Cole was fantastic during the start, giving up just three hits over eight innings. The Cubs lead the league in walks, but failed to draw one against Cole. He struck out seven during the outing.
Even then, it wasn't easy to come out ahead. Cole was matched by Cubs starter Jon Lester throughout most of the game. In fact, Lester took a no-hitter into the top of the seventh inning against Pittsburgh before Starling Marte hit a single with one out. Marte would come around to score later that inning on a Jung-Ho Kang double.
Kang would strike again in the top of the ninth, knocking a solo home run against closer Hector Rondon. That run became crucial, as the Cubs mounted a comeback in the bottom of the inning.
Mark Melancon entered the game in the bottom of the ninth looking for the save, but ran into some trouble. A walk to Dexter Fowler and a single by Jason Heyward put men on first and third with no outs. Anthony Rizzo hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Fowler, but Melancon managed to get Ben Zobrist to ground out to end the game.
While it might seem like a tough task to shut down the Cubs, Cole didn't seem too impressed with the team following the win.
He may have been able to get away with that after today's performance, but the Cubs will have plenty of chances to prove him wrong over the course of the season. The two teams still play each other 13 times, and that doesn't include a possible meeting in October.
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