Pittsburgh Pirates vs Chicago Cubs Box Score on Apr 22, 2022

Roberto Perez homered and knocked in three runs Friday night as the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates made it two wins in a row over the Chicago Cubs with a 4-2 victory.

Michael Chavis added a solo homer for Pittsburgh, which got 4 1/3 scoreless innings from four relievers to protect the lead to the finish.

Chase De Jong (1-0) pitched two shutout innings for the win. Chris Stratton worked around two ninth-inning singles, retiring Nick Madrigal on a grounder to second for the final out to bag his second save.

Pirates starter Jose Quintana lasted 4 2/3 innings, one out shy of qualifying for the win. He allowed three hits and two runs while walking three and fanning three.

Drew Smyly (1-1) permitted six hits and four runs in five innings for the Cubs, issuing a walk and striking out four. Smyly entered the game having thrown 9 2/3 scoreless innings over his first two starts. Keegan Thompson finished with four shutout frames.

Perez gave Pittsburgh a 2-0 lead in the top of the second, ripping a hanging curve down the third base line for a single that scored Kevin Newman and Josh VanMeter. It came a pitch after Newman and VanMeter pulled off a double steal.

Chicago tied it in the bottom of the second on a two-run double by Michael Hermosillo that banged off the left field wall in the well and caromed past Anthony Alford, who misplayed the ball.

Chavis regained the lead for the Pirates in the fourth. He jumped on a breaking ball on the outer edge of the plate and drilled it into the bleachers in left-center, his second homer of the year.

Perez doubled the lead in the fifth, turning on a fastball and lining it into the bleachers in left for his first Pittsburgh homer. The former Cleveland catcher was signed as a free agent on Nov. 30.

The game was scheduled to start at 1:20 p.m. local time but was delayed to a 7:05 start due to rain in the morning and early afternoon.

--Field Level Media