.''It's definitely different,'' Bote said of the new rule. ''With this season we're in this year, it definitely makes sense. But if you were playing a World Series game, you wouldn't want it decided like that.'' Jeremy Jeffress (1-0) worked a scoreless 11th for the win.The game was delayed 64 minutes by rain before the bottom of the ninth.Chicago has won 10 straight games against Pittsburgh at Wrigley Field. The Cubs outscored the Pirates 81-31 in the previous nine games, hitting 24 homers during that span.In both the 10th and 11th, the Pittsburgh runner on second base to start the inning made a baserunning out. In the 10th, catcher Jacob Stallings tried to score from second on a single by Josh Bell with no outs and was thrown out by left fielder Kyle Schwarber. In the 11th, Kevin Newman was thrown out at third trying to advance on a grounder to shortstop.The Pirates had outfielder Gregory Polanco on the bench and manager Derek Shelton was asked if he considered running for Stallings in the 10th.''I didn't think that was a very good opportunity to put GP in the game,'' Shelton said. ''It was a wet track, he had been sitting for a while and with his record of previous injuries I didn't feel it was a good time for him to be on the field.'' The Pirates took a 1-0 lead in the first on Newman's first homer of the season.After being held without a baserunner in the first four innings, the Cubs tied it at 1 in the fifth. Willson Contreras led off with a double and Schwarber followed with a liner off the wall in center for an RBI double.Cubs starter Jon Lester allowed four hits in six innings.Pirates starter Steven Brault retired all nine batters he faced in three innings, striking out four.''That's a lot of innings we asked out of our bullpen tonight,'' Cubs manager David Ross said. ''Great job by the bullpen.'' BRYANT OUT AGAINChicago star Kris Bryant was out of the lineup for a second straight game, a day after reporting a stomach ailment. Bryant was tested for the coronavirus on Friday and Saturday, and the Cubs said both tests were negative. He is scheduled to be tested again on Monday.Ross said Bryant was feeling better Sunday and the team will follow the MLB protocols.''He really needs to be commended for going in and getting checked out,'' Ross said.ROSTER MOVEPittsburgh acquired right-hander Tyler Bashlor from the New York Mets before the game in exchange for cash considerations. The 27-year-old Bashlor was designated for assignment July 28. To make room on the roster, left-hander Robbie Erlin was designated for assignment.TRAINER'S ROOMPirates: RHPs Mitch Keller and Michael Feliz were placed on the 10-day injured list before the game after each had to leave Saturday's 4-3 loss because of injury. Keller started and left in the third with left side discomfort. Feliz departed in the eighth with right forearm discomfort. Ponce and LHP Sam Howard (two scoreless innings) were activated from the taxi squad and saw immediate action.Cubs: RHP James Norwood (shoulder) was placed on the 10-day IL, and LHP Justin Steele was recalled from the team's camp in South Bend, Indiana.UP NEXTPirates: Lefty Derek Holland (0-0, 3.18 ERA) takes the mound Monday night in the opener of a two-game series at Minnesota.Cubs: Righty Alec Mills (1-0) makes his second start of the season in the opener of a two-game series against Kansas City at Wrigley on Monday night.---More MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/-Sports)
Cubs' Lester looks to stay hot vs. PiratesJon Lester didn't even allow a hit in his first outing of the season.The veteran left-hander will attempt to follow his strong debut with another solid showing when the Chicago Cubs host the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday and look to finish off a sweep of the three-game series.Lester, 36, was pulled after five innings and 76 pitches in the start against the Cincinnati Reds on Monday. He struck out one, walked one and hit a batter and departed with a 7-0 lead. Chicago eventually won 8-7.Avoiding distractions is part of the quest for Lester, who is in his 15th big-league season.Obviously, he has never played baseball during a pandemic before, but he feels he and his teammates are handling the coronavirus situation well."All that we can really do is worry about the Chicago Cubs," Lester told reporters. "Guys around here, if you see somebody without a mask on walking around the clubhouse, guys point it out. So I think we're all accountable to each other, and that's a good thing. And hopefully we can continue to do that." Lester went 3-0 with a 3.16 ERA in five starts against the Pirates last season to continue a pattern of success. He is 12-6 with a 3.18 ERA in 23 career starts versus Pittsburgh.Lester has easily handled right fielder Gregory Polanco (2-for-16, eight strikeouts) but has struggled with second baseman Adam Frazier (6-for-11, two doubles).The Cubs hit four total homers while winning the first two games of the series. Ian Happ and Javier Baez hit solo homers, and Kyle Schwarber smacked a two-run blast as Chicago recorded a 4-3 win on Saturday for its fifth victory in the past six games.Chicago third baseman Kris Bryant was scratched from the lineup shortly before Saturday's game due to gastrointestinal issues, and he appears doubtful at best for the series finale."Got to run through standard protocols, just making sure with everything we got going on that he's feeling alright," Cubs manager David Ross said after Saturday's game. "We'll get him tested (for COVID-19) just as a precaution tomorrow morning." The Pirates have lost three straight games but are receiving unexpected power from third baseman Colin Moran. He slugged a two-run homer in the ninth inning on Saturday to take over the major league homer lead with five.Pittsburgh added another run later in the frame but fell short of recovering from a 4-0 deficit."This group doesn't quit," Pirates manager Derek Shelton told reporters afterward. "We continue to have good (at-bats) and have a chance to win the game late." Left-hander Steven Brault will be on the mound for Pittsburgh. He worked two innings against the Milwaukee Brewers in his season debut on Monday but didn't return after a rain delay. He gave up one hit, two walks and struck out one.Brault is expected to pitch three innings on Sunday with right-hander Chad Kuhl then entering as the replacement.Brault has struggled against the Cubs, serving up 10 homers in 38 1/3 innings over 14 appearances (five starts). He is 0-2 with an 8.22 ERA.Brault is 0-1 with a 10.29 ERA in nine appearances (three starts) at Wrigley Field. Bryant (8-for-16) and catcher Willson Contreras (5-for-11) each have smacked two homers off the 28-year-old."Haven't had quite as much success," Brault told reporters of facing the Cubs. "Ready to take them on and keep working." Pittsburgh had two pitchers leave Saturday's game due to injuries -- starter Mitch Keller (left side discomfort) and fellow right-hander Michael Feliz (right forearm discomfort).--Field Level Media
Looking for More Picks?
You can browse all the individual handicapper picks below.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Chicago Cubs
Pick Center
MLB
FINAL (8/2/2020)
ProfessorsPicks
