Pirates Dispatch White Sox 6-2, Win Third Straight Game

The Pirates won their third straight game on Saturday, defeating the White Sox 6-2 behind a four-hit, four-RBI game from All-Star outfielder Bryan Reynolds.

In addition to Reynolds, Pittsburgh (47-48) rode another strong start from the resurgent Luis Ortiz, who allowed one run in 5.2 innings and struck out five batters. The win streak snaps a 53 game span in which they didn’t lose or win more than two games in a row: the Major League record sits at 55 games.

The Pirates took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, putting a pair in scoring position with a leadoff double from McCutchen—which gave him the fifth-most extra base hits in team history, surpassing Pie Traynor—and a Reynolds single. Oneil Cruz grounded into a fielders’ choice to break the ice. Nick Gonzales nearly extended the inning with a line drive to right field, but the White Sox’ Tommy Pham extended for a snag to end the inning.

Chicago pulled even in the sixth inning, Ortiz’s last, with Luis Robert Jr. singling Pham home. Kyle Nicolas entered to finish the inning, inducing a quick groundout.

Pirates Push Ahead

Ke’Bryan Hayes reached on an error to lead off the following frame, then a Connor Joe hit by pitch and a McCutchen infield single juiced the bases. Reynolds singled to plate two runs, pushing Pittsburgh ahead 3-1. White Sox catcher Martín Maldonado threw McCutchen out trying to steal third base, and he later left the game with tightness in his left hamstring.

Facing Aroldis Chapman, Pham tripled to right with one out in the eighth, pulling the White Sox within a run after an Eloy Jiménez groundout.

The Pirates loaded the bases with no outs in the ninth. Reynolds’ fourth single of the day pushed two more runs across, then Cruz flied out the opposite way to make it 6-2.