The Chicago Cubs picked up a much needed victory on Thursday afternoon to secure a series win against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. This comes after a series loss at home last weekend against the Phillies that started off strong with a shutout in the series opener. The name of the game for most competitive teams in the league is to just find a way to win every series. Regardless of how strong or lackluster the opponent is, if a squad can find a way to win most sets, they are in good shape.
The Cubs dominated the opening game of the series against Pittsburgh on Tuesday in what was their first NL Central contest in the 2025 season. They played the first 29 games of the campaign mostly against the NL West in odd fashion. After a tough 4-3 loss in the second game against the Pirates on Wednesday, Chicago had to face Paul Skenes on getaway day in the series finale.
After four shutout innings, the Cubs got to one of the best pitchers on the planet in a big way in the fifth frame. They hit three home runs off Skenes and chased him out of the contest after that inning. The offense tacked on more insurance runs in the seventh in ninth innings to seal the deal on the 8-3 victory.
A key cog in the Cubs offense has hit well at PNC Park throughout his career and that continued this week. The three-time Gold Glover and Pittsburgh native added onto to his stellar on-base streak against the Pirates in their home yard in this series.
Ian Happ extended his impressive on-base streak at PNC Park
With Ian Happ’s 3-4 effort in Thursday’s win, he now has reached base safely in 44 consecutive games played at PNC Park. The outfielder has always hit well on the road in his hometown, and he was a big reason why the Cubs took two of three from the Pirates. Happ went 2-4 in the second game and 1-5 in the series opener, which includes him driving in a run in each of the final two games of the set.
Happ is slashing .279/.365/.390 with a .755 OPS out of the leadoff spot this season. The left fielder has two home runs and 16 runs driven in over the course of his 136 at-bats that he has received in 32 games. While it would be nice to move Happ down a spot or two in the order to tap into his power a bit more, his ability to get on-base early and often makes it difficult for Craig Counsell to take him out of the leadoff spot.
The Chicago Cubs will take this momentum into the weekend
The NL Central road trip continues for the Cubs this weekend in Milwaukee. They currently have a two game lead over the second place Reds and will have their work cut out for them in a three-game series with the Brewers. If hthe Cubs want to win their first NL Central crown in five seasons, this is the type of series they need to take care of business in.
Even though Milwaukee is a .500 club so far this year, they should never be taken lightily and the Cubs know firsthand how intense the environment can be at American Family Field when they are in town. First pitch of the series opener on Friday night is set for 7:10 with Ben Brown getting the ball for the Cubs.
Chicago Cubs had Paul Skenes do something Thursday that he hadn’t done in his career so far
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