The Associated Press
July 9, 2017
Pittsburgh Pirates' Francisco Cervelli hits a grand slam against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, July 9, 2017, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
CHICAGO -- While the Chicago Cubs packed up quickly for the All-Star break, Bob Marley's "Three Little Birds" played over the speakers in the home clubhouse at Wrigley Field. "Don't worry about a thing," Marley sang, "Cause every little thing gonna be alright."
The Cubs are hoping Marley is right, but there was no sign of any turnaround on Sunday.
Jon Lester surrendered 10 runs in the first inning of the shortest start of his 12-year career, and the Cubs stumbled to a 14-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates.
"It kind of speaks for itself," Lester said. "It's embarrassing."
Chicago (43-45) heads into the break with a losing record for the first time since it was 40-54 in 2014. The reigning World Series champions also trail NL Central-leading Milwaukee by 5 1/2 games after the Brewers held on for a 5-3 victory against the New York Yankees.
The Cubs were 53-35 at the break a year ago.
"We are frustrated," manager Joe Maddon said. "We're not playing our game."
Francisco Cervelli matched a career high with five RBI and Jordy Mercer drove in three runs as the Pirates closed out a 5-2 road trip with their fifth win in six games. All-Star Josh Harrison homered in the ninth and Chad Kuhl pitched three innings of one-run ball in an emergency start after Jameson Taillon was scratched due to flu-like symptoms.
Pittsburgh sent 15 batters to the plate in its highest-scoring inning since it got 10 in the seventh against Colorado on May 17, 2009. It was the first time it scored at least 10 in the first inning since June 8, 1989, against Philadelphia.
"It was a lot of fun," manager Clint Hurdle said. "This team, we have been able to rally in a lot of different ways."
Cervelli hit his third career grand slam into the basket in left with two out. McCutchen followed with a drive to left-center for his 17th homer, chasing Lester and drawing a smattering of boos from a frustrated crowd of 41,604 at Wrigley Field.
"Throw up 10 like that in the first inning, it was huge," McCutchen said. "We kept going, we kept pushing and didn't stop there in the first."
Lester (5-6) was charged with four earned runs and six hits. He also struggled in his previous outing, allowing six runs in five innings in a loss to Tampa Bay on Tuesday.
The left-hander was hurt by an error on third baseman Kris Bryant, who booted David Freese's one-out grounder with runners on first and second. Josh Bellthen hit an RBI single, Jose Osuna doubled home two more runs and Mercer made it 5-0 with a two-run single.
"If I make that play, the game is completely different," Bryant said.
Kuhl allowed two hits and walked three on just two days' rest after he pitched a career-high seven innings in a 6-3 win at Philadelphia on Thursday night. A.J. Schugel (1-0), the second of three Pittsburgh relievers, pitched three innings for the win.
The Pirates (42-47) improved to 5-1 at Wrigley this year and stayed seven back of Milwaukee. They were 46-43 at the All-Star break last season.
AILING TAILLON
Taillon had intense flu-like symptoms when he got to the ballpark and was visited by paramedics, according to Pirates trainer Todd Tomczyk. He felt better after a while, but the symptoms returned while he was warming up.
"I think we can all attest to the warrior mentality that Jameson has, the competitor that he is," Tomczyk said.
The 25-year-old Taillon is 3-1 with a 1.98 ERA in five starts since returning from surgery for testicular cancer.
BRIGHT SPOT
Cubs rookie Victor Caratini entered before the Pirates batted in the fifth and went 3 for 3 with two doubles. He snapped a 0-for-9 skid to begin his career.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Pirates: Cervelli was shaken up after he was hit on his left leg by a pitch in the third inning, but stayed in the game.
Cubs: 2B Ben Zobrist got the day off. He is batting just .136 (3 for 22) in six games since he was activated from the disabled list on July 1 after being sidelined by an injured left wrist. "It's been a tough first half, one of the toughest of my career," he said. "Injuries-wise, I've been battling stuff all year so far."
UP NEXT
Pirates: RHP Gerrit Cole (7-7, 4.43 ERA) is scheduled to start Friday night in the opener of a three-game series against St. Louis. After the Cardinals leave town, the Pirates host the Brewers for four games.
Cubs: LHP Mike Montgomery (1-6, 3.75 ERA) will start Friday night's game at Baltimore. Montgomery replaced Lester and allowed two runs and three hits in three innings.
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