*Photo from CBS Sports*
In a game marked by top prospect Ke'Bryan Hayes' debut for Pittsburgh, Ian Happ had the last laugh. Happ drove in the winning run, Jeremy Jeffress pitched well, and the Chicago Cubs beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-7 in 11 innings. Happ produced two RBI in his homecoming, he is a Pittsburgh native.
Happ started the game with a monstrous solo homer to right field, taking a bounce and landing in the Allegheny River. In the second inning, both the Cubs and Pirates got a run on groundouts, making the score 2-1 Cubs. In the 4th, Jason Kipnis hit an RBI single to make it 3-1. In the 5th, Javier Baez hit an RBI double and Kyle Schwarber hit a two run homer to make it 6-1 Cubs. In the 6th, Hayes hit an RBI double, Adam Frazier hit an RBI single, Jose Osuna hit an RBI double, and Erik Gonzalez hit a sac fly to trim the deficit to one run for the Pirates. In the 8th, Hayes tied the game on a solo homer to center field. In the 10th, both teams scored a run to make it 7-7, and Happ hit an RBI single in the 11th to make it 8-7 Cubs.
Happ's two RBI were a big reason the Cubs were able to win, but he didn't credit himself after the game, saying that ''There's a lot of factors in that game, and for us to persevere - had some really nice pitching performances there late and in extras to keep things close - and just for us to be able to grind through that and get a win, that was huge."
Jeffress got the win for the Cubs, throwing 1 2/3 scoreless innings, finishing the 10th and throwing a full 11th inning. His ERA dropped to 1.20 and his record increased to 3-1 in somewhat of a bounce back year for Jeffress. Jon Lester started for the Cubs, throwing 5 1/3 innings, allowing 5 runs on 8 hits and 3 walks, striking out 3 hitters. Josh Osich also made his Cubs debut after being traded by the Red Sox, throwing one inning.
Hayes, the Pirates top prospect, homered in his big league debut, which is always special. He reflected on it postgame, saying that ''I mean, really I kind of like blacked out whenever I hit it, like I hit the ball and I was like, `Did I get that good enough?' And then saw it go over and kind of blacked out for a second. So, it is special for me.'' Hayes also made some flashy defensive plays at third base, showcasing why he was taken 32nd overall in the 2015 draft.
Kyle Crick took the loss for the Pirates, pitching in the 11th inning when Happ hit the game winning single. Crick fell to 0-1 with the loss. Chad Kuhl got the start for the Pirates, throwing 4 innings. Kuhl allowed 4 runs on 6 hits and two walks, striking out 3 hitters. Dovydas Neverauskas, Taylor Bashlor, Geoff Hartlieb, Chris Stratton, and Richard Rodriguez also pitched for the Pirates.
The series continues Wednesday, where Kyle Hendricks will get the start for the Cubs. Joe Musgrove, the Pirates opening day starter, gets the start as he searches for his first win of the season.
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