Pirates struggle against Jameson Taillon in 3-2 loss to Cubs

Colin Beazley, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Jun 12, 2025

Published in Baseball

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CHICAGO — Pirates starter Andrew Heaney gave the Wrigley Field faithful nothing to cheer about in the first three innings. In the fourth, Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong broke through with a roar.

The Cubs beat the Pirates, 3-2, on Thursday night at Wrigley Field. Heaney allowed just four hits in six innings, but two, including Crow-Armstrong’s two-run blast in the fourth, went for homers. Heaney took the loss and fell to 3-5.

Cubs starter and former Pirate Jameson Taillon earned the win to move to 7-3. He allowed a hit in the first, then didn’t allow another until the seventh. Cubs reliever Ryan Pressly pitched the ninth for his fifth save.

Heaney was perfect through the first three innings. The fourth was not as kind. Heaney allowed a one-out single to Cubs right fielder Kyle Tucker, then Crow-Armstrong hit a fastball way above the strike zone into the right-field bleachers for a two-run homer.

Heaney went back to cruising, pitching a 1-2-3 fifth and quickly recording the first two outs in the sixth. Then his shoelaces broke. Heaney repaired them on the mound, fell behind 2-1 to designated hitter Seiya Suzuki, then watched as Suzuki crushed a high change-up for a solo homer.

The Pirates got two back in the seventh. They hadn’t recorded a hit since an Andrew McCutchen single in the first, but first baseman Spencer Horwitz ended the drought with a one-out double. Second baseman Adam Frazier brought him home with a single, then shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa laced a liner to left for a third consecutive hit, ending Taillon’s day.

Reliever Brad Keller came in and struck out left fielder Tommy Pham, but immediately lost his command. It started when he drilled catcher Brett Sullivan in the leg with a fastball, loading the bases, then continued when he walked third baseman Jared Triolo to bring in a run. But after falling behind center fielder Oneil Cruz, Keller came back to strike him out and leave the bases stranded.

It was over when ...

Cubs reliever Daniel Palencia threw a 1-2-3 eighth inning, mowing down the Pirates’ Nos. 2, 3 and 4 hitters on 15 pitches.

On the mound

Taillon dominated the Pirates, allowing a single and two walks in the first six innings. He struck out seven of the first 13 batters he faced before turning to soft contact in his final 2 1/3 innings.

At the plate

Beyond the seventh, when Horwitz, Frazier and Kiner-Falefa tallied three hits in a row, the Pirates’ offense did very little. They finished with four hits, leaving five runners on base.

Most valuable player

Taillon dominated the Pirates, allowing a single and two walks in the first six innings. He struck out seven, all coming in the first 13 batters he faced, before turning to soft contact in the final 2 1/3 innings he pitched.

Up next

The Pirates and Cubs will play the second game of their four-game series on Friday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 2:20 p.m. The game will feature Pirates ace Paul Skenes (4-6, 1.88 ERA) against Cubs right-hander Cade Horton (3-1, 4.11).