Tommy Pham’s Home Run All Pirates Manage in Loss to Cubs
Tommy Pham homered for the Pittsburgh Pirates but the offense couldn’t muster anything else in their 3-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on Saturday afternoon.
How We Got There
Pham homered off Cubs starter Shota Imanaga to put the Pirates (52-72) ahead 1-0 in the fourth inning. It was one of the five hits the Pirates had on the day.
The Cubs (69-53) answered quickly answered in the bottom of the inning on Carson Kelly’s RBI single off Mike Burrows. The Pirates’ started allowed just the one run in five innings.
The score remained tied at 1-all until Seiya Suzuki drove in the go-ahead run with a base hit up the middle in the eighth off Evan Sisk (0-1). Nico Hoerner tacked on an insurance run by plating Suzuki with a base hit off Yohan RamÃrez.
Key Moment
Kyle Tucker stole second uncontested after a leadoff single in the eighth. He scored the go-ahead run on the next pitch.
Player of the Game
Cubs starter Shota Imanaga allowed one run on three hits with two walks and six strikeouts. It was his third-straight game pitching at least six innings and allowing four or fewer hits.
Stat to Know
Shota Imanaga threw 22 straight scoreless innings against the Pirates to begin his career before Tommy Pham’s fourth inning home run.
Notable Performances
- Mike Burrows: 5.0 innings, five hits, one run, two walks, four strikeouts, 68 pitches/45 strikes
- Tommy Pham: 1 for 3, one home run, one RBI, one run, one walk
- Jared Triolo: 2 for 4, one steal
Noteworthy
- Mike Burrows has not received more than one run of support in any of his six road starts this season.
- Alexander Canario has not recorded a hit since July 7. He’s 0 for 21 in 11 games since.
Up Next
The Pirates have yet to announce a starting pitcher for Sunday’s rubber match. RHP Javier Assad (0-1, 9.00 ERA) starts for the Cubs. First pitch: 2:20 p.m. ET.
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