Francisco Cervelli’s three-run blast proved the winning margin as the visiting Pirates ruined the Cubs home opener.
The Cubs struck first, stringing together three hits in the bottom of the first against Ivan Nova, but their inning ended on a replay that showed Wilson Contreras had come off the bag when sliding into third.
The Pirates immediately struck back, batting around in the second against Cubs’ starter Tyler Chatwood while plating three. Josh Harrison, Josh Bell and Corey Dickerson, who had three hits in the game, all doubled, with Dickerson‘s driving in a pair.
Starling Marte lined a ball at 112 moh into the left field seats for his second home run of the year, making it 5-2 and Cervelli caped it off with a three-run blast two left center.