CHICAGO _ The Cubs returned to full strength Monday night when Kris Bryant returned to the starting lineup against the Pirates.
But it was left-hander Cole Hamels who has provided the power.
Hamels led off the bottom of the third with a home run off Jameson Taillon to center field that traveled an estimated 410 feet.
Unfortunately for the Cubs, Hamels' penchant for surrendering home runs continued, as Francisco Cervelli smacked a two-run home run in the first as the Pirates pulled away to a 5-1 win at Wrigley Field.
The home run was the sixth allowed in Hamels' last four starts after not allowing a homer in his previous seven starts since joining the Cubs on July 27.
Pablo Reyes hit a two-out RBI single in the seventh off Steve Cishek and a home run in the ninth off Brian Duensing that prevented the Cubs from trimming their magic number of five for clinching the National League Central title.
Bryant returned after missing Sunday's game because of left shoulder fatigue. Bryant started at third base and batted sixth for the first time this season, popping to second in his first at-bat in the second and striking out in the fifth.
Bryant also committed a throwing error in the top of the sixth that set up a two-out RBI double by Jose Osuna.
The Cubs missed chances to tie the game off Jameson Taillon in the fifth and sixth. Ben Zobrist grounded to first with the bases loaded to end the fifth.
Javier Baez and Anthony Rizzo reached base to open the sixth, but Schwarber grounded into a double play and Jason Heyward took a called third strike.
Taillon limited the Cubs to one run over seven innings and has now allowed three earned runs or fewer in 21 consecutive starts.
