Pirates Bulldozed by Cubs on Stolen Bases, Hits Galore

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates allowed a season-high 21 hits and eight stolen bases to the Chicago Cubs and were blown out 18-8 at PNC Park on Monday night.

Recap

Five different Cubs’ players stole at least one base against Pirates’ pitching and catcher Yasmani Grandal. Pete Crow-Armstrong led the Cubs with three steals and Ian Happ added a pair. The Cubs went a perfect eight-for-eight in stolen base attempts. 

Mitch Keller struggled with efficiency and was only able to go four innings. The Cubs (66-66) jumped ahead 2-0 in the second inning against Keller (11-8). Crow-Armstrong delivered an RBI-single and after stealing second, scored on a Miguel Amaya base hit. 

The following inning, Cody Bellinger stroked an RBI-double to right field to tack on another against Keller, who allowed three runs on three runs on seven hits.

The Pirates (62-69) answered back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third. After Jared Triolo hit his first-career triple, Ji Hwan Bae brought him home with a groundout to second base.

Two batters later, Bryan Reynolds connected on a solo home run, his second since the All-Star break and first since Aug. 3. Reynolds became the seventh player in team history with four-straight seasons of 20-plus home runs on his 20th homer of the season. 

Domingo Germán relieved Keller and tossed a 1-2-3 fifth inning before the Cubs scored eight times against him in the sixth. Dansby Swanson’s two-out grand slam capped off the huge inning.

After the Pirates scored four runs combined between the seventh and eight innings, Connor Joe connected on a two-run homer in the top of the ninth, his first since June 7.

Brady Feigl made his MLB debut after spending seven years in the minor leagues, two seasons in independent ball and two years not pitching. He was charged with six runs in 1.2 innings pitched.

Rowdy Tellez pitched for the second time in the last three games in relief of Feigl. One of the six Cubs’ runs in the ninth went on his line.

Key Moment

Miguel Amaya’s two-run double in the sixth sparked a big rally and put the game well out of reach. It only got worse for the Pirates from there. 

Star of the Game

Amaya, the Cubs’ No. 9 hitter, finished with a career-high four hits, including two doubles, three RBIs and two runs scored. 

Stat to Know

• Entering play, no opponent had stole four bases in a game against the Pirates this season. Eight steals are the most the Cubs have had in a game since 1913.

Noteworthy

• Manager Derek Shelton revealed pregame that Oneil Cruz will be switching positions from shortstop to center field. Cruz served as designated hitter on Monday.
• The Pirates recalled catcher Henry Davis from Triple-A and placed fellow backstop Joey Bart on the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring strain.
• Second baseman Nick Gonzales (left groin strain) was reinstated from the 10-day IL and right-hander Jake Woodford was DFA’d. Gonzales went 2 for 4 in his return. 

Up Next

Jared Jones (5-6, 3.56 ERA) is expected to be reinstated from the injured list and start for the Pirates on Tuesday. Justin Steele (4-5, 3.07 ERA) will start for the Cubs. First pitch: 6:40 ET.