PITTSBURGH _ Three fans in the final row of seats above the Clemente Wall jumped, then turned and looked through the railing. They had just witnessed firsthand what Josh Bell knew the moment he hit the ball: It was going places, and in a hurry.
Bell, the first-base prospect promoted Friday, hit a pinch-hit grand slam that removed doubt from a 12-6 victory against the Chicago Cubs, their second consecutive victory against the division leaders and the Pirates' ninth in 10 games. The Pirates trail the Cubs by only 6{ games. They were 14 out on June 29.
As the bicentennial fireworks boomed over the city, Bell stepped to the plate in the fifth inning against Adam Warren for his second career plate appearance. Batting lefty against the right-handed Warren, Bell fouled off a fastball, then saw a changeup in the dirt. The next changeup broke right over the heart of the plate.
Bell swung, dropped his bat and pumped his right fist as he hopped out of the box. The grand slam, his first career home run, turned a 7-5 lead into an 11-5 blowout. Two games into his major league career, Bell earned himself a curtain call.
The Pirates promoted Bell as an extra bat off the bench, with no need for Tyler Glasnow before the All-Star break and Gregory Polanco's hamstring still an issue. Bell has done nothing but hit at Class AAA Indianapolis, but John Jaso's presence at first base means there is nowhere for him to play.
Andrew McCutchen and Sean Rodriguez had already homered before Bell's blast, and Jordy Mercer followed Bell with a solo shot. The four homers covered for subpar pitching by Chad Kuhl and Juan Nicasio. Neither team pitched well: Cubs starter Jon Lester pitched only three innings, and Warren allowed seven runs while recording six outs.
Kuhl represents the transient nature of the Pirates' current rotation. Though he is a talented pitcher and the Pirates have refused multiple trade offers for him in the past, he is here because of injuries to Gerrit Cole and Jameson Taillon. The Pirates have made Sunday's starter, Jon Niese, available via trade in anticipation of Cole and Taillon returning after the break and the possible return of Glasnow.
Kuhl lasted only 21/3 innings while struggling to keep his fastball from creeping upward into swing paths. He left a first-pitch heater in the sweet spot to Ben Zobrist in the first inning and Zobrist converted it into a two-run homer.
Anthony Rizzo took a high-and-away fastball into the notch in left-center for a triple in the third. Rizzo scored on Willson Contreras' infield single, and after Jason Heyward singled, Kuhl's night ended.
Nicasio entered, but fared no better. He allowed an inherited runner to score, then walked Lester on four pitches to load the bases before escaping. In the following inning, he gave up consecutive doubles to Kris Bryant and Rizzo.
When Lester's night was done Saturday, he had allowed five runs, three walks and two homers in three innings. The total in his past two starts: 13 runs, 13 hits and five homers in 41/3 innings.
Lester walked or hit four of the first seven batters he faced Saturday night. A double play ensured the first walk did no harm. The second two both resulted in a run.
Jung Ho Kang walked, Starling Marte singled and Rodriguez walked in the second. Lester then hit Josh Harrison to force home a run, Eric Fryer's sacrifice lineout brought in another and a third scored on an error.
Harrison later left the game due to discomfort in his left foot, where Lester hit him. Matt Joyce left the game because of tightness in his left quadriceps.
