Walker’s homer lifts Pirates over Cubs 1-0

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Neil Walker homered off Carlos Villanueva leading off the 10th inning Monday, and the Pittsburgh Pirates benefited from an overturned to call to beat the Chicago Cubs 1-0 on opening day Monday.

Walker’s first career game-ending homer easily cleared the Clemente Wall while his teammates rushed onto the field in celebration. It was the first opening-day walkoff homer for the Pirates since Bob Bailey’s off San Francisco’s Juan Marichal in a 1-0 victory in 1965.

Reliever Bryan Morris (1-0) won with the help of an overturned pickoff call in the top of the 10th. Starter Francisco Liriano and four relievers combined for 11 strikeouts.

Emilio Bonifacio went 4 for 5 for Chicago, but the Cubs were 0 for 11 with runners in scoring position and wasted a fine start by Jeff Samardzija, who scattered five hits over seven innings.