![\"Pittsburgh](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/01kp1se8hc6tnsq2xkhz.jpg\" "\\"Pittsburgh")
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Apr 12, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Brandon Lowe (5) hits a grand slam during the second inning against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images | Matt Marton-Imagn Images<\/p>\n
Lowe got some help from a windy day at Wrigley Field, with the wind pushing his home run 38 feet for the grand slam.<\/p>\n
He then hit his second home run in the top of the fifth inning, as he took a four-seam fastball from Taillon right over the middle of the plate and didn’t need the wind to aid him on this one, hitting it 444 feet.<\/p>\n
That solo shot gave Lowe his fifth home run on the season and the Pirates a 6-2 lead, as he had five RBI vs. the Cubs. It was his first game with five RBI since June 4, 2024 vs. the Miami Marlins on the road, when he was with the Tampa Bay Rays. <\/p>\n
Pirates center fielder Oneil Cruz<\/a> showed the first bit of power for the team, as he hit a leadoff home run off Taillon to make it a 1-0 game.<\/p>\n Cruz hit an 84.6 mph changeup away and sent it 422 feet, with 65 feet added on by the wind, the most ever for a home run, according to Weather Applied Metrics, which MLB has used the past four seasons.<\/p>\n Both Lowe and Cruz lead the Pirates with five home runs and have provided necessary power for a team that desperately needs it the rest of the way. <\/p>\n Bubba Chandler Has Longest Start of Season<\/p>\n The Pirates heavily used their bullpen in the first two games of the series, so right-handed starting pitcher Bubba Chandler had a big outing ahead of him.<\/p>\n Chandler had a decent outing, despite some issues, throwing a career-high 91 pitches over 5.1 innings, giving up three runs, but also making sure that he went far enough to not burden the bullpen.<\/p>\n Apr 12, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Bubba Chandler (36) delivers during the first inning against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images | Matt Marton-Imagn Images<\/p>\n He had some strong innings, like his seven-pitch first inning and 11-pitch fourth inning, but also threw 20+ pitches in the second, third and fifth innings too.<\/p>\n Chandler did allow two solo home runs to shortstop Dansby Swanson and designated hitter Mois\u00e9s Ballestros in the bottom of the third inning and a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fifth inning, but kept the Cubs from making a serious comeback after their early deficit.<\/p>\n One interesting thing Chandler did in his start was rely much less on the four-seam fastball, as he he threw it 66% of the time in his last start and 74% of the time in his first start of the season.<\/p>\n Chandler threw his fastball just 42% of the time, while relying much. more on his slider and changeup, showing his trust in his pitch mix. <\/p>\n Pitch<\/p>\n Usage<\/p>\n Average Velocity<\/p>\n Four-Seam Fastball<\/p>\n 38\/91 (42%)<\/p>\n 98.8 mph <\/p>\n Slider<\/p>\n 32\/91 (35%) <\/p>\n 88.6 mph<\/p>\n Changeup<\/p>\n 20\/91 (22%)<\/p>\n 91.9 mph<\/p>\n Curveball <\/p>\n 1\/91 (1%) <\/p>\n 85.2 mph<\/p>\n He also limited his walks to just two, dropping down from four walks in his second start and six walks in his first start, as he gains more command as the season progresses. <\/p>\n Bullpen Blows Lead Again<\/p>\n![\"Pittsburgh](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/01kp1q865r59mzxrwygn.jpg\" "\\"Pittsburgh")
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