Cubs edge Pirates 4-3; crucial 5-game series with Brewers next

Dansby Swanson hit a tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the eighth inning, and the Chicago Cubs beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-3 on Sunday in the rubber game of the weekend series.

Pete Crow-Armstrong and Ian Happ each had two hits for Chicago, which had dropped four of five before a 3-1 victory Saturday.

Next up is a big five-game series against major league-leading Milwaukee, beginning with a split doubleheader Monday at Wrigley Field. The Cubs are eight games back of the Brewers in the NL Central.

Caleb Thielbar (3-3) got one out for the win, and Andrew Kittredge pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his first save.

RHP Cade Horton (7-3, 3.07 ERA) will start Game 1 on Monday. Manager Craig Counsell declined to announce his starter for the second game of the doubleheader.



(AP Photo Mark Black)