Oneil Cruz's four-hit game leads Pirates to win in extras against Cubs

Colin Beazley, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Apr 11, 2026

Published in Baseball

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CHICAGO — Saturday started with the Pirates’ flag flying highest among the NL Central flags atop the Wrigley Field scoreboard. After the Pirates won Saturday, Sunday will begin the same way.

The Pirates beat the Chicago Cubs, 4-3, in 11 innings on Saturday afternoon at Wrigley Field. They entered the day tied atop the NL Central standings with the Milwaukee Brewers and St. Louis Cardinals (both 8-5), the first time they’d led the Central (even jointly) since April 16, 2024. With the win, they’ll remain in first place for at least one more night.

The win was a gift for the Pirates. Brandon Lowe hit a tapper that should have been the third out in the 11th, but pitcher Caleb Thielbar’s throw was wide and automatic runner Nick Gonzales scored from second. Yohan Ramirez stranded the bases loaded in both the 10th and 11th innings to earn the win.

Oneil Cruz went 4 for 5 with an intentional walk, a double, a run scored and three stolen bases. He had three singles against Cubs starter Edward Cabrera, then stole second all three times.

Nick Yorke had a similarly effective day, finishing 3 for 4 with a double and a walk. He’s batting .379 so far this season.

The Pirates stole four bases: three from Cruz, and Konnor Griffin’s first career stolen base in the second. Griffin went 1 for 5 with a single.

The Pirates got out to an early 3-0 lead against Cabrera. Cabrera had allowed two hits all season, but allowed six in the first three innings. A run scored when Spencer Horwitz grounded into a second inning double play, then the Pirates added two in the third on a Bryan Reynolds single and Ryan O’Hearn’s sacrifice fly.

Braxton Ashcraft was dominant for much of his start, finishing with a career-high nine strikeouts in five innings. The Cubs only got traction against him in the fifth. After a leadoff walk, Reynolds nearly made a spectacular diving catch on Dansby Swanson’s liner, but couldn’t maintain control as he hit the ground. Ashcraft retired the next two hitters, but a run scored on Nico Hoerner’s groundout.

The Cubs got closer in the seventh. Justin Lawrence came in and had no feel for his sweeper, starting the inning with a walk, a single and a wild pitch. After two groundouts, including one from Swanson that brought in a run, Gregory Soto came in and got a first-pitch popout to strand Michael Conforto at third.

The Cubs had a chance against Isaac Mattson in the eighth, singling twice. With two on, Mattson won a 10-pitch battle with catcher Miguel Amaya, striking him out on a 3-2 slider above the zone.

Typically reliable Dennis Santana blew a save in the ninth, walking two batters and allowing an RBI single to Alex Bregman. It was the first run Santana has allowed all season.

It was over when …

… Ramirez very nearly walked in the tying run in the 11th after manager Don Kelly intentionally walked Ian Happ to load the bases. Ramirez’s own throwing error nearly brought in the run as well. But Seiya Suzuki popped out on a 3-1 fastball, stranding the bases loaded, ending the game and earning the Pirates the win.

On the mound

Ashcraft was pulled after 77 pitches. The move made more sense than the decision to pull Mitch Keller on Wednesday, both because the Pirates have to monitor Ashcraft’s innings and because the Cubs had two lefties and a switch hitter due up in the sixth.

He finished with a career-high 16 whiffs. His curveball was particularly effective, as he recorded five strikeouts with the pitch (and three more on his slider). In his 77 pitches, he threw 28 fastballs and 27 curves.

At the plate

The Pirates had 12 hits. However, they went 2 for 19 with runners in scoring position and left 13 on base.

Most valuable player

Cruz became the first Pirate with a four-hit, three-stolen base game since Matt Lawton on July 26, 2005. He was intentionally walked to get to Lowe.

Up next

The Pirates will go for a three-game sweep Sunday afternoon starting at 2:20 p.m. Bubba Chandler (0-1, 3.12 ERA) will start against former Pirate Jameson Taillon (0-1, 2.53).