Matt Szczur's 12th-inning pop fly found the grass for a walk-off single as right fielder Gregory Polanco tripped while settling under the ball, and the Chicago Cubs won a wild affair 11-10 over the Pittsburgh Pirates Friday afternoon.
With the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the 12th, Szczur popped up a 3-1 fastball from Radhames Liz into very shallow right field. Starlin Castro went back to the bag and appeared not to even try to attempt to tag up. Polanco threw out Castro at the plate in a simialr situation in the bottom of the 10th. This time, though, Polanco lost his footing and appeared to twist his ankle as the ball landed safely. Castro, who had walked with one out, took advantage and scored the winning run.
Polanco got up after a short time and walked off the field gingerly, seemingly more upset about the missed play than his ankle.
The Pirates came back from a 7-1 deficit after five innings. They scored four in the sixth to make it 7-5 thanks in large part to Francisco Cervelli's three-run double. Cervelli then scored on Corey Hart's RBI single. Cervelli took a beating behind the plate thanks to a plethora of foul balls hitting him, but he also had a great day in the batter's box.
Down 10-5 at the start of the eighth, Pittsburgh score four more on two home runs: a solo shot from Josh Harrison (4) to open the inning and a three-run blast from Andrew McCutchen (4) with two outs. Cervelli tied it at 10-10 in the ninth with his third hit and fourth RBI of the game.
The wind blew out at Wrigley Field, and baseballs follwed suit. Kris Bryant started the home run derby with a three-run shot (4) in the bottom of the third to give the Cubs the early lead.
Anthony Rizzo homered in the fourth to give the Cubs a 5-1 lead. Szczur made it 7-1 with a two-run single in the fifth. Szczur was 2 for 7 with 3 RBI on the day.
Pittsburgh scored its first run in the fourth on Pedro Alvarez's home run (6) with one out.
Edwin Jackson (W: 2-1, 4.22) benefited from the mishap in right field to earn the win. He had some control issues in the top of the 12th, walking two, but he got out of the inning unscathed. Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks struggled, allowing five earned runs on eight hits in 5 2/3 innings. He walked one and struck out seven and raised his ERA to 5.15. Normally reliable Hector Rondon blew the save (2) in the ninth.
Liz (L: 1-3, 3.77) walked two and served up the game-winning hit in his only inning of work. Pirates starter Jeff Locke lasted only 3 2/3 innings. He allowed five earned runs on six hits (two home runs) while walking three and fanning four.
On Saturday, the two teams will send their best to the mound: Pittsburgh's Gerrit Cole (5-1, 2.32) against Chicago's Jon Lester (3-2, 4.10). The game begins at 2:20 p.m. EDT.