PITTSBURGH -- Andrew McCutchen’s late hit and some solid work by the bullpen were enough to get the Pirates back into the win column Wednesday, hanging on to beat the Cubs, 4-3.
Pirates starter Carmen Mlodzinski was efficient through four innings, but was pulled after putting the first two runners of the fifth on rather than face the lineup a third time. The Cubs would rally for three runs in the inning, aided by a couple Ryan Borucki wild pitches, but that was all they would muster on the night.
Even with the short leash, it was arguably Mlodzinski’s best start as he adapts to his new role. He allowed two runs over four innings, scattering six hits and a walk with four strikeouts.
Down 3-2 in the seventh with a couple runners on, McCutchen rolled a ground ball through the infield that deflected off shortstop Dansby Swanson’s glove. It squirted away enough that it turned into a two-run double, plating Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Bryan Reynolds. Ke’Bryan Hayes and Jared Triolo picked up RBIs earlier in the night.
Chase Shugart and Caleb Ferguson combined to get nine outs, and David Bednar closed out his first home save of the season.
During McCutchen’s hit, a fan fell from the stands in right field and was transported to nearby Allegheny General Hospital. No further information is available at this time.
“I want to offer thoughts and prayers with the incident that happened earlier in the game,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said postgame, “and thank both our medical staff, the Cubs' medical staff, EMS, everybody that got to the gentleman, and just ask everybody to keep him in your prayers."
The Pirates’ clubhouse was closed postgame.