×
X logo

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox.

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)

You may opt-out anytime by clicking "unsubscribe" from the newsletter or from your account.

Newman’s RBI Single Wins It for Bucs

Pittsburgh Pirates' Kevin Newman (27) is doused by teammate Melky Cabrera, right, as they celebrate after Newman drove in the winning run against the Chicago Cubs in the bottom of the ninth inning of a baseball game, Friday, Aug. 16, 2019, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

PITTSBURGH — Kevin Newman felt the entire crowd on his side when he stepped to the plate in the ninth inning of a tie game.

Pinch-hitter Cole Tucker drew a bases-loaded walk and Newman hit an RBI single, all with two out, as the Pittsburgh Pirates rallied to beat the Cubs 3-2 on Friday night.

Tucker worked a walk off Brandon Kintzler (2-2), and Newman followed with a single to center field on a full count for his third game-ending hit of the season.

“It’s funny, but I was up there as the crowd was getting really wild and I felt kind of like everybody was on my side in the crowd,” Newman said. “I know there were a good amount of Cubs’ fans there, but it was kind of like it was everybody and me against the Cubs.”

Kintzler walked three batters in 1/3 of an inning, including an intentional walk to Josh Bell with two outs and the Cubs leading 2-1. Erik Gonzalez entered as a pinch runner for Bell and scored on Newman’s single.

Kintzler was activated from the injured list prior to the game after missing 10 days with right pectoral inflammation. The Cubs are without closer Craig Kimbrel, who is on the injured list with right knee inflammation.

“I didn’t anticipate that part. None of us did,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon said of the walks. “He’s been so good for all year. It’s unfortunate. Kintzler’s the right guy right there. It didn’t play out.”

“They put up some good at-bats,” Kintzler said. “I just got tired, I think, and the legs got a little wobbly.”

Tucker’s walk on a seven-pitch plate appearance kept the Pirates’ rally alive. A rookie shortstop like Newman, Tucker was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis prior to the game.

“I calmed down and felt really good up there,” Tucker said. “I felt like I had done it before, even though I hadn’t. That’ll probably be the coolest walk I’ll ever have in my career.”

The Cubs fell to 23-39 on the road. They have also lost 17 of their last 25 games away from Wrigley Field. The loss left Chicago a game behind the NL Central-leading St. Louis.

The Pirates won for the third time in four games after losing 24 of their previous 28.

Tony Kemp’s two-run triple in the eighth inning off closer Felipe Vazquez gave the Cubs a 2-1 lead.

Joe Musgrove carried a shutout into the eighth before giving up consecutive singles to Jonathan Lucroy and pinch-hitter Ian Happ with one out. Musgrove was charged with two runs in 7 1/3 innings, giving up four hits and no walks. He matched his career high with nine strikeouts.

Musgrove retired his first 11 batters before Kris Bryant singled with two outs in the fourth inning. He also set down 10 straight hitters before the hits in the eighth inning.

“It was probably the best I felt all year,” Musgrove said.

Keone Kela (2-0) pitched a scoreless ninth for the win.

Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks allowed only one run and three hits in seven innings with one strikeout and one walk.

The Pirates’ Colin Moran had an RBI single in the fourth.

R0STER MOVES

Cubs: In addition to Kintzler being activated, INF Addison Russell was recalled from Triple-A Iowa and CF Albert Almora Jr. and RHP James Norwood were optioned there.

GM Jed Hoyer said Almora is expected to be recalled Sept. 1, when the roster limit expands to 40 from 25. Almora made 75 starts in center field and hit .232 with 12 home runs and 32 RBIs in 114 games.

Pirates: RHP Geoff Hartlieb was optioned to Indianapolis to clear a roster spot for Tucker. The Pirates wanted an extra position player because INF/OF Jose Osuna is two games into the five-game suspension he received from Major League Baseball for his part in a fight at Cincinnati on July 30.

Tucker made his major-league debut April 20.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cubs: SS Javier Baez (illness) and CF Jason Heyward (left knee inflammation) returned after being held of the lineup in Thursday night’s loss at Philadelphia. . INF Daniel Descalso (sprained left ankle) will begin a rehab assignment with Iowa on Saturday.

Pirates: C Jason Stallings (migraine) started after being scratched from Wednesday’s loss at the Los Angeles Angels.

UP NEXT

Cubs LHP Jon Lester (9-8, 4.48 ERA) faces LHP Steven Brault (3-1, 4.33) on Saturday. Lester is winless in his last five starts, going 0-2 with a 7.00. Brault has had two no-decisions, allowing six runs in 10 innings, since missing a month with a strained shoulder.

DODGERS 8, BRAVES 3

ATLANTA (AP) — Cody Bellinger hit his 41st home run, Max Muncy and Justin Turner connected against reliever Sean Newcomb in the seventh inning, and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Atlanta Braves in a matchup of NL division leaders.

It was nothing new for the powerful Dodgers, who set a major league record with 22 homers in a five-game span when Will Smith launched a two-run shot off Jerry Blevins in the eighth.

The Dodgers improved to 18-6 against Atlanta since 2016, using Muncy’s three-run homer and Turner’s solo shot to lead 6-3 after Newcomb (5-3) relieved starter Mike Soroka.

Muncy’s go-ahead homer sailed into the seats in right-center. Turner followed with a drive to the same part of the ballpark, the 14th time the Dodgers have gone back-to-back this season.

Adam Kolarek (5-3) earned the win as the NL West leaders improved to 13-3 since July 30.

YANKEES 3, INDIANS 2

NEW YORK (AP) — Masahiro Tanaka pitched effectively into the seventh inning, Aaron Judge broke out of his slump with two hits and two runs, and New York rebounded from its worst home loss of the season.

New York (82-42) clinched its 27th consecutive winning record since 1993, the second-longest streak in major league history behind the Yankees’ run of 39 seasons from 1926-64.

Gary Sanchez and Gleyber Torres each had an RBI single for the AL East leaders, who increased their cushion to 10¢ games over Tampa Bay. They won for the 15th time in 18 tries and bounced right back from a 19-5 defeat Thursday night in the opener of this four-game series.

Cleveland, neck-and-neck with Minnesota atop the AL Central and leading the wild-card standings, lost for only the fourth time in its last 19 road games. The Indians are a big league-best 45-19 since June 4.

PHILLIES 8, PADRES 4

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Bryce Harper homered for the third straight game, Roman Quinn and J.T. Realmuto also went deep as Philadelphia beat San Diego.

The Phillies had 12 hits, and tied their season-high winning streak at four while pulling even with the Chicago Cubs for the second NL wild-card spot.

San Digeo has lost four of five.

Vince Velasquez (5-7) allowed three runs on five hits in 5 1/3 innings with six strikeouts and two walks.

Chris Paddack (7-6) took the loss. He allowed five runs – four earned – on nine hits in 4 2/3 innings.

NATIONALS 2, BREWERS 1

WASHINGTON (AP) — Anthony Rendon hit a tiebreaking RBI double in the eighth inning, and Washington beat Milwaukee.

The Nationals’ five-game winning streak matched their longest of the season.

Washington shortstop Trea Turner led off the eighth with a walk off Junior Guerra (6-4), moved to second on Adam Eaton’s sacrifice and scored on Rendon’s double off the wall in right.

Rendon also drove in Washington’s first run with a double in the third.

Hunter Strickland (1-1) worked a scoreless eighth in his first decision since the Nationals acquired him from Seattle on July 31. Sean Doolittle finished up for his 28th save in 33 tries.

Milwaukee shortstop Orlando Arcia hit his 13th homer of the season.

TIGERS 2, RAYS 0

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Daniel Norris, Drew VerHagen and Joe Jimenez combined on a five-hitter to outpitch Charlie Morton, and Detroit beat Tampa Bay.

Norris went the first three innings, VerHagen (3-2) gave up only three hits over the next five and Jimenez earned his third save by striking out Eric Sogard with two men on base to end the game.

Morton (13-5) gave up one unearned run on three hits in seven innings. It was the 19th time in 26 starts he has given up two runs or less, and the 20th time he has given up five hits or less.

RED SOX 9, ORIOLES 1

BOSTON (AP) — Andrew Benintendi and Mitch Moreland each hit RBI triples in the fourth inning, Rick Porcello held the Orioles to one run over six innings, and Boston beat Baltimore.

Porcello (11-9) allowed four hits and a pair of walks while striking out two.

Benintendi finished 3-for-4 with two RBIs, Mookie Betts hit a solo home run and Chris Owings drove in two for the Red Sox, who have won three straight games and six of their last 10.

Trey Mancini drove in the only run for Baltimore in its fifth straight loss. The Orioles have dropped nine of 10, with seven losses coming to the New York Yankees.

Orioles starter Aaron Brooks (2-7) gave up five runs on eight hits in 5 1/3 innings.

BLUE JAYS 7, MARINERS 3

TORONTO (AP) — Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Randal Grichuk hit back-to-back home runs, Jacob Waguespack won his third straight decision and Toronto beat Seattle.

Derek Fisher and Danny Jansen also went deep for the Blue Jays, who have hit 110 home runs since June 16. The New York Yankees entered play Friday with a major league-leading 112 homers in the same span. The Blue Jays have hit back-to-back homers 12 times this season, breaking the team record set in 1999.

Toronto has won five of seven and 12 of 18. The Mariners have lost five of eight and 10 of 13.

Waguespack (4-1) allowed two runs and five hits in 5 1/3 innings, winning for the third time in three starts.

Wade LeBlanc (6-7) has lost four straight decisions. He allowed seven runs and matched a career-worst by giving up 11 hits in seven innings.

CARDINALS 13, REDS 4

CINCINNATI (AP) — Dexter Fowler hit a three-run homer and drove in four runs, Paul DeJong and Paul Goldschmidt added two-run shots and St. Louis rocked Luis Castillo in romp over Cincinnati.

Kolten Wong had a solo homer among his four hits and Fowler, Marcell Ozuna and Tommy Edman each had three as the Cardinals piled up a season-high 18 hits and moved into sole possession of first place in the NL Central.

Rookie sensation Aristides Aquino, who was the first player since 1900 to hit at least nine home runs in his first 14 games, made it a record 10 in 16 with a two-run shot deep into the left-field seats in Cincinnati’s three-run sixth.

Castillo (11-5) tied his career highs with nine hits and three homers allowed, and set a career worst by yielding eight runs in 4 1/3 innings. The All-Star right-hander had three strikeouts.

Adam Wainwright (9-8) improved to 4-1 over his last seven starts. He allowed eight hits and four runs with one walk and six strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings.

ROCKIES 3, MARLINS 0

DENVER (AP) — Jon Gray struck out seven in eight strong innings and Nolan Arenado and Ryan McMahon homered for the second straight game, leading Colorado over Miami.

Gray scattered five hits and didn’t walk a batter in his best outing of the season. He threw 100 pitches and was an inning short of the second complete game of his career.

McMahon hit a two-run homer in the second inning, his 15th of the season.

Miami’s Sandy Alcantara (4-11) was nearly as good as Gray, going seven innings and allowing just three hits. He walked four, including one ahead of McMahon’s homer, and struck out just two. He retired the last seven batters he faced.

Arenado homered in the eighth, his 28th. Scott Oberg got the final three outs for his fifth save.

TWINS 4, RANGERS 3

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Max Kepler and Jonathan Schoop hit two-run home runs and Minnesota beat Texas.

The Twins increased their AL Central lead to 1¢ games over the Cleveland Indians, who lost Friday night.

Schoop homered in the seventh inning following a one-out single by Marwin Gonzalez. Kepler hit his team-leading 33rd homer in the fourth inning on the first pitch after Miguel Sano reached when Rougned Odor dropped a popup in shallow right field.

Mike Minor (11-7) allowed all four runs in losing for the first time in four starts.

Sam Dyson (5-1) earned his first win since being acquired from the San Francisco Giants on July 31 with a scoreless seventh inning. Sergio Romo pitched a scoreless ninth for his third save in four tries since being acquired from Miami.

ROYALS 4, METS 1

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Mike Montgomery outpitched Noah Syndergaard, and Kansas City ended its 22-inning scoreless drought in a win over New York.

The Mets have lost four of five after a 15-1 stretch propelled them into the crowded NL wild-card race.

Montgomery (3-5) pitched six strong innings and allowed just one unearned run on five hits while striking out three and walking two. Ian Kennedy tossed a scoreless ninth for his 21st save in 24 opportunities.

Syndergaard (8-6) threw six innings and allowed just the two runs on five hits with six strikeouts, snapping a streak of six consecutive starts of at least seven innings. But after an RBI single from Michael Conforto in the third, the Mets couldn’t generate anything else on offense.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.73/week.

Subscribe Today