The Cubs were able to snap their five-game losing streak and topped the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-5 to wrap up the first half with a victory.
Describe the game in three words: A high note.
Bats are back: After combining to go 5-for-8 with two walks Saturday, Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo were at it again Sunday. The two stars went 7-for-9 with a walk.
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Addison Russell had two hits and drove in the first two runs of the game. Albert Almora Jr. hit a go-ahead, two-run home run in the fourth and added a double in the fifth.
The big blow came right after the Pirates had tied the game in the bottom of the seventh. Bryant came to the plate with two outs and Matt Szczur on second in the eighth. Bryant lined a single to left and and Szczur raced around to score just ahead of the tag from catcher Eric Fryer to make it 6-5.
No quality, but quantity: The Cubs haven’t gotten a quality start in July and John Lackey couldn’t end that poor stretch Sunday. However, he did toss six-plus innings, something a Cubs pitcher has done only three times this month, with Lackey accounting for two of them.
It wasn’t ideal, as he gave up five runs, but he did strike out nine and walk just two batters. Sean Rodriguez and Andrew McCutchen hit solo homers off Lackey in the second and third innings, respectively.
Lackey left in the seventh in favor of Pedro Strop after allowing a walk and a single. Strop allowed the tying run to score on a sacrifice fly, but each reliever that came in — Strop, Carl Edwards Jr. and closer Hector Rondon — retired each batter they faced.
It wasn’t an ideal win, and Lackey didn’t look as sharp as he had earlier in the season. But with the way the Cubs (53-35) had been reeling entering Sunday — nine losses in 10 games — it was a much-needed team effort leading to a much-needed victory.
On deck: Seven Cubs head to the All-Star Game in San Diego, though only six will be eligible to play. Outfielder Dexter Fowler, currently rehabbing his sore right hamstring, will travel to the game, but he won’t start or play. The Cubs are 6-15 since Fowler went on the disabled list on June 20.