Cubs beat Pirates 6-5 on Difo error in 11th

CHICAGO - Sergio Alcántara scampered home when second baseman Wilmer Difo mishandled a popup in the 11th inning, and the Chicago Cubs beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-5 on Thursday night for their third straight win.

Rafael Ortega and Ian Happ homered for Chicago, and Alcántara logged the first three-hit game of his career. Codi Heuer (6-2) got three outs for the win.

Alcántara began the 11th on second base and advanced on Ortega’s sacrifice bunt against Sam Howard (2-3). Happ then sent a high fly to second, where Difo committed the game-ending error.

It’s the first three-game win streak for the Cubs since a five-game run from June 8-13.

The last-place Pirates wasted a stellar start by Mitch Keller, who struck out eight in six scoreless innings. Colin Moran hit a three-run homer in the first, and Bryan Reynolds finished with two hits.

The Cubs rallied after Keller departed. Ortega tied it at 3 with a three-run shot against Chad Kuhl in the seventh. Frank Schwindel then singled and Happ connected for his 18th homer, sending a drive deep to right-center.

The Pirates tied it in the ninth against Rowan Wick. With one out and the bases loaded, Michael Perez drove in two runs with a pinch-hit single to right. But Cole Tucker then bounced into a double play.

Rookie right-hander Keegan Thompson got just five outs for Chicago, allowing three runs and four hits. He also struggled in his previous start, yielding four earned runs in two-plus innings in a 17-13 loss to the White Sox.

Adrian Sampson, Scott Effross and Adam Morgan combined for 6 1/3 innings of hitless relief for Chicago.

Pittsburgh has lost five of its last six games after winning three of four.

ROOKIE HONORS

Schwindel was announced as the NL Rookie of the Month for August. The 29-year-old batted .344 last month with six homers and 18 RBIs.

Schwindel was claimed off waivers after he was designated for assignment by Oakland on July 16.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cubs: INF Nico Hoerner (strained oblique) took ground balls and hit in the batting cage. ... INF David Bote (sprained ankle) shed his walking boot, but there is still no timetable for his return. ... C Willson Contreras (sprained knee) will make another rehab start with Triple-A Iowa on Friday before his next step is determined.

UP NEXT

Pittsburgh’s Steven Brault (0-3, 4.57 ERA) takes the mound Friday against Cubs right-hander Alec Mills (6-6, 4.32 ERA).