Cubs smack four homers and shut out Pirates

Field Level Media|published: Tue 29th April, 22:51 2025

Apr 29, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Chicago Cubs right fielder Kyle Tucker (right) congratulates designated hitter Seiya Suzuki (27) after his two-run home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the seventh inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Carson Kelly and Seiya Suzuki each homered as part of three-hit outings and the Chicago Cubs belted four overall during a 9-0 victory over the host Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday night.

The Cubs snapped a two-game skid while dealing the Pirates their third consecutive defeat and fifth shutout loss this season.

Shota Imanaga (3-1) threw 87 pitches and gave up six hits over five-plus scoreless innings while striking out three and walking one to lead Chicago to its fourth shutout win this season. Imanaga, however, left his start due to leg cramps after allowing his lone extra-base hit -- a double by Andrew McCutchen -- to lead off the bottom of the sixth.

The Cubs' bullpen kept Pittsburgh in check as Daniel Palencia, Caleb Thielbar and Tom Cosgrove combined to allow one hit over four shutout innings.

Joey Bart went 2-for-2 with two walks and Isiah Kiner-Falefa also had two hits for the Pirates.

Palencia walked Bart after McCutchen's double in the sixth, but then regrouped and retired the next three batters to end the threat.

Every hitter in Chicago's lineup had at least one hit. Kelly drove in three runs while Suzuki and Pete Crow-Armstrong each finished with two RBIs.

The game took a major turn in the fourth inning after Pirates starter Andrew Heaney (2-2) retired the first 11 batters he faced.

Suzuki ended that stretch with a two-out double to center. Kelly followed with his seventh home run of the season, a 418-foot blast to left center. The blast ended a stretch of 20 innings for Heaney without allowing a run.

Only a strong defensive play by Tommy Pham, who threw out Michael Busch at second trying to extend a single, ended the inning.

Heaney wouldn't survive the fifth after allowing a double to Nico Hoerner and the second two-run homer in as many innings, this time by Crow-Armstrong. Heaney walked the bases loaded over the next five at-bats. That prompted Pirates manager Derek Shelton to replace him after 70 pitches with reliever Kyle Nicolas, who retired Kelly on a grounder.

--Field Level Media