Jordy Mercer knocked in three runs to power the Pirates to a 7-3 win over the Cubs from PNC Park. Mercer and Josh Harrison each ended with three hits while Neil Walker drove in two runs for Pittsburgh, which stayed two-and-a-half games back of St. Louis for first in the NL Central. Gerrit Cole gave up three runs in six frames for the win. Tsuyoshi Wada gave up four runs in four-and-a-third innings for the setback. Javier Baez and Arismendy Alcantara both homered for Chicago, which has lost seven straight.
Game #2 of the series is tonight in Pittsburgh.
