Chatwood Fans 11, Cubs Beat Pirates 4-3

Tyler Chatwood matched a career high with 11 strikeouts in another terrific performance, and the Chicago Cubs used the long ball to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-3 on Saturday night.

Javier Báez, Kyle Schwarber and Ian Happ homered as Chicago won for the fifth time in six games. The Cubs have gone deep in each of their first eight games for the first time since 1958.

Chatwood (2-0) departed after Pittsburgh loaded the bases with two out in the seventh. Jeremy Jeffress came in and retired Phillip Evans on a grounder to third.

The Pirates got three in the ninth on Colin Moran’s two-run homer off Kyle Ryan and Gregory Polanco’s run-scoring groundout. But Rowan Wick coaxed pinch hitter José Osuna into a fielder’s choice for his third career save.

Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant was scratched because of gastrointestinal issues. David Bote replaced him at third.

Ross said Bryant would get a rapid response coronavirus test Sunday morning as a precaution, but the team thought it was just a stomach issue.