Pirates vs Cubs Recap: Skenes Shine, Pirates Win 2-0

The Pittsburgh Pirates came to Wrigley Field on Friday with a clear plan to win. The Cubs hosted the game in Chicago and tried to use their steady pitching staff. Carmen Mlodzinski started for Pittsburgh while Shota Imanaga began for Chicago. The final score was Pittsburgh 2, Chicago 0. Early pitching kept the game tight and scoreless for six innings. Both teams battled for every out, and the fans watched each pitch closely. The game finally broke open in the seventh inning when a big swing changed everything and gave Pittsburgh the lead they needed.

Both starting pitchers kept hits rare through the early innings. Carmen Mlodzinski and Shota Imanaga traded scoreless frames while each defense stayed alert. The first six innings had no runs, few baserunners, and several strong strikeouts. Pittsburgh’s bullpen looked ready, and Chicago’s staff kept putting batters on tough counts. Although both teams had chances, neither could push a run across early. The game felt tense because one swing could decide it. Meanwhile fans whispered and watched the scoreboard, waiting for a moment that would tip the balance toward one team.

In the top of the seventh, Reynolds stepped to the plate with a runner on first. On a 0–0 count the Cubs’ pitcher threw a curveball at 76 mph. Reynolds swung and the ball soared high over the left-field wall. The ball traveled 385 feet with an exit velocity of 106 mph, and O'Hearn also scored. That two-run homer put Pittsburgh ahead 2–0. Chicago could not score in the bottom half, and the Pirates closed the game without allowing any runs. As a result Pittsburgh improved to 8-5 and Chicago fell to 6-7 after the loss.