Mitch Keller pitched well for six innings, Nick Gonzales came through with a crucial two-run single, and the Pittsburgh Pirates secured a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Sunday.
Jack Suwinski added to the Pirates’ lead with another home run against Jameson Taillon, helping Pittsburgh wrap up a successful 4-3 road trip by winning three of four against Chicago. Gonzales, Andrew McCutchen, and Jared Triolo contributed with two hits each from the Pirates’ offense.
Pirates manager Derek Shelton expressed pride in his team’s performance on the road trip, especially with the strong finish against the Cubs.
Keller continued his strong form in May, improving to 3-0 with a 1.29 ERA in three starts this month. He gave up only two runs and two hits, striking out three while walking three.
Keller’s consistency was highlighted by the fact that he has now pitched at least five innings in his last 41 starts, which is the longest active streak in the majors.
Reflecting on his performance, Keller emphasized his focus on efficiency and providing his team with as much playing time as possible.
Chicago managed to score two runs through sacrifice flies by Seiya Suzuki and Christopher Morel. Taillon, however, struggled, giving up three runs and six hits in 4 2/3 innings.
Despite a brief rally by the Cubs in the sixth inning, where they narrowed the gap to 3-2, Keller and the Pirates’ bullpen shut down any further threats from Chicago.
Colin Holderman and Aroldis Chapman each contributed with two strikeouts in a perfect inning, while David Bednar secured the victory with his 10th save of the season, rebounding from Saturday’s tough loss.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell acknowledged that it was a subdued day for his team, with the Pirates maintaining control throughout the game.
The Pirates took an early lead with Suwinski’s home run in the second inning, setting the tone for their eventual victory. Suwinski’s success against Taillon continued, highlighting his impact in the matchup.
