Joc Pederson's Two Homers Push Cubs Past Bucs 4-3

Today's Game: The Cubs got a two-out single off Cody Pence for a quiet first frame. Adam Frazier opened with a rap off Jake Arrieta followed by a Ben Gamel two-bagger. A passed ball got in one run and Jake Stalling's one-out knock plated a second tally. Chicago started off with back-to-back singles in the second, but a fly and around-the-horn DP cleaned that up. Will Craig doubled with one away and with two gone, Fraze was plunked in the foot before Gamel singled home Craig to make it 3-0. Well, it had to happen: Joc Pederson dropped a solo shot into the Clemente seats in the third. The Pirates went down in order. Cody kept the Cubs at bay in the fourth; a one down infield rap was erased via a 6-4-3 DP. Pittsburgh's bottom of the order went down after eight pitches. Arrieta singled with an out in the fifth and it cost; Pederson went deep again to tie the game. With two away, a Javy Baez double and Anthony Rizzo single (an "excuse me" flare against the shift) put the Cubs up, 4-3. Gamel walked with an out for the Pittsburgh response.

Ben Gamel broke out today - image Pgh Pirates

Clay Holmes came on in the sixth and tossed a clean frame. Keegan Thompson took the hill for Chi-town and walked Gregory Polanco; Erik Gonzalez rolled into a 6-4-3 DP and a K put it to bed. Sam Howard worked the seventh. A walk and one-out dying quail brought on David Bednar, who closed it down routinely. A walk and Wilmer Difo double with two outs, but Andrew Chafin, in for Thompson, fanned Bryan Reynolds; it was B-Rey's third whiff of the night and he's left six Bucs aboard. Chasen Shreve was the eighth inning choice and served up a 1-2-3 frame. Ryan Tepera did the same for Chicago. Richard Rodriguez gave up a double to the sizzling Pederson but still put up a goose egg in the ninth. Craig Kimbrell was greeted by a  Cole Tucker double to lead it off and Will Craig's fly moved him to third. But Ildemaro Vargas K'ed and Fraze's grounder closed it out.

Notes:

• Ben Gamel had two hits and a walk; Fraze posted a knock, walk and bop.
• Colin Moran, who has been out since May 9th, still leads the team in RBI with 19.
• The Pirates drew 6,750 to tonight's game.
• RHP Chad Kuhl went 3-1/3 IP in his second rehab outing for Indy. He gave up a run on a hit, two walks, and four strikeouts after 64 pitches. Hi-A Greensboro prospect RHP Quinn Priester tossed five shutout innings tonight; he did the same in his last start, also over five frames.

Tomorrow's Game: Game time is 6:35 and will be on AT&T SportsNet & 93.7 The Fan. The matchup is Wil Crowe going against Trevor Williams.