Fowler, Wood lift Cubs over Pirates

Associated Press

CHICAGO

Dexter Fowler had three hits and two RBIs, Travis Wood tossed seven strong innings and the Chicago Cubs won their fourth straight game Tuesday night with a 6-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Kris Bryant, Starlin Castro, Junior Lake and Addison Russell each had an RBI as the Cubs scored all their runs with two outs.

Wood (2-1) extended his solid start to the season by allowing two runs and five hits. He lowered his ERA to 3.04.

Starling Marte accounted for Pittsburgh’s offense with a two-run homer in the fourth.

Pirates starter Jeff Locke (2-1) took the loss after giving up six runs, five earned, and eight hits in 32/3 innings.

The Cubs jumped on top with three runs in the second. Russell drove in the first one with a double, and Fowler followed with a two-run single.

Chicago added an unearned run in the third. With two outs and none on, Castro reached on a throwing error by third baseman Josh Harrison and scored on a double by Lake to make it 4-0.

The Pirates cut the deficit in half on Marte’s drive to left field, but the Cubs got the runs right back in the bottom of the fourth on run-scoring singles by Bryant and Castro.

The Cubs also pulled off a pair of double steals in the fourth, marking the first time they’ve had four stolen bases in one inning since the first inning against the Montreal Expos on Aug. 23, 1997. It was just the third time overall Chicago had four steals in an inning.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Pirates: OF Gregory Polanco (tight left groin) was out of the starting lineup. Manager Clint Hurdle said Polanco was showing some “minimal improvement,” and he pinch hit in the eighth. ... RHP Charlie Morton (right hip) threw around 75 pitches Monday at extended spring training and is scheduled to work seven innings in a rehab assignment Saturday with Class A Bradenton.

Cubs: RHP Hector Rondon has been bothered by a sore foot of late, but manager Joe Maddon said his closer was fine after not being used on Monday. . OF Chris Denorfia, who began the season on the disabled list with a left hamstring injury, was held out of the lineup to rest. “Denorfia’s still not 100 percent with his leg, so I don’t want to push him right now,” Maddon said.

UP NEXT

Pirates: RHP Gerrit Cole (3-0), who pitches the finale of the three-game series tonight, is coming off a strong effort against Arizona. He is 5-0 with a 3.48 ERA in five career starts against the Cubs.