Pittsburgh Buries Chicago Early, Cruises to 9-3 Win

Pittsburgh put up seven runs before Chicago had even scratched the scoreboard, turning Tuesday's game into a formality by the second inning. Bubba Chandler then locked it down with 8 strikeouts over 6.0 innings, and the final was never in doubt: PIT 9, CHW 3.

The story of the night was a first inning that functioned less like baseball and more like an execution. Reynolds doubled to right, scoring Griffin and sending Lowe to third — a swing that moved Chicago's win probability from 46% to 32%, and that was just the opening act. Cruz followed with a double to center, scoring both Lowe and Reynolds to make it 3-0. Valdez then hit a ground rule double to score Cruz, and Horwitz singled to center to plate Valdez. Four doubles, one single, five runs, one inning. Pittsburgh hadn't even broken a sweat.

The second inning was more of the same. Horwitz singled to center again — this time scoring both Lowe and Reynolds — pushing the lead to 7-0 before Chicago's starter had recorded his 12th out. Jose Urquidy finished his night after 4.0 innings, allowing 5 hits and 2 earned runs with just 1 strikeout. Pittsburgh kept the foot on the gas in the fifth: Flores Jr. homered to left at 372 feet, and Reynolds added a sacrifice fly to make it 9-0. Horwitz finished 2-for-5 with 3 RBI. Cruz went 3-for-5 with 2 RBI. Reynolds went 2-for-4 with 2 RBI and 2 runs scored. This was a collective dismantling.

Chicago's consolation prizes were cosmetic. B. Montgomery singled to left in the fifth to score Benintendi, Teel launched a 408-foot homer to right center in the sixth, and C. Montgomery grounded out to shortstop in the seventh to plate Benintendi again — but all three runs came with the game already decided. Teel's shot, at least, looked like a statement for a young player with nothing to lose. Chandler, for his part, appears to have been the most efficient arm on the field: 6.0 innings, 4 hits, 2 earned runs, zero walks, 8 strikeouts. That's a line that commands attention. Pittsburgh's offense did the heavy lifting early, but Chandler made sure there was no drama to manufacture late.