Upon further review, Cubs surge to victory

Reversed HR call can’t save Pirates

PITTSBURGH — Anthony Rizzo just missed a chance at making history at the start of the game. He was more than happy to contribute at the end.

Rizzo almost led off his third straight game with a home run, losing his bid after a replay review, before helping key a six-run rally in the ninth inning that sent the Chicago Cubs over the Pittsburgh Pirates 9-5 Friday.

The Cubs won for just the third time in nine games, putting the World Series champions back at .500 with a 33-33 mark.

Manager Joe Maddon wasn’t around to see the comeback — he was ejected in the first inning after Rizzo’s drive into the Allegheny River initially was called fair and then ruled foul.

“That was absolutely a home run,” Rizzo said. “There is no way it could have gone over the pole foul because this is one of the shortest right fields in the league. I hit it too hard for it to have time to go foul.

“I respect the umpires, and I never like to criticize them because I know they give their very best, but they got that one wrong. At least we won the game, and that’s all that really matters.”

In Rizzo’s first two tries as a leadoff man in his seven-year career, the slugging first baseman who usually bats cleanup led off both games this week with home runs against the New York Mets at Citi Field.

The record for most consecutive games with a leadoff home run is three by Brady Anderson in 1996 for the Baltimore Orioles.

Chicago trailed 4-3 until Jason Heyward and Willson Contreras began the ninth with doubles off Juan Nicasio (1-3) to tie it. Tony Watson, who was removed as the closer last week in favor of a Nicasco-felipe Rivero combo, gave up a go-ahead single to pinch hitter Jon Jay.

“They just came in aggressively and made their hits and their swings,” said Nicasio, who was charged with four runs without recording an out. “No excuses.”

Rizzo added a two-run single, extending his hitting streak to 10 games, and Addison Russell had a two-run double.

“It seemed like everybody contributed in that inning,” Russell said. “That’s the type of offense I know we can be when everyone is clicking.”

Gene J. Puskar The Associated Press Cubs manager Joe Maddon argues with umpire Jeff Kellogg over an apparent home run hit by Anthony Rizzo, right, that was called foul leading off Chicago’s 9-5 victory over the Pirates on Friday night at PNC Park.