Nick Gonzales scored the go-ahead run on pitcher Caleb Thielbar’s throwing error in the 11th inning, propelling the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates to a 4-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Saturday.
After a scoreless 10th inning, Thielbar (1-2) entered in the 11th, striking out Konnor Griffin and Joey Bart, before intentionally walking Oneil Cruz. Brandon Lowe then hit a dribbler to Thielbar, who threw the ball away, allowing Gonzales (the ghost runner at second) to score the go-ahead run.
In the bottom of the 11th, Pittsburgh reliever Yohan Ramirez’s throwing error placed runners on second and third with no outs. Ramirez then retired Matt Shaw and Alex Bregman, before intentionally walking Ian Happ to load the bases.
Ramirez (2-0) induced Seiya Suzuki’s pop out to end the game.
Cruz went 4-for-5 and Nick Yorke added three hits for Pittsburgh, which won its eighth game in 10 tries and clinched its first series win over Chicago since September 2024. Braxton Ashcraft started for the Pirates, allowing one run on four hits, striking out nine and walking one in five innings.
Starter Edward Cabrera surrendered three runs on eight hits, striking out four and walking three for Chicago, which has dropped four of its last six.
All nine base hits for the Cubs were singles. They went 1-for-15 with runners in scoring position and left 16 men on base. Bregman went 2-for-6 with an RBI, while Moises Ballesteros had two singles in two plate appearances.
Marcell Ozuna walked and Yorke singled to put runners on the corners in the second for Pittsburgh, before Spencer Horwitz’s double play grounder scored the game’s first run.
Cruz singled and stole second to begin the third. Cabrera then walked Lowe and allowed Bryan Reynolds’ RBI single, pushing the Pirates’ lead to 2-0. Ryan O’Hearn followed with a sacrifice fly to give Pittsburgh a 3-0 advantage.
Chicago got on the board in the bottom of the fifth. Michael Conforto walked and Dansby Swanson singled with one out, before Nico Hoerner’s RBI groundout pulled the Cubs within two.
Facing Pirates reliever Justin Lawrence in the seventh, Miguel Amaya walked and Conforto singled to start the inning. After both runners advanced on a wild pitch, Swanson’s run-scoring groundout cut the deficit to 3-2.
Pittsburgh closer Dennis Santana allowed a pair of walks in the ninth, before Bregman hit a two-out single to center to tie the score at 3-3. Santana got Happ to fly out, sending the game to extras.
Ramirez pitched both extra innings for the Pirates, allowing no hits, three walks and two strikeouts.
