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O’Hearn’s blast to center field in the third inning extended the
Pirates’ lead to 7-1. That came an inning after a pair of
rookies homered, with Esmerlyn Valdez hitting a leadoff shot and
Shawn Ross hitting a two-run blast for his first career home
run.
It was the fourth career grand slam for O’Hearn and second this
season. His 17 home runs match the nine-year veteran’s career
high.
Valdez has 14 home runs in just 37 games. Ross, a catcher, was
making his first career start after being called up from
Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday.
All three home runs came off Jameson Taillon (2-6), who has
given up 25 longballs in just 76 innings this season. Taillon
lasted four innings, was charged with seven runs on six hits and
is winless in his last nine starts.
Braxton Ashcraft (10-4) pitched six innings and allowed four
runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out five.
Brandon Lowe had three of the Pirates’ 11 hits while Valdez and
Nick Gonzales had two each. The Cubs got two hits apiece from
Michael Busch, Nico Hoerner, rookie Pedro Ramirez and Dansby
Swanson.
Up next
Cubs: Open a four-game series in St. Louis on Monday night with
LHP David Peterson (5-7, 5.97 ERA) starting.
Pirates: RHP Mitch Keller (6-7, 4.90) pitches against
Diamondbacks RHP Merrill Kelly (8-8, 5.12) on Monday night in
the opener of a three-game home series.
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