Pirates Barely Escape Cubs For Extra Innings Win

Pittsburgh secures series victory over divisional rival Chicago in nail-biter

Apr. 11, 2026 at 10:04pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the action of a baseball game, with overlapping planes of green, red, and silhouetted players, conveying the intensity and drama of the Pirates' extra innings victory over the Cubs.A cubist interpretation of the nail-biting extra innings battle between the Pirates and Cubs at historic Wrigley Field.Chicago Today

The Pittsburgh Pirates narrowly defeated the Chicago Cubs 4-3 in extra innings at Wrigley Field, overcoming an early lead and several missed opportunities to ultimately prevail. Pitcher Braxton Ashcraft had a strong outing for the Pirates, while the offense was led by Oneil Cruz's four hits and three stolen bases. The Pirates bullpen struggled to hold the lead late, but Yohan Ramírez was able to secure the win in the 11th inning.

Why it matters

This victory gives the Pirates the series win over their NL Central division rivals, the Cubs, and keeps them in first place in the division with a 9-5 record. The close, back-and-forth nature of the game highlights the competitive nature of the division race and the Pirates' ability to grind out tough wins on the road.

The details

The Pirates jumped out to an early 3-0 lead, with Oneil Cruz, Brandon Lowe, and Ryan O'Hearn driving in runs. However, the Pirates struggled to add on to their lead, going just 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position. The Cubs rallied to tie the game at 3-3 in the 9th inning, sending the game to extras. In the 11th inning, a throwing error by Cubs reliever Caleb Thielbar allowed the Pirates to score the go-ahead run, which Yohan Ramírez was able to protect in the bottom half of the inning.

  • The Pirates scored their first run in the top of the second inning.
  • The Pirates extended their lead to 3-0 in the top of the third inning.
  • The Cubs tied the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the 9th inning.
  • The Pirates scored the winning run in the top of the 11th inning.
  • The game ended in the bottom of the 11th inning.

The players

Braxton Ashcraft

The Pirates' starting pitcher, who threw 5 innings with a career-high 9 strikeouts.

Oneil Cruz

The Pirates' center fielder, who had 4 hits and 3 stolen bases in the game.

Yohan Ramírez

The Pirates' relief pitcher who earned the win by pitching a scoreless 11th inning.

Caleb Thielbar

The Cubs' relief pitcher who took the loss after making a throwing error in the 11th inning.

Don Kelly

The Pirates' manager who guided the team to the extra innings victory.

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What they’re saying

“We didn't make it easy on ourselves, but we found a way to get the job done against a tough divisional opponent. That's the kind of grit and determination this team has shown all season.”

— Don Kelly, Pirates Manager

“Braxton was outstanding again at Wrigley. When he's commanding his offspeed stuff like that, he's almost unhittable. We needed that kind of performance to set the tone early.”

— Henry Davis, Pirates Catcher

What’s next

The Pirates will look to continue their strong start to the season with a home series against the Cincinnati Reds starting on April 14th.

The takeaway

This hard-fought extra innings victory over a divisional rival demonstrates the Pirates' resilience and ability to grind out wins, even when not playing their best. It keeps them in first place in the NL Central and shows they have the talent and determination to compete for a playoff spot this season.