Pirates shut out for MLB-leading fifth time of season in series-opening loss to Cubs

Noah Hiles, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Apr 29, 2025

Published in Baseball

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PITTSBURGH — For three innings, Andrew Heaney continued his dominance at PNC Park. But when the Pirates’ veteran left-hander ran out of gas, his team had no other answers, ultimately leading to a 9-0 loss to the Cubs Tuesday evening.

Entering the game as one of the hottest arms in baseball, Heaney opened his outing on a tear, retiring the first 11 batters he faced. Once again, he looked efficient and in control. But that changed when designated hitter Seiya Suzuki tagged him for a double with two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Suzuki’s double was followed by a home run from catcher Carson Kelly, which put the Cubs ahead 2-0. After escaping the fourth, Heaney was hit hard again in the fifth, allowing center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong to smash a two-run blast that made the score 4-0.

Heaney exited the contest later that frame, after walking the bases loaded. And while Kyle Nicolas was able to finish the inning without surrendering further damage, the Cubs’ lead was already sizable enough to maintain for the rest of the night.

Cubs starter Shota Imanaga, who entered the contest not having allowed an earned run in 14 innings of prior work against the Pirates, maintained his stranglehold on Derek Shelton’s club, tossing five scoreless frames. The Pirates did tally six hits off the left-hander, the final one being a leadoff double from designated hitter Andrew McCutchen in the bottom of the sixth. Imanaga exited the game due to leg cramps after that knock.

Chicago continued to pile on as the game transitioned to a battle of bullpens in the final four innings, scoring three runs in the top of the seventh, one in the eighth and one more in the ninth. Joey Wentz, Hunter Stratton, Colin Holderman and David Bednar were the culprits who surrendered the additional offense. Both Stratton and Holderman allowed a homer in their outings.

The Pirates, meanwhile, went down without a fight, suffering their fifth shutout loss of the season, the most of any MLB team this season. Imanaga was the winning pitcher, improving to 3-1 on the season. Heaney was the loser, dropping to 2-2.

It was over when …

… Crow-Armstrong smashed his two-run long ball off Heaney in the top of the fifth. The homer came on a first-pitch four-seam fastball that was located on the high-inside corner of the zone. Crow-Armstrong connected, sending the ball 394 feet to right field, with an exit velocity of 107.4 mph.

On the mound

Hunter Stratton, who was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis Tuesday afternoon, made his first big league appearance of the season in the top of the seventh inning, after Wentz exited with two outs remaining. The outing marked Stratton’s first action at PNC Park since Aug. 24 of last year, when he ruptured the patella tendon in his left knee, ending his season.

Stratton’s first action with the Pirates was perhaps a workday he’d like to forget, as he surrendered a two-run homer to Suzuki to begin the outing. While Stratton allowed a pair of additional runners to reach base, one via strikeout, the other via walk, neither came around to score.

At the plate

Despite entering the contest with the worst ERA in the national league (4.99), the Cubs’ bullpen made easy work of the Pirates’ lineup, surrendering just one hit over four innings of relief. Catcher Joey Bart was Pittsburgh’s lone offensive bright spot in the loss, reaching base four times — two singles and two walks.

Most valuable player

Shota Imanaga, who allowed six hits and a walk while striking out three over his five-plus scoreless innings Tuesday night to earn the win. In three starts against the Pirates, Imanaga has now thrown 19 scoreless innings, allowing 10 total hits and four walks, while striking out 17. Suzuki also had a noteworthy night, finishing a single shy of the cycle.

Up next

Pirates right-hander Carmen Mlodzinski will oppose Cubs’ southpaw Matthew Boyd Tuesday evening for the second game of a the three-game series at PNC Park. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 p.m.