Alvarez leads offensive charge in 7-6 win over Cubs

Win: Tony Watson (2-0)

Loss: Pedro Strop (0-1)

Save: Jason Grilli (2)

Pedro Alvarez and Travis Ishikawa each drove in 2 runs and the Pittsburgh Pirates (5-2) won an entertaining ball game, 7-6 over the Chicago Cubs (2-5) on Tuesday night. Russell Martin hit a sacrifice fly in the 8th to break a 6-6 tie and Jason Grilli picked up his 2nd save of the season with a 1-2-3 ninth. Tony Watson earned the win but his consecutive scoreless streak came to an end.

Pittsburgh improves to 5-2 on the season and 3-1 against the Cubs this season.

• The Pirates jumped on the Cubs early with a 4 run first inning. Pedro Alvarez had a 2-run RBI double opening the scoring for Pittsburgh, Neil Walker and Travis Ishikawa also drove in runs in the inning. The Cubs, though, climbed back as Starlin Castro hit a 3-run homer in the third to tie the game at 4-4. The Pirates never trailed in the game. “We executed extremely well in the first inning on offense and kept building innings,” manager Clint Hurdle said in his post-game comments.
• Charlie Morton did not have an effective start, giving up 8 hits and 5 runs in 6 innings pitched. Morton gave up 2 home runs to Starling Castro, a 3-run shot in the 2nd and a solo home run in the 6th.
• Travis Ishikawa has been a factor through the first eight days of the season. He went 1-4 with a triple and 2 RBIs in the victory. Ishikawa is batting .294/.350/.588 and has provided good defense for the Pirates.
• Starling Marte performed like a leadoff hitter tonight. He opened the game with a leadoff double, scored 3 runs, walked twice and had a stolen base. Marte’s aggressiveness on the base paths led to the Pirates taking the lead again in the 5th, 5-4. He walked with 2 outs, stole second base just beating out a tag and Andrew McCutchen would then drive him in with a single to center.
• Cubs starter Edwin Jackson struggled, giving up 6 runs on 9 hits in 4 2/3 innings. Jackson walked 4.
• Mark Melancon earned his 3rd hold of the season with a scoreless 8th