Collapse leads to Pirates’ loss against searing Cubs

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Geovany Soto drove in seven runs and the Chicago Cubs overcame Alfonso Soriano’s second dropped fly ball in Pittsburgh this season to rally for a 14-9 victory over the Pirates on Tuesday night.

The Cubs won their fourth in a row to move 32 games above .500 for the first time since they were 90-58 on Sept. 15, 1984. They trailed 8-7 before scoring seven times in the eighth against three Pirates pitchers. Craig Hansen (0-2) walked in the tying and go-ahead runs while walking three consecutive batters and Soto hit his second bases-loaded double in a span of five innings.

Soto also hit a solo homer, in addition to his two three-run doubles. He has 78 RBIs in his rookie season despite usually batting in the lower end of the lineup, and has 18 RBIs against the Pirates. He hit his 20th homer off Denny Bautista in the sixth.

The Cubs are 13-4 against the Pirates, who lost their season high-tying sixth in a row and 10th in 12 games.

The Cubs have scored 26 runs in the first two games of the three-game series, and have scored 10 runs or more six times against the Pirates this season.

Derrek Lee added two RBIs and Soriano had three hits despite making a second potentially costly defensive gaffe in PNC Park this season.