Brandon Lowe helps the Pirates top the Cubs 4-3 in series finale

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Pittsburgh Pirates' Brandon Lowe, right, watches his two-RBI single hit during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)

Pittsburgh Pirates' Brandon Lowe hits a two-RBI single during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez) — Pittsburgh Pirates' Brandon Lowe, right, watches his two-RBI single hit during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)

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5:22 PM on Sunday, September 13

By JAY COHEN

CHICAGO (AP) — Brandon Lowe hit a tiebreaking two-run single in Pittsburgh's three-run sixth inning, and the Pirates beat the Chicago Cubs 4-3 on Sunday to avoid a sweep of their weekend series.

Bryan Reynolds had two hits for Pittsburgh, including an RBI single in the first. Carmen Mlodzinski, Luke Weaver and Mason Montgomery combined for 3 2/3 hitless innings in relief of Bubba Chandler (8-9).

The Pirates (75-75) closed out a 4-2 stay in Chicago. They swept the White Sox before dropping two of three against the Cubs.

Miguel Amaya homered for Chicago, and Michael Busch had two hits. Matthew Boyd (8-5) allowed four runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings in his second straight loss.

The Cubs (83-67) dropped into a tie with Philadelphia for the top spot in the NL wild-card standings.

Montgomery worked a perfect ninth for his 13th save in 15 chances. The Pirates had a 3-2 lead on Saturday before a wild Gregory Soto surrendered two runs in the eighth inning of a 4-3 loss.

Chicago jumped in front in the series finale on Amaya's sixth homer, a two-run drive to left with two out in the fifth. It was his first homer since Aug. 16.

Pittsburgh responded with three runs in the sixth. Reynolds reached on a leadoff walk and scored on Nick Gonzales’ ground-rule double. With one out and the bases loaded, Lowe made it 4-2 when he drove in Rafael Flores Jr. and Gonzales with a pinch-hit liner to center off Aaron Civale.

Chicago closed to 4-3 on Nico Hoerner's grounder to second in the bottom half. But the Cubs left the bases loaded when Pedro Ramírez flied to right against Mlodzinski, ending the inning.

Up next

Pirates: Following an off day, the Pirates host the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night in the opener of a nine-game homestand.

Cubs: LHP David Peterson (7-8, 5.28 ERA) starts on Monday night against Atlanta. RHP Reynaldo López (4-4, 4.13) takes the mound for the visiting Braves.

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