starlin Castro had three hits apiece for the Cubs, with the latter posting his first career multi-homer game. Castro drove in four of Chicago's six runs.
[SportsNetwork.com]
