Pittsburgh Pirates vs Chicago Cubs Match Player Stats
The pittsburgh pirates vs chicago cubs match player stats from September 13, 2026, tell the story of a tightly contested game that turned on one productive sixth inning. The Pirates defeated the Cubs 4-3 at Wrigley Field after Chicago briefly moved ahead on Miguel Amaya’s two-run home run. Pittsburgh answered with three runs in the sixth, including Nick Gonzales’ game-tying double and Brandon Lowe’s two-run pinch-hit single. Bubba Chandler earned the win after allowing three runs over 5.1 innings, while Mason Montgomery recorded his 13th save.
The final score alone does not fully explain how the game developed. Pittsburgh collected nine hits to Chicago’s five, went 3-for-6 with runners in scoring position, and received timely contributions from Bryan Reynolds, Gonzales, Jake Mangum and Lowe. Chicago hit only .167 with runners in scoring position and finished 0-for-4 in those situations. That difference in situational hitting became one of the clearest statistical separators between the two teams.
The game was played at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois, with an announced attendance of 39,103. The Pirates entered the afternoon at 74-75 and improved to 75-75 with the victory, while the Cubs moved to 83-67. The victory allowed Pittsburgh to avoid a sweep in the three-game series.
Pittsburgh Pirates vs Chicago Cubs Match Player Stats: Game Overview
| Category | Pittsburgh Pirates | Chicago Cubs |
| Final Score | 4 | 3 |
| Hits | 9 | 5 |
| Errors | 0 | 0 |
| Runs | 4 | 3 |
| Home Runs | 0 | 1 |
| Walks | 5 | 6 |
| Strikeouts | 7 | 4 |
| Runners Left on Base | 8 | 6 |
| RISP | 3-for-6 | 0-for-4 |
| Doubles | 2 | 1 |
| Double Plays | 2 | 2 |
The most important number in the table may be the nine-to-five advantage in hits. Pittsburgh generated four more hits while also avoiding an error. Chicago actually drew one more walk, but the Cubs did not convert their opportunities with runners in scoring position.
That is an important distinction when examining baseball statistics. A team can reach base frequently without producing enough runs if its biggest opportunities are not converted. In this game, Chicago’s six walks created opportunities, but its 0-for-4 performance with runners in scoring position limited the value of those baserunners.
Pittsburgh, by comparison, converted half of its six RISP opportunities.
The Pirates also produced all three of their sixth-inning runs after Chicago had taken a 2-1 lead. That response changed the direction of the game.
How the Game Was Decided
The scoring began in the first inning.
Konnor Griffin opened the game with a single, then Oneil Cruz walked. Bryan Reynolds followed with an RBI single that brought Griffin home and gave Pittsburgh an early 1-0 advantage.
For several innings, Bubba Chandler kept Chicago’s offense under control. The Cubs did not score until the fifth inning, when Pedro Ramirez walked with two outs and Miguel Amaya followed with a two-run home run to left field.
That home run temporarily put Chicago ahead 2-1.
Amaya’s blast was Chicago’s biggest individual offensive moment of the afternoon. He finished with two hits in three at-bats, two RBIs and one home run.
The Pirates responded immediately in the sixth.
Bryan Reynolds started the inning with a walk, and Rafael Flores Jr. followed with a single. Nick Gonzales then delivered a double that tied the game. The ball went over Seiya Suzuki and became a ground-rule double after getting into the ivy.
Matthew Boyd was then removed, with Aaron Civale entering the game.
Jake Mangum walked, setting up Brandon Lowe’s key at-bat. Lowe came off the bench and lined a two-run single to center, scoring Flores and Gonzales. That gave Pittsburgh a 4-2 lead.
Chicago answered with one run in the bottom of the sixth. Michael Busch singled, Alex Bregman doubled, Ian Happ walked to load the bases, and Nico Hoerner grounded out to bring Busch home.
The Cubs could not produce another run.
Mason Montgomery handled the ninth inning without allowing a hit or run and earned his 13th save.
Pittsburgh Pirates Batting Stats
The Pirates finished with 34 at-bats, nine hits, four runs and four RBIs. They also drew five walks and struck out seven times.
Konnor Griffin
Konnor Griffin went 1-for-5 with one run scored.
His first-inning single was important because it started the sequence that produced Pittsburgh’s opening run. Griffin did not collect an RBI, but his hit immediately placed pressure on the Cubs defense and helped Pittsburgh establish an early lead.
Oneil Cruz
Oneil Cruz went 1-for-2 and drew three walks.
His three walks are especially notable because they helped create traffic on the bases without requiring a hit. Cruz reached base four times in the game, giving him a .500 on-base rate for his official plate appearances.
He scored no runs and drove in none, but his ability to reach base repeatedly was part of Pittsburgh’s offensive structure.
Bryan Reynolds
Bryan Reynolds went 2-for-4 with one run, one RBI and one walk.
His first-inning RBI single opened the scoring, and his sixth-inning walk helped begin Pittsburgh’s three-run rally.
Reynolds was one of only two Pirates players with multiple hits and finished with three total bases.
His contribution also demonstrates why runs and RBIs alone do not always tell the complete story. His sixth-inning walk did not appear in the RBI column, but it was an important part of the rally that produced the decisive runs.
Rafael Flores Jr.
Rafael Flores Jr. finished 1-for-4 with one run scored.
His sixth-inning single was important because it extended the inning and placed another runner on base before Gonzales’ double.
Flores did not collect an RBI, but his hit became part of the sequence that allowed Pittsburgh to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 4-2 lead.
Nick Gonzales
Nick Gonzales went 1-for-4 with one run and one RBI.
His sixth-inning double was one of the most important hits of the game. It tied the score and moved Pittsburgh into position to take control.
Gonzales also finished with two total bases.
The timing of the double mattered more than its raw statistical value. A single would have produced a similar basic result if it moved the necessary runners, but the extra-base hit immediately changed the base situation and kept the inning moving.
Ryan O’Hearn
Ryan O’Hearn went 0-for-4 with one strikeout.
He did not record a hit or walk in the game. O’Hearn’s strikeout came in the sixth inning before Matthew Boyd was replaced by Aaron Civale.
Jake Mangum
Jake Mangum went 2-for-3 with one walk.
He was one of Pittsburgh’s most productive hitters by pure batting results. His two hits tied Reynolds for the team lead.
Mangum also played a direct role in the sixth-inning rally by drawing a walk before Lowe’s go-ahead single.
His two-base total was three because one of his hits was a double.
He was also caught stealing, which was one of the few baserunning negatives for Pittsburgh.
Jared Triolo
Jared Triolo went 0-for-2 with one strikeout.
His at-bats did not produce a hit or walk before he was replaced in the offensive sequence.
Brandon Lowe
Brandon Lowe finished 1-for-2 with two RBIs and one strikeout.
His most important statistic was not his hit total. It was the timing of his hit.
Lowe entered as a pinch hitter and immediately delivered a two-run single that put Pittsburgh ahead 4-2. His pinch-hit performance was the key offensive contribution in the Pirates’ victory.
This is an excellent example of why player evaluation should consider game context. A player can have only one hit and still produce one of the most consequential performances of the afternoon.
Henry Davis
Henry Davis went 0-for-4.
He did not record a hit, walk, run or RBI.
Even so, Pittsburgh’s lineup generated enough production elsewhere to compensate for the lower output from the bottom portion of the order.
Chicago Cubs Batting Stats
Chicago finished with 30 at-bats, five hits, three runs and three RBIs.
The Cubs drew six walks, one more than Pittsburgh, but went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position.
Pete Crow-Armstrong
Pete Crow-Armstrong went 0-for-4 with one strikeout.
He did not record a hit or walk and was unable to contribute directly to Chicago’s scoring.
Seiya Suzuki
Seiya Suzuki went 0-for-3 with one walk and one strikeout.
His afternoon was quiet offensively, although his defensive position was involved in the sixth-inning Gonzales double when the ball went over his head and into the ivy.
Michael Busch
Michael Busch went 2-for-4 with one run scored.
He was Chicago’s only hitter other than Amaya to record multiple hits.
Busch also started the sixth-inning response with a single and later scored when Hoerner grounded out.
His two hits represented 40 percent of Chicago’s total hit output.
Alex Bregman
Alex Bregman went 1-for-3 with a walk.
He also doubled and finished with two total bases.
Bregman’s sixth-inning double helped put Chicago in position to score its third run. After Busch singled, Bregman doubled and Ian Happ walked, loading the bases before Hoerner’s groundout.
Bregman was also involved in one of Chicago’s two double plays.
Ian Happ
Ian Happ went 0-for-2 but drew two walks.
His two walks were valuable in terms of getting on base, and one came during Chicago’s sixth-inning rally.
However, the Cubs were unable to turn that opportunity into a larger inning.
Nico Hoerner
Nico Hoerner went 0-for-4 but recorded one RBI.
His sixth-inning groundout brought Busch home and reduced the Pirates’ lead to 4-3.
The RBI was important, but the Cubs needed another successful plate appearance later in the inning to extend the rally.
Michael Conforto
Michael Conforto went 0-for-2 and drew a walk.
He also grounded into a double play.
The double play was costly because Chicago was already struggling to convert its baserunners into runs.
Matt Shaw
Matt Shaw appeared as a pinch hitter and went 0-for-1.
He did not reach base.
Pedro Ramirez
Pedro Ramirez went 0-for-3 with one walk and scored once.
His fifth-inning walk was important because it extended the inning and put a runner on base before Amaya’s two-run homer.
Ramirez therefore played a direct role in Chicago’s biggest offensive moment despite not recording a hit.
Miguel Amaya
Miguel Amaya was Chicago’s most productive offensive player.
He went 2-for-3 with one run, two RBIs and one home run.
His two-run homer in the fifth inning temporarily gave Chicago the lead. He also collected Chicago’s only home run of the game.
Amaya finished with five total bases, which was the highest total for any Cubs hitter.
Pittsburgh Pitching Stats
Pittsburgh used four pitchers.
| Pitcher | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K | HR |
| Bubba Chandler | 5.1 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| Chase Mlodzinski | 1.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Luke Weaver | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mason Montgomery | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Bubba Chandler
Bubba Chandler earned the win and improved to 8-9.
He pitched 5.1 innings, allowing five hits and three earned runs. He walked four and struck out three.
Chandler threw 90 pitches, with 52 recorded as strikes.
The most revealing part of his outing is that he surrendered Chicago’s only home run. Amaya’s two-run shot gave the Cubs their first lead.
Chandler nevertheless remained responsible for keeping the deficit manageable. He completed more than five innings and left the game with Pittsburgh ultimately in position to win.
Chase Mlodzinski
Chase Mlodzinski pitched 1.2 scoreless innings.
He allowed no hits and struck out one, although he issued two walks.
His appearance was important because he prevented Chicago from immediately responding after Pittsburgh moved ahead.
Mlodzinski faced seven batters and threw 28 pitches, 15 for strikes.
Luke Weaver
Luke Weaver pitched a clean eighth inning.
He faced three batters, allowed no hits and issued no walks.
His seven-pitch inning was one of the cleanest relief appearances of the afternoon.
Mason Montgomery
Mason Montgomery closed the game with a perfect ninth inning.
He allowed no hits, runs or walks and earned his 13th save.
Montgomery needed only seven pitches to record the save, with all seven listed as strikes.
That efficiency was especially useful in a one-run game.
Chicago Cubs Pitching Stats
The Cubs also used four pitchers.
| Pitcher | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K | HR |
| Matthew Boyd | 5.1 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| Aaron Civale | 2.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Caleb Thielbar | 0.2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Daniel Palencia | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Matthew Boyd
Matthew Boyd took the loss and moved to 8-5.
He allowed seven hits and four earned runs over 5.1 innings. He walked two and struck out three.
Boyd threw 88 pitches, including 55 strikes.
The key problem came in the sixth inning.
After Gonzales tied the game with a double, Boyd was removed before the inning was finished. Aaron Civale entered, but Lowe’s pinch-hit single brought home two runs and gave Pittsburgh a 4-2 advantage.
Boyd’s final line therefore reflects both the damage he allowed and the difficult circumstances surrounding the decisive inning.
Aaron Civale
Aaron Civale pitched two innings and allowed one hit.
He did not allow an earned run of his own, but two inherited runners scored after he entered the game. The game record lists Civale with two innings, one hit, two walks and two strikeouts.
That distinction matters when reading pitching statistics. An inherited runner who scores is charged to the previous pitcher rather than the reliever who inherited him.
Caleb Thielbar
Caleb Thielbar pitched two-thirds of an inning.
He allowed one hit and struck out one.
Daniel Palencia
Daniel Palencia pitched a scoreless ninth.
He allowed no hits, struck out one and walked one.
The Cubs bullpen therefore did not surrender another run after Pittsburgh’s sixth-inning explosion.
The Sixth Inning Was the Statistical Turning Point
The sixth inning deserves special attention because all three of Pittsburgh’s winning runs came during that frame.
The sequence was:
- Bryan Reynolds walked.
- Rafael Flores Jr. singled.
- Nick Gonzales doubled to tie the game.
- Matthew Boyd exited.
- Jake Mangum walked.
- Brandon Lowe singled home two runs.
- Chicago responded with one run in the bottom half.
The inning demonstrates the value of combining plate discipline, extra-base hitting and situational execution.
Pittsburgh did not need a home run to produce four runs.
Instead, the Pirates used walks and singles to create traffic, then Gonzales’ double and Lowe’s pinch-hit single delivered the decisive damage.
This is one of the most useful insights when examining pittsburgh pirates vs chicago cubs match player stats. The winning team did not dominate every statistical category. Chicago actually drew more walks and hit the only home run. Pittsburgh simply converted its most important opportunities more efficiently.
RISP Numbers Explain the Difference
One of the clearest differences between the teams was performance with runners in scoring position.
Pittsburgh went 3-for-6.
Chicago went 0-for-4.
That creates a substantial contrast.
The Pirates produced three hits in six RISP opportunities, a .500 conversion rate. Chicago produced zero hits in four opportunities.
This does not mean RISP performance alone determines the quality of an offense. It is highly situation-dependent and can fluctuate significantly from game to game.
But for this particular contest, it helps explain why nine Pittsburgh hits produced four runs while five Chicago hits produced three.
The Pirates made their opportunities count.
Hits Versus Home Runs
Chicago hit the only home run of the game.
Miguel Amaya’s two-run homer traveled 389 feet and gave the Cubs their first lead.
Pittsburgh hit no home runs.
Yet Pittsburgh won.
This is a useful reminder that baseball games are not decided by home run totals alone. The Pirates generated two doubles, nine total hits and five walks. Chicago generated one home run, one double and five hits overall.
Pittsburgh’s offensive production was more distributed.
The Pirates received RBIs from Reynolds, Gonzales and Lowe. Chicago’s three runs came through Amaya’s two-run homer and Hoerner’s groundout.
That difference in scoring construction is important.
Plate Discipline and Strikeout Comparison
The Pirates drew five walks and struck out seven times.
The Cubs drew six walks and struck out only four times.
On the surface, Chicago appears to have had the better strikeout-to-walk profile.
However, those advantages did not translate into more runs.
The Cubs’ six walks helped produce baserunners, but Chicago finished 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position.
Pittsburgh struck out three more times but still created more scoring opportunities through its nine hits.
This is why looking at a single offensive statistic can be misleading. Strikeout totals, walk totals and home runs each describe a part of the game. The full picture requires combining them with hit distribution, base state and run conversion.
Defensive and Baserunning Details
Neither team committed an error.
That means the final result was not driven by a conventional fielding mistake.
Both teams also turned two double plays.
Pittsburgh’s double plays helped prevent Chicago from building additional innings, while Chicago’s defensive work stopped several Pittsburgh opportunities from becoming larger rallies.
The Pirates were charged with one caught stealing, involving Jake Mangum.
Although that play did not decide the game, it is part of the broader baserunning picture.
In a one-run game, even seemingly small baserunning events can become relevant when reviewing the complete box score.
What the Team Totals Tell Us
Pittsburgh’s nine hits came from several different parts of the lineup.
Reynolds had two hits.
Mangum had two.
Griffin, Cruz, Flores Jr., Gonzales and Lowe each added one.
That distribution helped the Pirates avoid relying on one player for their entire offensive output.
Chicago’s five hits were concentrated more heavily.
Busch and Amaya each had two, while Bregman had the other hit.
That meant three Cubs hitters accounted for all five of Chicago’s hits.
The contrast is useful for understanding how the game was won without suggesting that one particular offensive structure is always superior.
What These Player Stats Reveal About the Game
A useful box-score analysis should move beyond simply identifying the highest batting average in a single game.
Four broader observations stand out.
1. Brandon Lowe’s impact came from timing
Lowe had one hit.
But that one hit drove in two runs and turned a tie game into a 4-2 Pittsburgh lead.
His pinch-hit appearance was therefore one of the most important moments of the afternoon.
2. Bryan Reynolds influenced multiple scoring sequences
Reynolds drove in the first run and later walked before the sixth-inning rally.
His contribution included both direct production and the ability to reach base.
3. Miguel Amaya supplied Chicago’s biggest power play
Amaya’s two-run homer represented the Cubs’ largest scoring event.
He also finished with two hits and five total bases.
Despite that production, Chicago could not generate enough additional offense.
4. Pittsburgh’s bullpen protected a narrow lead
After Chandler left, the Pirates’ relievers allowed no further runs.
Mlodzinski, Weaver and Montgomery combined for 3.2 scoreless innings.
That was crucial because Chicago was never more than one run away after its sixth-inning RBI groundout.
A Closer Look at Bubba Chandler vs. Matthew Boyd
The starting pitchers finished with similar innings totals.
Both worked 5.1 innings.
Both allowed three strikeouts.
But their run and hit totals differed.
Chandler allowed five hits and three earned runs.
Boyd allowed seven hits and four earned runs.
Chandler also walked four compared with Boyd’s two.
This means the starting-pitcher comparison is not simply a case of one pitcher dominating the other.
Both starters had issues with baserunners.
The difference was that Chandler’s team eventually produced enough offense to overcome his three runs allowed, while Boyd’s four runs allowed were enough to put Chicago behind.
The game record lists Chandler’s pitch count at 90 and Boyd’s at 88.
Why the Box Score Should Be Read in Context
Baseball statistics can easily be misunderstood when viewed without game context.
For example, Chicago had more walks.
That sounds positive, and reaching base through walks is valuable.
But Chicago did not turn its RISP opportunities into hits.
Similarly, Pittsburgh had more strikeouts.
That sounds negative, but the Pirates still scored four runs.
Chicago hit the only home run.
But Pittsburgh scored more total runs.
The key lesson is that no single statistic explains a baseball game.
A better analysis connects:
- Hits
- Walks
- Extra-base hits
- RISP performance
- Pitching workload
- Bullpen execution
- Defensive plays
- Run timing
- Base-state situations
That is particularly important for readers searching for individual player stats. A raw line such as “1-for-2, 2 RBIs” does not explain why Brandon Lowe’s performance mattered. The surrounding sixth-inning sequence does.
Key Statistical Takeaways
The most important numbers from the game are easy to summarize:
- Pittsburgh won 4-3.
- The Pirates collected nine hits.
- The Cubs collected five hits.
- Pittsburgh went 3-for-6 with runners in scoring position.
- Chicago went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position.
- Brandon Lowe drove in two runs as a pinch hitter.
- Bryan Reynolds had two hits, one RBI and one walk.
- Jake Mangum had two hits and one walk.
- Miguel Amaya hit a two-run home run and finished with two hits.
- Michael Busch had two hits and scored once.
- Bubba Chandler earned the win after 5.1 innings.
- Matthew Boyd took the loss after 5.1 innings.
- Mason Montgomery earned his 13th save.
- Neither team committed an error.
- The Pirates hit two doubles.
- The Cubs hit one double.
- Chicago’s only home run came from Amaya.
- The Cubs won the three-game series 2-1.
These numbers provide a much clearer picture than the final score alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the final score of the Pirates vs Cubs game on September 13, 2026?
The Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Chicago Cubs 4-3 at Wrigley Field. Pittsburgh scored four runs on nine hits, while Chicago scored three runs on five hits.
Who was the best offensive player in the game?
Brandon Lowe produced the decisive offensive hit, driving in two runs with a pinch-hit single in the sixth inning. Miguel Amaya was Chicago’s leading offensive contributor with two hits, two RBIs and a two-run home run.
How did Bryan Reynolds perform?
Bryan Reynolds went 2-for-4 with one run, one RBI and one walk. His first-inning RBI single opened the scoring, and his sixth-inning walk helped start Pittsburgh’s decisive rally.
How did Miguel Amaya perform?
Miguel Amaya went 2-for-3 with one run, two RBIs and one home run. His fifth-inning homer temporarily gave Chicago a 2-1 lead.
Who won the pitching matchup?
Bubba Chandler earned the win for Pittsburgh after pitching 5.1 innings and allowing three earned runs. Matthew Boyd took the loss for Chicago after allowing four earned runs over 5.1 innings.
What was the most important statistical difference?
The clearest difference was performance with runners in scoring position. Pittsburgh went 3-for-6, while Chicago went 0-for-4. Pittsburgh also had a 9-5 advantage in hits.
Conclusion
The pittsburgh pirates vs chicago cubs match player stats from September 13, 2026, show how a close MLB game can be decided by timing rather than one overwhelming statistical advantage.
Chicago produced the only home run of the contest through Miguel Amaya and received two hits from both Amaya and Michael Busch. The Cubs also drew six walks and struck out only four times.
Pittsburgh, however, collected nine hits and converted three of six opportunities with runners in scoring position. Bryan Reynolds contributed at the top of the offensive production, Jake Mangum supplied two hits and a walk, Nick Gonzales delivered the game-tying double, and Brandon Lowe supplied the decisive two-run pinch-hit single.
On the mound, Bubba Chandler gave Pittsburgh 5.1 innings, while the bullpen completed the game without allowing another run after he departed. Mason Montgomery’s perfect ninth inning secured his 13th save.
The result also needs to be viewed within the series context. Chicago had already won the first two games, so the Pirates’ 4-3 victory prevented a sweep rather than changing the series winner.
Ultimately, the numbers show a game built around situational execution. Pittsburgh produced more hits, converted its biggest scoring opportunities and protected a one-run advantage over the final three innings. Chicago had enough offense to stay within one run but could not turn its baserunners into another scoring opportunity.
That combination of player-level production, pitching workload, situational hitting and game context is what makes the box score more useful than the final score by itself.
