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Cubs Topple Pirates

Trevor Williams pitched six innings and singled twice against his former team, helping the streaking Chicago Cubs top the stumbling Pittsburgh Pirates 4-1 on Wednesday night.

 

Chicago won for the fifth time in six games and stayed a half-game back of NL Central-leading St. Louis. David Bote hit a two-run homer for the Cubs, and Kris Bryant had three hits and two RBIs.

 

Williams (3-2) permitted one run and three hits in his first win since April 17. He struck out seven and walked none.

 

Williams allowed seven runs in 7 1/3 innings in his two previous starts against Pittsburgh this year. He spent his first five seasons with the Pirates before being released in November.

 

After allowing a one-out triple by Ben Gamel in the first inning, Williams retired 14 batters in a row.

Williams also went 2 for 3 at the plate, helping Chicago score in the second and sixth.

 

Craig Kimbrel pitched the ninth for his 11th save of the season and No. 359 for his career, moving into 11th place on baseball's list. Chicago relievers have surrendered only one unearned run in 32 1/3 innings in the last 10 games.

 

Pittsburgh dropped its fifth straight game. Rookie Wil Crowe (0-3) recorded just four outs.

Rafael Ortega drew a leadoff walk in the second and Bote followed with a drive to center field.

Bryant added an RBI single.

 

Winless in nine career starts, Crowe allowed five hits and walked two.

 

Bryant made it 4-0 when he singled in Eric Sogard in the sixth. Sogard finished with two hits.

The Pirates got their lone run in the sixth when Kevin Newman led off with a double and scored on Erik Gonzalez's single.

 

Gamel and Newman each had two of Pittsburgh's five hits.

 

Rain delayed the start of the game by 26 minutes.

 

Kyle Hendricks (4-4, 4.74 ERA) is scheduled to start the series finale Thursday against Pirates LHP Tyler Anderson (3-4, 4.73 ERA). Hendricks has allowed two runs or less in eight of his last nine starts in Pittsburgh. Anderson tied a career high by getting tagged for nine runs in five innings by Atlanta in his last start.

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