Pirates suffer walk-off loss to Cubs in series finale

Colin Beazley, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Jun 15, 2025

Published in Baseball

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CHICAGO — Mitch Keller delivered another quality start. Once again, the Pirates couldn’t capitalize.

The Pirates lost to the Cubs, 3-2, on Sunday afternoon at Wrigley Field in 10 innings, losing three of four. Cubs left fielder Ian Happ had the walk-off single off David Bednar in the final inning, scoring the automatic runner.

All four games were decided by one run. The Pirates allowed only nine runs in the series, but scored only seven.

Sunday started quickly, before becoming another pitching duel. Both teams scored twice in the first, then were held until extras. The Pirates started with three singles in four batters against Cubs righty Colin Rea, with Spencer Horwitz’s RBI single scoring Oneil Cruz and Nick Gonzales coming home on an Alexander Canario groundout. Happ walked and scored on a Seiya Suzuki groundout, then Michael Busch had a bloop double and scored on Dansby Swanson’s single.

But as has been the story this series, the Pirates offense largely disappeared. The Pirates did not have another hit until Horwitz singled in the sixth.

They did not have a hit after that.

Isaac Mattson threw the seventh and eighth innings, retiring all six batters he faced. Since allowing a solo homer to Christian Yelich in his first game this season, Mattson has completed 8 2/3 innings without allowing a hit. His season ERA is 0.93.

Dennis Santana ran into two-out trouble in the ninth, but he got out of it. He allowed a single to Swanson, who advanced to third on Nico Hoerner’s double. Henry Davis made a good block on what nearly was a game-tying wild pitch, then Ke’Bryan Hayes made a strong throw on Justin Turner’s groundout to send the game to extras.

It was over when ...

The Pirates could not move the runner over in the 10th, as Ke’Bryan Hayes grounded out to shortstop, Davis flew out to right. Isiah Kiner-Falefa hit a liner up the middle that would have scored automatic runner Adam Frazier, but Hoerner made a diving stop to rob him of an RBI single.

On the mound

Keller completed his 10th quality start in 15 appearances, allowing two runs on three hits in six innings. He struck out three. The Pirates were unable to improve Keller’s 1-9 record.

At the plate

Horwitz went 2 for 4 with two singles. The rest of the Pirates’ lineup went 2 for 29.

Most valuable player

Happ continued to dominate the Pirates, his hometown team.

Up next

The Pirates are off Monday before beginning a series in Detroit against the Tigers (46-27), who currently have the second-best record in baseball. Bailey Falter (5-3, 3.36) will throw Tuesday at 6:40 p.m. against Tigers right-hander Casey Mize (6-2, 2.95).