The Cubs got down 1-0 but had men on base in every inning and finally broke through when Kris Bryant delivered a two-out RBI single in the fifth, which scored Jorge Soler to tie the contest 1-1.
Bryant, who tied the game with an RBI single in the fifth, is 6 for 14 (.429) with four RBI in four games since his much-anticipated callup from Triple-A Iowa on Friday. He was a spring training sensation, hitting nine home runs in 40 at-bats for the Cubs.
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Two innings later, Bryant did it again by doubling in Soler and Anthony Rizzo -- again with two outs -- while taking third on the throw to the plate and scoring on an error by the catcher. It wasn’t Bryant’s first career home run, but it plated three runs, nonetheless.
Meanwhile, after a rough first inning, Jake Arrieta settled down and even retired 16 batters in a row at one point. Starling Marte hit a solo home run in the ninth, but the Cubs held on for a great win. Soler had his first career four-hit game. Soler, Rizzo and Bryant all were on base four times, and the Cubs had 14 hits.
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In the past, the Cubs probably would have lost this contest 1-0. They had all sorts of chances in the early innings and couldn’t get the big hit, but now they have an offense that can keep going. Bryant is starting to feel it, as he has four RBIs in his first four career games. This might be the Cubs’ best win of the season.
For the second consecutive game, the Cubs’ starting pitcher -- batting eighth -- came up with men in scoring position and failed to deliver. Arrieta hit into an inning-ending double play in the fourth, after the Cubs had put men on first and third with none out. On Sunday, Jon Lester twice hit with the bases loaded and wasn’t able to produce.
Joe Maddon has said previously it’s the one drawback to the strategy -- when the pitcher comes up with two outs and men on or, in Arrieta’s case, when he hits into a double play.
Fan Injured
The game was delayed 23 minutes in the second inning after a female fan behind home plate was hit in the back of the head by a ball off the bat of Castro.
The woman was standing in the first row with her back toward the field when Castro fouled a ball straight back against the protective screen. The ball was hit with such force that it struck the fan.
The injured fan was eventually removed from the seating area on a stretcher. The Pirates said she was conscious and alert when she was taken to a hospital for testing.
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