Davies, Happ lead Cubs past Pirates
Outfielder homers, Davies wins first start for Cubs in series clincher vs. Pirates
Zach Davies pitched into the sixth inning in his Cubs debut, leading his new team to a 4-3 victory over the short-handed Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday. Ian Happ homered and Kris Bryant reached base three times as Chicago earned its second straight win after losing on opening day.
Zach Davies pitched into the sixth inning in his Chicago Cubs debut, leading his new team to a 4-3 victory over the shorthanded Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday.
Ian Happ homered and Kris Bryant reached three times as Chicago earned its second straight win after losing on opening day. Joc Pederson also drove in a run with a groundout.
Davies, acquired in the December trade that sent Yu Darvish to San Diego, permitted two runs and four hits in 5 ⅔ innings. The right-hander struck out five and walked three.
Pittsburgh played without third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes, placed on the 10-day injured list with a strained left wrist. Hayes, one of the preseason favorites for NL Rookie of the Year, got hurt on a swing during Saturday’s 5-1 loss.
Hayes hit a two-run homer during Pittsburgh’s 5-3 victory Thursday but he also is highly regarded for his fielding skills. And his absence was particularly noticeable when Phillip Evans, Hayes’ replacement at third, was unable to stop Javier Baez’s hardhit grounder in the sixth, allowing Bryant to score and handing the Cubs a 4-2 lead with the error.
The Pirates pulled within one again on Evans’ RBI single in the eighth, but Rex Brothers got Gregory Polanco to bounce into an inning-ending double play with runners on the corners. Craig Kimbrel then worked a perfect ninth for his first save of the season.
Pittsburgh right-hander Mitch Keller (0-1) lasted just three innings on his 25th birthday. He walked four and was charged with three runs and two hits.
While Keller struggled, Davies (1-0) cruised into the sixth before running into trouble with two out.
After Colin Moran connected for a two-run homer, Evans singled and Polanco walked.
Dan Winkler then came in and Michael Perez flied out to the warning track in center, ending the inning.
RHP Trevor Williams makes his Cubs debut Monday against LHP Brett Anderson and the visiting Milwaukee Brewers. Williams is looking to bounce back this season after he went 2-8 with a 6.18 ERA in 11 starts for Pittsburgh last year.