Javier Baez hit a three-run home run and Kyle Hendricks pitched one-run ball over six innings Wednesday night to lead the Chicago Cubs to an 8-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Baez connected in the fourth inning to put Chicago in front 3-1. The blast carried 443 feet to the back set of bleachers in left-center field and came one pitch after Nick Tropeano relieved starter Joe Musgrove.

Hendricks (4-4) scattered six hits to go with six strikeouts and two walks. He had been winless in his previous three starts.

Anthony Rizzo added a two-run single in the seventh and the Cubs scored three times in the eighth to make it 8-2. Willson Contreras doubled in a run and the other two scored on a fielding error by shortstop Kevin Newman.

Contreras finished with three hits and lifted his batting average to .216 while Baez is hitting .200. Neither player is playing at his accustomed All-Star level, but both have been working regularly on their swings in the indoor batting cages before the game.

The Pirates' runs came on homers by Colin Moran in the second inning and Anthony Alford in the seventh.

Musgrove (0-4) went three-plus innings after being activated from the injured list prior to the game. He gave up three hits, struck out four and walked none while being limited to 46 pitches.

Musgrove had been sidelined by right triceps inflammation since Aug. 5.

The NL Central-leading Cubs won their third straight game and the Pirates lost their third in a row.

The start of the game was delayed one hour and 11 minutes because of rain.

Alec Mills (3-2, 5.23 ERA) will start Thursday in the finale of the three-game series. Mills has never started against Pittsburgh but notched his lone career save against them last season.

Pirates rookie JT Brubaker (0-0, 4.50 ERA) will continue his quest for his first career win in his fifth start and seventh appearance.