PITTSBURGH _ Chad Kuhl did a similar thing last week. He pitched five strong innings against the Chicago Cubs. But he couldn't finish. Ben Zobrist's leadoff home run in the sixth opened the door. Five batters later, he was gone.
Monday, Kuhl finished the job. His seven scoreless innings gave the Pirates their third victory in a row, 12-0 against the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park. The rookies helped Kuhl's cause. Max Moroff went 3 for 5 with four RBIs, Josh Bell drove in four runs and went 3 for 5 and Elias Diaz went 2 for 4.
The scoring got out of hand in the ninth to the point that Cubs manager Joe Maddon put Leonys Martin, an outfielder the Cubs acquired in a trade last week, on the mound. He allowed a two-run homer to David Freese.
Kuhl allowed four hits and two walks while striking out eight. He did not allow a hit after Kris Bryant's third-inning double and retired 13 of the final 14 batters he faced.
The Pirates have gotten seven scoreless innings from their starter in consecutive games. Trevor Williams shut out the Cincinnati Reds for seven innings Sunday.
Kuhl's previous four starts lacked the length that he displayed Sunday. He topped out at 51/3 innings and allowed 11 runs and 19 hits in 191/3 innings. Sunday he defused early trouble before later dominance.
Kuhl put four Cubs in scoring position through three innings but kept them off the plate. Bryant doubled twice and was stranded at second; both times, Kuhl retired Anthony Rizzo, who is both hot lately and has a good track record against Kuhl, to end the inning. Kuhl also got help from Starling Marte, who threw out Ben Zobrist at the plate on Mike Freeman's single to left field in the second.
Jake Arrieta, who pitched six scoreless innings against Kuhl in Wrigley Field last week, lasted only 21/3 innings before leaving because of a right leg injury.
Josh Bell hit a 1-1 slider from Arrieta into the seats above the Clemente Wall in right-center field in the first inning. Bell's 24th homer broke Chipper Jones' record for home runs by a rookie switch-hitter in the National League.
Max Moroff one-upped Bell two innings later. He cleared the seats in right field with a solo homer and the Pirates led 3-0.
A batter later, Arrieta left the game.
Arrieta grabbed for his right hamstring after a pitch to Bell in the third inning. Manager Joe Maddon and an athletic trainer examined him on the mound as he attempted to stretch his right leg. He went to throw a warm-up pitch to test the leg, but pulled up short, in obvious pain, and exited.
