Chicago Cubs vs Pittsburgh Pirates Box Score on Jun 16, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Jun 16, 2017

PITTSBURGH -- The Chicago Cubs erupted for six runs in the ninth inning Friday night in a 9-5 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park.

The Cubs, who blew an early 3-0 lead, trailed 4-3 entering the ninth. The damage, against three Pirates pitchers, was done by Willson Contreras (RBI double), John Jay (RBI single), Anthony Rizzo (two-run single) and Addison Russell (two-run double).

Juan Nicasio (1-3) took the loss after giving up four runs and three hits in the ninth.

Koji Uehara (2-3) pitched a scoreless eighth for the win.

Pittsburgh (30-37), which has lost two in a row, got three RBIs from Josh Bell on a homer and a triple. Andrew McCutchen drove in Bell with a single in the sixth for a 4-3 lead.

McCutchen doubled and scored on Francisco Cervelli's single in the ninth to make it 9-5.

Chicago (33-33) had lost 10 of its past 11 road games and avoided matching a season low of two games below .500.

Cubs starter Eddie Butler allowed four runs and four hits with three walks and no strikeouts through 5 2/3 innings after initially shutting down the Pirates.

Butler did not allow a hit through 3 1/3 innings. He pitched to the minimum number of batters to that point. McCutchen was the only runner in that stretch, with a two-out walk in the second, but he was picked off first.

Pittsburgh starter Trevor Williams, who was 2-1 in his previous six starts, allowed three runs, all in the first inning, on four hits, with three strikeouts and two walks.

The first eight Cubs batters reached -- two walks, two singles, two double and two fielder's choices. Williams then retired 12 in a row before leaving for a pinch hitter in the fifth after throwing 76 pitches.

Things got heated quickly when Rizzo, the first batter of the game, hit a 1-1 ball over the right-field stands and into the Allegheny River on one bounce. It was initially called a homer -- it would have been his third leadoff homer in as many games -- but was changed to a foul ball upon an umpires' review.

Cubs manager Joe Maddon was among the Chicago contingent who argued vehemently, and he got ejected from the game.

Rizzo eventually walked, and while he was later thrown out at third, Chicago scored three times in the first.

Ian Happ scored from third on a wild pitch and Contreras doubled in two more runs for a 3-0 lead, although he was out at third trying for a triple to end the inning.

Pittsburgh didn't manufacture anything out of its first hit, a one-out single by Josh Harrison in the fourth, but its second hit off Butler was Bell's leadoff homer to left center in the fifth, making it 3-1.

In the sixth, Bell chased Butler with a two-out, two-run triple off the right-field wall to tie it 3-3.

McCutchen greeted reliever Pedro Strop with an infield single, bringing home Bell for a 4-3 Pirates lead.

NOTES: Chicago 2B Ben Zobrist was put in the 10-day disabled list, retroactive to Tuesday, because of left wrist inflammation. ... The Cubs recalled 3B Tommy La Stella from Triple-A Iowa to take Zobrist's roster spot. ... Pittsburgh signed RHP Shane Baz, the 12th overall selection in the draft earlier in the week. He turns 18 Saturday and will begin his pro career in the Gulf Coast League. ... Before Cubs RHP and starter Eddie Butler threw a pitch, there was a delay while a trainer came to the mound and cut away his long sleeves under his uniform top after the umpires objected to his sleeves being rolled up. ... The teams honored the Negro Leagues as part of an African-American heritage celebration, with the Pirates wearing Homestead Grays throwback uniforms and Chicago wearing Leland Giants throwback uniforms.