Pirates’ bullpen unable to hold early five-run lead

Associated Press

CHICAGO

With the ball jumping out of Wrigley Field, Pirates manager Clint Hurdle was in search of a reliever who could keep the ball down and help hold a big early lead.

Hurdle was never able to find that reliever.

Anthony Rizzo hit two homers and drove in six runs to lift the Chicago Cubs to a 13-9 victory over Pittsburgh on Sunday.

Pedro Alvarez hit two homers and drove in five runs for the Pirates, who lost for the 12th time in 15 games. Pittsburgh came into play Sunday two games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers and St. Louis Cardinals for the second wild card.

Staked to a 6-1 lead, the Pirates were unable to hold off the Cubs, who have taken five of the last six against Pittsburgh.

Rod Barajas homered for Pittsburgh, and Joe Mather hit a solo shot for the Cubs.

Rizzo hit a two-run shot in a four-run fifth inning, then capped a five-run sixth with his first career grand slam off Jared Hughes (2-2) to put the Cubs up 10-9 and send the home crowd into a frenzy.

Leading 9-5, Hurdle went with sinkerballer Rick van den Hurk, who was unable to retire the three batters he faced before Hughes gave up the grand slam.

“I wanted to bring in the sinker guys in from that point on to try to hold (the lead). I chose van den Hurk. It didn’t work,” Hurdle said.