Addison Russell Makes Great Diving Catch As Cubs Beat Pirates 6-5 At Wrigley

The Chicago Cubs continue to impress at Wrigley Field.

Addison Russell Makes Great Diving Catch As Cubs Beat Pirates 6-5 At Wrigley

Shortstop Addison Russell made a spectacular diving catch in the seventh inning of the Cubs’ 6-5 home victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates Wednesday night.

With the bases loaded, two outs and holding onto a 5-2 lead in the top of the seventh, Chicago reliever Justin Grimm induced a popup to shallow left field off the bat of Gregory Polanco. The ball flew too far away for either Kris Bryant or Jorge Soler to make a play, but Russell came running in from the infield to make the incredible sliding catch and save the day. The crowd roared as Russell stood up and excitedly pumped up his fist.

The Cubs now enter the final month of the regular season with a substantial 15-game lead in the National League Central, while the Pirates have some improvement to do to remain in the Wild Card race.

It was the Cubs’ 22nd victory of the month, matching the best August record in franchise history of 22-6 set in 1932. It also marks the first time the team has won 22 games in any mont since it went 22-10 in September 1945.

“You never even imagine you’ll have this kind of lead at this point in the season,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon said.

Righty Jason Hammel had a strong start, and was allowed to work out of a bases-loaded jam in the fifth. He was pulled after 2 1/3 innings on Saturday against the Dodgers, and on Wednesday, struck out six over six innings.

Bryant smacked an 0-1 pitch from Ryan Vogelsong into the left-field bleachers in the first inning for his 36th home run. He is the first Cubs player to top 35 homers since Aramis Ramirez hit 38 in 2006. The third baseman also delivered on defense, making a diving catch of Sean Rodriguez’s liner to end the second, a nifty backhand play on Josh Harrison to end the third and a snag of Josh Bell’s popup near the stands in the fourth.

“That was kind of the plan — you have to lower the launch angle with the wind,” Bryant said jokingly of his home run.

After Vogelsong escaped a jam in the fifth, retiring Anthony Rizzo to strand runners on the corners, Pirates manager Clint Hurdle let the veteran begin the sixth against the middle of the Cubs’ lineup. The move didn’t work, as Vogelsong allowed a run and exited the game without recording an out in the inning. In the end, Vogelsong was charged with five runs on six hits and three walks.

“I felt like I made three mistakes in the middle of the plate and they hit all of them hard,” Vogelsong said. “I’ve got to stay out of the middle. … You know they’re going to give you pro at-bats and they’re going to be tough outs.”

Vogelsong reached 10 years of Major League service time Wednesday. His teammates surprised him following the game with a cake and a round of applause.

For the first time since joining the Cubs, Aroldis Chapman pitched in his third consecutive game, and he earned his 46th straight save against NL Central teams since August 2013.

“That was his best stuff,” Maddon said of Chapman, who had three wild pitches but struck out two. “Give the Pirates credit. Give Aroldis credit. The slider was really good, the fastball was 104 [mph] — 104 was a base hit by [Francisco] Cervelli. I thought [Chapman] was really good. I think they turned that dial up a little bit. That at-bat by [Jordy] Mercer was outstanding.”

The Cubs have a 2.68 ERA in 67 home games, the lowest home ERA in the Majors.

After an off-day in Pittsburgh on Thursday, the Pirates will begin a stretch of 18 games in 17 days as they take on the Brewers at PNC Park on Friday. Rookie right-hander Jameson Taillon will start for the Pirates, looking to redeem himself after a tough outing in Milwaukee.

Lefty Mike Montgomery will take the mound for the Cubs for the third time on Thursday, as Chicago opens a four-game home series against the Giants. Outfielder Chris Coghlan is expected to be activated from the disabled list and join the team.

CHICAGO, IL – AUGUST 12: Addison Russell #27 of the Chicago Cubs reacts after hitting an RBI double against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning at Wrigley Field on August 12, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images)