Ben Zobrist and David Ross each knocked home two runs to help the Cubs pound the Pirates, 7-2, at PNC Park. Jason Hammel tossed five-plus innings to grab the win, improving his record to 4-and-0 this season. Chicago has won five of its last six games overall.
Andrew McCutchen tallied two RBI, including a solo shot in the first to open the scoring. Gerrit Cole took the loss on the hill as Pittsburgh fell to 15-and-11.
The Cubs and Pirates continue their three-game set tonight in Pittsburgh. The 18-and-6 Cubs are four games ahead of Pittsburgh for first in the NL Central. Jake Arrieta will be on the mound for the Cubs. The Bucs will counter with Jon Niese.
Arrieta is the NL Pitcher of the Month. The 2015 NL Cy Young winner hurled his second career no-hitter and went 5-and-0 with a 1.00 ERA and 32 punchouts for the first-place Cubs.
Cubs outfielder Jason Heyward is day-to-day with a wrist injury. The ailment kept him out of last night's game against the Pirates. He will also be held out tonight. Heyward is hitting .211 with no homers and 13 RBI this season.