Clutch Homers Erase Slow Start as Pirates Down Cubs; New-Look Bullpen Holds on

Bryan Reynolds Andrew McCutchen Pittsburgh Pirates' Bryan Reynolds, right, celebrates with Andrew McCutchen, left, after hitting a three-run home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in Chicago, Monday, Sept. 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) (Nam Y. Huh/AP)

By Danny Demilio, Sports Now Group Pittsburgh

CHICAGO — This article originally appeared on PittsburghBaseballNOW.com.

It started out as another rough night at the plate, but eighth-inning home runs from Bryan Reynolds and Andrew McCutchen lifted the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 5-3 win over the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on Monday.

Recap

Dansby Swanson broke a scoreless tie with a solo home run to lead off the bottom of the third inning. With two outs in the fifth, Ian Happ delivered a two-run double to right field to extend the Cubs’ lead to 3-0.

All three runs came against Jared Jones, who was making his second start since coming off the injured list. Jones turned in a quality start, his 10th of the season. The right-hander went 6.1 innings, allowed six hits, walked one and struck out four. It marked the fourth time this season Jones worked into the sixth inning.

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