Pirates Rout Cubs

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Esmerlyn Valdez hit a two-run home run to cap a five-run first inning and the Pittsburgh Pirates routed the skidding Cubs 12-1 to extend Chicago’s losing streak to 10 games. The Cubs are just the second team in major league history to have two 10-game winning streaks and one 10-game losing streak in the same season, joining the 2017 Los Angeles Dodgers, according to Elias Sports Bureau. Braxton Ashcraft (4-3) allowed one run on seven hits in 6 1/3 innings. Spencer Horwitz also homered for the Pirates. Alex Bregman and Carson Kelly had two hits each for Chicago.