PITTSBURGH -- Sunday's crazy rollercoaster of a game was a metaphor of the Cubs' first half of the season as the Cubs narrowly escaped with a 6-5 win over the Pirates. The Cubs entered Sunday's game with a season-high five game losing streak and having dropped nine of their last ten games. Finally, the Cubs (53-35) received the much-needed victory and some momentum heading into the All-Star festivities.The offensive fireworks started quickly with four singles by the Cubs in the first inning as Addison Russell had a two-run single with the bases loaded to left field to make the score 2-0. Russell has 51 RBIs on the season.
Sean Rodriguez hit a solo homer to center field to put the Pirates down only one at 2-1.
Kris Bryant walked, Anthony Rizzo launched a double to the right field wall, and Wilson Contreras hit an RBI groundout to make it 3-3.
Pirates star outfielder Andrew McCutchen blasted his fourteenth homer of the season over the center field wall to give the Pirates a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the third inning.
Rookie outfielder Albert Almora Jr. smacked a 382-foot two-run homer to left center field to give the Cubs a 5-4 lead at the top of the fourth. It was his second career home run.
Rizzo has been smoking hot with two straight four-hit games which has pushed his average to .299 on the season and his eight consecutive hits in a row is tied for the longest streak (Josh Reddick) in the majors this season.
McCutchen had a sac fly in the bottom of the seventh to square the game up at 5-5.
The Cubs responded as Bryant hit a crucial two-out RBI single, in the top of the eighth inning to put the Cubs up for good at 6-5.
Carl Edwards Jr. pitched a scoreless 8th inning in the setup role to help out the Cubs beleaguered bullpen.
Closer Hector Rondon pitched the ninth inning for the save.
The Cubs will now get a much-needed break from regular season action as seven teammates will travel to sunny San Diego for the 2016 All-Star game. The starting pitching rotation for the Cubs after the All-Star break will be Kyle Hendricks, Jason Hammel, and John Lackey against the Texas Rangers.
