Alex Bregman hits his 25th homer and the Cubs pound the Pirates 12-2 to
end their 4-game skid
[September 12, 2026]
By MATT CARLSON
CHICAGO (AP) — Alex Bregman hit his 25th homer and
doubled among three hits, Shota Imanaga tossed six effective innings and
the Chicago Cubs pounded the Pittsburgh Pirates 12-2 on Friday to end a
four-game slide.
Seiya Suzuki had three hits, including a wind-blown triple, scored three
runs and drove in one as the Cubs finished with 16 hits against three
Pittsburgh pitchers and ended the Pirates' four-game winning streak.
Chicago remains well behind NL Central-leading Milwaukee but is in
position for a wild card. |
Chicago Cubs' Michael Busch scores past Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Henry
Davis during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 11,
2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez) |
|
Michael Busch doubled and had three RBIs, and Carson Kelly
doubled in a pair of runs. All of Chicago's starters had at
least one hit, and five finished with two or more.
Bregman went deep in the fourth inning, a two-run shot off
Khristian Curtis that made it 9-1.
Imanaga (10-10) allowed two runs on five hits in a second
straight solid start and win. The left-hander struck out four
and walked two.
Bryan Reynolds hit a solo shot for Pittsburgh, which came in
having won 9 of 11 to climb back above .500. Rookie Konnor
Griffin tripled among two hits.
Pirates rookie right fielder Esmerlyn Valdez left in the sixth
inning with left hamstring discomfort after running to first on
a groundout.
The Cubs made it 3-1 in the second off Pirates opener Wilber
Dotel (1-5). After Chicago loaded the bases, Michael Conforto’s
sac fly tied it at 1 and Kelly’s double plated two more.
Up next
Pirates RHP Paul Skenes (10-11, 3.83 ERA) faces Cubs RHP Clay
Holmes (6-7, 2.83) on Saturday.
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