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McCutchen, Pirates top Cubs

Jun 12, 2014 - 6:30 AM Pittsburgh, PA (SportsNetwork.com) - Andrew McCutchen smacked a two-run homer and the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Chicago Cubs, 4-2, in the third installment of a four-game set.

Brandon Cumpton (2-2) allowed two runs on five hits and two walks over five innings for the Pirates, who have taken two of the first three in the series. Jordy Mercer posted three hits and a run scored in the victory.

"We just gotta stay consistent," McCutchen said. "We actually played a little sloppy of a game today so for us to be able to scratch this win out was a plus for us because we could have easily lost that one."

Jason Hammel (6-4) surrendered four runs on 11 hits and two walks over five frames for Chicago, which has dropped three of its last four on the heels of a five-game winning streak.

"I thought, all-in-all, for the way he had to grind it out, he did a great job," Cubs manager Rick Renteria said of Hammel.

The game was tied 2-2 before the Pirates plated a run in the home second and another in the third to go ahead.

Mercer hit a one-out double, Cumpton singled and Josh Harrison was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Mercer came home on Gregory Polanco's groundout to first.

Pedro Alvarez belted a one-out triple to center in the third and scored on Starling Marte's base hit into center to give the Pirates a 4-2 advantage.

Nate Schierholtz struck out with the bases loaded to end the Cubs' threat in the fifth and they were held without a hit after that.

Mark Melancon struck out two in a scoreless eighth and Jason Grilli fired a 1-2-3 ninth to notch his 10th save of the season.

Earlier, Pittsburgh opened the scoring with a pair of runs in the first. Harrison worked a leadoff walk and McCutchen skied his two-run shot into the seats in left.

John Baker's RBI single and Darwin Barney's run-scoring groundout tied the score in the second.

Game Notes

Pittsburgh was 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position, while the Cubs finished 2-for-8 with RISP and left eight men on base ... McCutchen's blast was his 10th of the season.