PITTSBURGH _ As the Cubs rotation slowly seeks its 2016 form, the offense provided instant assistance Monday night.
And if the starting pitchers can rebound in the manner Jason Heyward has in the first three weeks, the Cubs can start feeling better about their chances of repeating.
Heyward cranked his third home run in four games _ a three-run shot that capped a four-run first inning _ to enable the Cubs to coast to a 14-3 victory over the Pirates at cold, damp PNC Park.
The work Heyward put into altering his stance and swing in the winter and spring has produced impressive early results.
He didn't hit his third home run in 2016 until the Cubs' 56th game on June 6. His four RBIs on Monday gave him the team lead with 16 _ a mark he didn't reach until the Cubs' 45th game on May 25.
This marked the second time in three games Heyward drove in four runs as the lineup has become more formidable with Heyward batting sixth behind Addison Russell.
Russell produced the first four-hit game of his career. His first-inning single followed consecutive two-out walks from Pirates starter Chad Kuhl, with Anthony Rizzo scoring on an error on the play. Heyward followed with his homer.
The Cubs knocked out Kuhl during a five-run second that allowed manager Joe Maddon to pull his entire outfield by the seventh.
The quick strikes also provided a massive margin for error for starter Brett Anderson, who became the first Cubs pitcher since April 16 to pitch a quality start.
Anderson helped his cause by hitting a two-out RBI single in the second _ his first hit since 2015 with the Dodgers _ but he walked six and dodged some harrowing moments.
Anderson dived and covered his head to avoid getting hit by a throw to third from first baseman Rizzo in the second, and a ball hit by Francisco Cervelli in the sixth struck the left-hander on his pitching hand.
Both incidents required medical attention, but Anderson survived an RBI triple by Josh Bell to finish the sixth and depart after 100 pitches.
Despite the lack of deep starts, Maddon seemed more concerned with preserving the starters' strength for the entire season, especially after last season's run to the World Series.
"I'm still trying to keep them within certain parameters," Maddon said before the game. "I'm not going to let them go 110 to 120 pitches yet. But I haven't done anything differently. A lot of six-inning spots out of them, even if some aren't quality, it's good to get six to help preserve the bullpen.
"We did start them slower this camp. They're coming off some long years. So I believe by monitoring them now, they'll get in a nice groove. They're going to show up, do their thing and will be fine. It just hasn't happened yet, but I'm honestly not concerned. As long as they're healthy, I feel good about it, and they're all healthy."
And through all their recent bumps, the Cubs (11-8) are in first place in the National League Central.
"You can't say this is a bad start," Maddon said. "It's not a great start, but it's a good start, no question. I'm good with it. We've been able to absorb a three-game losing streak because of the start we got off to. That's all good stuff."
