Freese, Cole Help Pirates Hold Off Cubs 4-2
CHICAGO (AP) - David Freese and Francisco Cervelli each drove in two runs to back Gerritt Cole, and the Pittsburgh Pirates held off the Chicago Cubs 4-2 Friday to end a four-game skid.
The Cubs loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth inning before Tony Watson got Ben Zobrist on a grounder for his third save.
After going 4-14 against the Cubs last year, Pittsburgh started out well against the World Series champions.
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Cole (1-1) allowed two runs in six innings, striking out five. He outpitched Kyle Hendricks (1-1), who surrendered three runs in 5 1-3 innings after allowing just one run during three wins against Pittsburgh last year
Freese doubled twice and scored two runs. The 33-year-old third baseman has reached base safely in 12 of his last 15 plate appearances.
The Pirates trailed 2-1 in the sixth when Freese hit a tying single and Cervelli had a two-run double.
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