CHICAGO — David Freese and Francisco Cervelli each drove in two runs to back Gerritt Cole, and the visiting 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.
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.
Kyle Schwarber and Zobrist each had RBI singles, but the Cubs failed to score late.
Pinch hitter Willson Contreras grounded out with the bases loaded to end the eighth.
Watson retired the first two batters in the ninth before a walk, an error by Freese at third base and a hit batter loaded the bases. Zobrist grounded out to shortstop to finish it.
Braves 5, Padres 2: Ender Inciarte hit the first home run in baseball’s newest stadium, local product Nick Markakis drove in the first two runs and Atlanta beat San Diego.
Before a sellout crowd of 41,149 that included former President Jimmy Carter, Commissioner Rob Manfred and one-time home run king Hank Aaron, the Braves won their second straight game after a 1-6 start.
Nationals 3, Phillies 2: Daniel Murphy delivered on a day when his bobbleheads were given out to fans, doubling home Bryce Harper in the 10th inning to send Washington past Philadelphia.
Harper opened the 10th with a single off Jeanmar Gomez. Murphy hit an opposite-field double to left and Harper came around to easily beat the throw.
Shawn Kelley (1-0) pitched a perfect 10th inning. Gomez (1-1), who was removed from the closer’s role this week after filling it last season, threw a scoreless ninth before Washington broke through.
Brewers 10, Reds 4: Eric Thames homered for the second straight night and drove in three runs, and visiting Milwaukee beat Cincinnati.
Marlins 3, Mets 2: J.T. Realmuto hit a game-ending RBI double with two out in the ninth inning, and Miami snapped New York’s five-game win streak.
American League
Orioles 6, Blue Jays 4: J.J. Hardy hit a two-run homer, and first-place Baltimore beat slumping host Toronto.
Chris Davis, Jonathan Schoop and Seth Smith also connected, and Wade Miley (1-0) pitched six innings for his first win of the season.
Blue Jays ace Aaron Sanchez (0-1) allowed five runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings.
Rays 10, Red Sox 5: Logan Morrison hit a grand slam and Shane Peterson homered in his first big league at-bat since 2015, two of the career-high four homers allowed by Cy Young Award winner Rick Porcello in Tampa Bay’s victory at Boston.
Tigers 7, Indians 6: Miguel Cabrera hit a three-run homer in the fifth inning after being brushed back in the first, and visiting Detroit beat Cleveland, sending the defending AL champion Indians to their sixth loss in seven games.
Royals 7, Angels 1: Danny Duffy allowed three hits over seven innings and Mike Moustakas hit a two-run homer as host Kansas City beat Los Angeles.
White Sox 2, Twins 1: Dylan Covey allowed one run on five hits while pitching into the sixth inning of his big-league debut and Matt Davidson hit a solo home run in the seventh to lift visiting Chicago to a victory over Minnesota. — AP
