Heyward's late RBI gets Cubs past Pirates

Jason Heyward's two-out single in the bottom of the eighth inning drove in the go-ahead run, and the Chicago Cubs opened the second half with a 4-3 victory over the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday. Heyward's heroics came after the Cubs blew a 3-0 lead in the top of the eighth. Starling Marte hit a three-run home run with two outs off Pedro Strop before winning pitcher Randy Rosario (1-0) got the final out of the inning.

The Cubs responded by putting two runners on base against Pirates reliever Kyle Crick (3-5). Heyward ripped a single to left field to drive in Kris Bryant, who had homered in the seventh to break a scoreless tie.

"Just trying not to wait around, being aggressive in the zone if I can. You're not going to get too many pitches to hit off that guy. He's pretty nasty," Heyward said afterward on the NBC Sports Chicago broadcast. "Just trying to get one and keep it simple." The Cubs received six scoreless innings from starting pitcher Yu Darvish and are now 11-16 in their last 27 games going back to June 10.

Craig Kimbrel pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his third save since joining the club. The Cubs scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh, ending what had been a pitchers' duel until the late innings between Darvish and Pirates starter Chris Archer.

Both entered the game with losing records and high earned run averages, with Darvish still seeking his first career win at Wrigley Field. Darvish didn't get a win, but he struck out eight and surrendered just two hits. All-Star Javier Baez got the first hit of the game in the bottom of the fourth, a one-out single to right field. The Cubs put runners on first and second base with two outs after Archer walked Anthony Rizzo, but Archer got Victor Caratini to fly out to end the inning.

Melky Cabrera delivered the first hit for the Pirates with one out in the fifth inning, but was stranded at first base. Archer struck out the side in the top of the fifth. He allowed three runs on three hits with 10 strikeouts in six innings of work.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)