Cubs rookie Bryant too much for Pirates

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH

Kris Bryant turned his tiebreaking two-run double into a Little League homer with some heads-up baserunning, and the star rookie had three hits and three RBIs Monday night to lead the Chicago Cubs to a 5-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Bryant’s double off the base of the left-center field fence in the seventh inning snapped a 1-all tie. He scored on the play when advanced to third base on the throw home, and he raced across the plate when catcher Francisco Cervelli missed the throw for an error.

Bryant, who tied the game with an RBI single in the fifth, is 6 for 14 (.429) with four RBIs in four games since his much-anticipated callup from Triple-A Iowa on Friday. He was a spring training sensation, hitting nine home runs in 40 at-bats for the Cubs.

Jake Arrieta (2-1) allowed only one run and three hits in seven innings for the win while striking out seven and walking none.

Jorge Soler, another rookie, went 4 for 5 with a one-out double in the seventh that started the go-ahead rally. Anthony Rizzo followed by drawing a walk then Bryant hit his double off Arquimedes Camninero (0-1).

Rizzo and Starlin Castro each had two of the Cubs’ 14 hits.

Starling Marte homered for the Pirates, who had their three-game winning streak snapped in the bottom of the ninth inning and Andrew McCutchen had two hits, including an RBI single in the ninth.

Pirates starter A.J. Burnett allowed one run and eight hits in six innings. He walked two and struck out one.

The start of the game was delayed 28 minutes because of rain.

FAN INJURED

The game was delayed 23 minutes in the second inning after a female fan behind home plate was hit in the back of the head by a ball off the bat of Castro.

The woman was standing in the first row with her back toward the field when Castro fouled a ball straight back against the protective screen. The ball was hit with such force that it struck the fan.

The injured fan was eventually removed from the seating area on a stretcher.

The Pirates said she was conscious and alert when she was taken to a hospital for testing.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Pirates: SS Jordy Mercer sat out with a bruised chest, an injury he sustained Sunday when he was hit by a pitch from Milwaukee RHP Matt Garza. Mercer might be ready to play Tuesday night. The Pirates said Sunday the injury was to Mercer’s ribcage but manager Clint Hurdle said Monday it was to the chest.