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Andrew McCutchen's three-run homer leads Pittsburgh Pirates past Chicago Cubs

By Tom Musick, The Sports Xchange
Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen (22) hits the ball. McCutchen's late three-run homer sealed a Pirates victory over the Cubs. File photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI
Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen (22) hits the ball. McCutchen's late three-run homer sealed a Pirates victory over the Cubs. File photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI | License Photo

CHICAGO -- Andrew McCutchen hit a go-ahead, three-run home run to cap a five-run seventh inning, and the Pittsburgh Pirates rallied for an 8-7 win over the Chicago Cubs on Saturday afternoon.

Francisco Cervelli, Starling Marte and Josh Harrison also homered as the Pirates erased a 6-2 deficit. Pittsburgh (5-6) has won back-to-back games after losing four in a row.

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Kris Bryant went 2-for-5 with two home runs and three RBIs for the Cubs. Addison Russell added a double, a triple and three RBIs for Chicago (6-5).

Pirates right-hander Trevor Williams (1-0) pitched a scoreless inning of relief to earn the win. Pittsburgh's comeback bailed out starting right-hander Tyler Glasnow, who allowed six runs (four earned) on six hits in five innings.

Cubs right-hander Pedro Strop (0-1) drew the loss after serving up McCutchen's three-run blast. Strop was one of four relief pitchers to follow starting right-hander Jake Arrieta, who allowed three earned runs in 5 2/3 innings.

Left-hander Tony Watson pitched a scoreless ninth inning to pick up his fourth save.

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With a steady wind blowing toward the outfield, Bryant hit a towering home run off the left-field scoreboard to give the Cubs a 2-0 lead in the first inning. The blast marked the reigning National League MVP's first home run of the season and the sixth ball to hit the left-field scoreboard since 2015.

Two batters later, Russell smacked a run-scoring triple to right-center field. Jason Heyward followed with a single that drove in Russell and made it 4-0.

The Pirates trimmed the deficit in half thanks to a solo home run by Cervelli in the second inning and a run-scoring single by Marte in the third.

Chicago pulled ahead 6-2 on a two-run double by Russell in the third inning.

As a hitter-friendly wind continued to blow, Marte hit a solo shot in the sixth inning to make it 6-3.

A five-run outburst in the seventh inning gave the Pirates an 8-6 lead. Harrison started the rally with a solo home run. Alen Hanson singled and scored on a hit by Adam Frazier.

With two men on, McCutchen drilled his second home run of the season to put the Pirates on top by two.

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Bryant hit a solo home run in the ninth to finish the scoring.

NOTES: Pirates OF Gregory Polanco was a late scratch from the lineup because of right groin discomfort. Polanco, 25, is hitting .278 with one RBI and four stolen bases in nine games. ... Cubs C Willson Contreras returned to the starting lineup after coming off the bench Friday. He went 0-for-3 with a walk. ... Pirates manager Clint Hurdle shuffled his defense to replace Polanco. Hurdle moved Josh Harrison from second base to left field, and he inserted Alen Hanson at second base for his first start of the season. ... Cubs OF Jason Heyward went 1-for-4 with an RBI to increase his hitting streak to four games.

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