Bubba Chandler took the mound Wednesday night at PNC Park knowing he might be making a final audition to remain a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates starting rotation.
With Jared Jones’ activation from the injured list looming, Chandler could be a candidate for relegation to the bullpen.
In a 10-4 defeat, Chandler navigated some rough early frames before stabilizing in what may have been the prelude to a change in pitching responsibilities moving forward.
Chandler (1-6, 4.85 ERA), who did not factor in the decision, pitched five innings, allowing four runs and eight hits with a pair of walks and four strikeouts. But the Pirates (29-27) suffered another bullpen implosion after he left, spoiling some solid early run support.
The score was tied 4-4 entering the seventh inning, but the Cubs scored six runs off Pirates relievers Yohan Ramirez and Justin Lawrence to pull away, snapping a 10-game losing streak. They improved to 30-26 with the win.
“He settled in and threw the ball well,” manager Don Kelly said of Chandler. “To be able to get through five with four runs (and the score tied) 4-4 — he gave us a chance to win.”
Cubs left fielder and Mt. Lebanon native Ian Happ lived up to his reputation as a Pirate killer as he had five RBIs and the winning hit, a three-run homer in the seventh.
Former Pirates first-round draft pick Jameson Taillon started for Chicago and pitched five innings, allowing four runs in a no-decision.
Ramirez (2-2, 4.75 ERA) took the loss, and Chicago’s Jacob Webb (1-1, 2.66 ERA) picked up the win.
Chandler faced a no-out, bases-loaded jam in the top of the first inning.
Pete Crow-Armstrong battled for 10 pitches before drawing a walk, Nico Hoerner singled and Michael Busch also drew a free pass before Happ made it 2-0 with an RBI base hit.
Chandler unsuccessfully tried to field a Carson Kelly dribbler in the second, leading to an infield single, and Dansby Swanson followed with a hit.
Chicago then took a 3-0 lead when Hoerner blooped a single into right field, scoring Kelly.
From there, Chandler delivered three scoreless frames before exiting at 91 pitches (60 strikes).
“I just haven’t done a great job of minimizing when I do get in those situations of the big inning,” Chandler said. “The rest of the game goes fine, goes great. The big innings are just what kills you. I think stuff will start to turn around here soon. (I’m in a) good head space, stuff feels great.
“ … I think it’s a good step to build off of. Battled. Five innings is not great, but it’s kind of what you’ve got to get to.”
In the bottom of the third, Endy Rodriguez walked and Spencer Horwitz singled, bringing Brandon Lowe to the plate.
On the first offering from Taillon, Lowe crushed his team-leading 14th home run of the year over the Clemente Wall, tying the score 3-3.
The Cubs took a 4-3 lead in the fourth when Swanson hustled to turn a base hit into a double, with Crow-Armstrong doubling him home.
Chicago’s lead didn’t last long thanks to Konnor Griffin, who launched his fourth homer of the year over the Clemente Wall on the first pitch Taillon threw him in the bottom of the fourth.
In the sixth, Chandler gave way to Evan Sisk and Ramirez, who combined to post a scoreless frame.
Happ struck again in the seventh after Ramirez hit Busch with a pitch and Alex Bregman hit a double into the left-field corner.
On the first offering from Ramirez, Happ hit his 11th home run of the year, which narrowly stayed fair to clear the Clemente Wall, giving Chicago a 7-4 lead.
“Happ has killed us — five RBIs tonight,” Kelly said. “He got a pitch over the plate and drove it out to right. It was a big hit.”
Lawrence replaced Ramirez, but the Cubs piled on as Seiya Suzuki singled and Michael Conforto went deep to make it 9-4.
Lawrence’s struggles continued, with Chicago taking a 10-4 lead on a Busch RBI single to score Swanson, who got aboard on a throwing error by Griffin.
Webb, Phil Maton, Caleb Thielbar and Ethan Roberts threw scoreless innings for the Cubs to keep the Pirates at bay after Taillon departed.
Bryan Reynolds had three of the Pirates’ seven hits. Rodriguez walked in each of his four at-bats.