PITTSBURGH — Cody Bellinger hit a go-ahead single before Patrick Wisdom added insurance with a home run in the 10th inning, lifting the Chicago Cubs to a 5-4 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday for a series victory.
Bellinger led off by dribbling a ball through the left side of the infield off Aroldis Chapman (0-3), scoring automatic runner Seiya Suzuki before getting caught in a rundown between first and second. Wisdom drove a two-out sinker, the seventh pitch of the at-bat, 412 feet into the center-field bushes.
“It’s a testament to the resiliency and, I think, the consistency of our team,” Wisdom said. “But also in the lineup, putting together good at-bats, hitting the ball hard, not letting the hard-hit balls that are caught discourage us. … Knowing guys are going to start scoring. It’s just a matter of time.”
Chapman left with a cracked nail on his throwing hand after going down 3-0 to Nick Madrigal with two outs and runners on first and second. Kyle Nicolas entered, completing the walk of Madrigal before Mike Tauchman scored on a passed ball.
Connor Joe led off the bottom half with his fifth home run, a two-run shot into the bleachers in left. Adbert Alzolay went on to walk Jack Suwinski before retiring the next three batters for his fourth save.
Chicago has won five of eight after taking two of three from Pittsburgh, which is 7-16 since an 11-5 start.
“We pitched so well today,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “Just kept giving our guys another chance, the pitcher kept giving our hitters another chance. Eventually, we broke through.”
