Cubs pen blows another lead as Pirates walk off

*Photo from triblive.com*

   Kevin Newman felt the energy. Cole Tucker drew a bases loaded walk, and Newman stepped up and shot a walk-off single into the outfield as the Pittsburgh Pirates rallied to beat the Chicago Cubs 3-2. This loss along with the St.Louis Cardinals win puts the Cubs in second place in the NL central. Brandon Kintzler only got one out for the Cubs, and walked 3 batters to lead to Newman's walk-off single. Kintzler was activated from the 10 day IL prior to the game. 

   Colin Moran got the Pirates on the board in the 4th inning by singling into right field to score Starling Marte and make it 1-0 Pirates. In the 8th, new acquisition Tony Kemp gave the Cubs a 2-1 lead on a Triple to center field to score Jonathan Lucroy and Ian Happ. In the 9th, Tucker drew a bases loaded walk against Kintzler to tie it up, and Newman sent the Pittsburgh crowd home happy. 

   Keone Kela got the win for the Pirates, working a shutout 9th inning. Joe Musgrove went 7 1/3 strong innings for the Pirates, giving up two runs on 4 hits and 9 strikeouts. Felipe Vazquez finished the 8th when Musgrove was pulled. Tucker's walk capped a 7 pitch at bat against Kintzler in the 9th inning. Tucker was called up from Triple A Indianapolis prior to the game. Tucker said that ''I calmed down and felt really good up there, I felt like I had done it before, even though I hadn't. That'll probably be the coolest walk I'll ever have in my career.''

   Cubs manager Joe Maddon said of Kintzler's outing that ''I didn't anticipate that part. None of us did, he's been so good for all year. It's unfortunate. Kintzler's the right guy right there. It didn't play out.'' Kintzler himself said that ''They put up some good at-bats, I just got tired, I think, and the legs got a little wobbly.'' With the loss, the Cubs fell to 23-39 on the road, and have lost 17 of their last 25 road games. The Pirates have now won 3 of their last 4 games. 

   The series continues on Saturday, where the Cubs will look to rebound by sending lefty Jon Lester to the mound. Lester is winless in his last 5 starts, going 0-2 with an ERA of 7.00 in that span. The Pirates will send lefty Steven Brault to the mound. Since missing a month of play, Brault has thrown two no decisions, allowing 6 runs over that span.