What happened
Pete Crow-Armstrong homered to lift the Chicago Cubs past the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-2 in extra innings, opening the series with a win. The result comes a day after Chicago closed out a stretch in which the club went 2-3 over its last five games.
Why it matters
The opener extends a stretch in which Crow-Armstrong, who earned his second All-Star selection earlier this month, has remained a steady presence in the Cubs' lineup. Chicago is still canvassing the trade market for starting pitching ahead of the Aug. 3 deadline, with the club ranked 14th in MLB in runs allowed.
By the numbers
Chicago has now won three of the last five meetings with Pittsburgh, including a 7-2 win on May 28 and a 10-4 win on May 27. The Pirates' lone win in that stretch came 12-1 on May 26. The Cubs sit at 52-47 this season, with the Pirates at 49-47.
What to watch next
The two teams continue the series with another matchup at Pittsburgh.