The Pittsburgh Pirates vs Chicago Cubs match player stats from June 12, 2025 tell the story of a tight contest at Wrigley Field where the Cubs edged out a 3-2 victory. Pete Crow-Armstrong blasted a two-run homer and Seiya Suzuki added a solo shot, accounting for all three Cubs runs in front of 40,174 fans. The Pirates mounted a late rally in the seventh inning with Adam Frazier’s RBI single and Jared Triolo’s bases-loaded walk, but couldn’t complete the comeback.
Table of contents
- Final Score and Key Offensive Stats
- Chicago Cubs Batting Performance
- Pittsburgh Pirates Batting Performance
- Pitching Matchup Stats
- Advanced Pitching Metrics
- Situational Hitting Analysis
- Defensive Highlights and Base Running
- Context Behind the Numbers
- Individual Standout Performances
- What the Pirates Needed But Didn’t Get
- Series Outlook and Paul Skenes Preview
- Final Thoughts on Pittsburgh Pirates vs Chicago Cubs Match Player Stats
Final Score and Key Offensive Stats
| Team | R | H | E | LOB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Pirates | 2 | 4 | 0 | 5 |
| Chicago Cubs | 3 | 5 | 0 | 2 |
Game Details: Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL | Attendance: 40,174 | Time: 2:07
The Cubs offense came alive at crucial moments despite managing just five hits. Crow-Armstrong’s 18th homer of the season traveled a Statcast-projected 393 feet into the right field bleachers, while Suzuki’s 17th long ball provided insurance. The Pirates struggled to capitalize on opportunities, stranding five runners on base compared to Chicago’s two.
Chicago Cubs Batting Performance
| Player | Position | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ian Happ | LF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .262 |
| Kyle Tucker | RF | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .291 |
| Seiya Suzuki | DH | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .273 |
| Pete Crow-Armstrong | CF | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | .262 |
| Nico Hoerner | 2B | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .288 |
| Michael Busch | 1B | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .268 |
| Dansby Swanson | SS | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .245 |
| Christopher Morel | 3B | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .254 |
Home Runs:
- Pete Crow-Armstrong (18) – 4th inning, 2-run shot off Andrew Heaney
- Seiya Suzuki (17) – 6th inning, solo homer off Andrew Heaney
Tucker’s single in the fourth inning broke up Heaney’s no-hit bid and set the table for Crow-Armstrong’s blast. The Cubs leadoff spot went quiet as Happ grounded out to second in his first at-bat and couldn’t get anything going throughout the contest.
Pittsburgh Pirates Batting Performance
| Player | Position | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oneil Cruz | SS | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .234 |
| Andrew McCutchen | DH | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .259 |
| Bryan Reynolds | CF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .271 |
| Spencer Horwitz | 1B | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .262 |
| Adam Frazier | 2B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .268 |
| Nick Gonzales | 3B | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .247 |
| Jared Triolo | LF | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | .238 |
| Joey Bart | C | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .241 |
Key Offensive Moments:
- Adam Frazier – RBI single in the 7th inning
- Jared Triolo – Bases-loaded walk (RBI) in the 7th inning
- Oneil Cruz – Left 2 runners in scoring position with 2 outs
The Pirates offense remained ice cold until the seventh frame. Cruz, who came in with four stolen bases over his previous nine games, struck out twice and left runners stranded in critical situations. McCutchen singled to left in the seventh to keep the rally alive, but the Pirates couldn’t push across the tying run.
Pitching Matchup Stats
Chicago Cubs Pitching
| Pitcher | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | Pitches-Strikes | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jameson Taillon (W, 7-3) | 6.1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 92-57 | 3.54 |
| Brad Keller | 0.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 16-7 | 3.82 |
| Daniel Palencia | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15-11 | 2.91 |
| Ryan Pressly (S, 5) | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6-5 | 2.44 |
Taillon delivered a masterclass against his former team, going 6.1 innings with seven strikeouts. The Pirates drafted him second overall in 2010, making this matchup even more special. He allowed just four hits through six innings before running into trouble in the seventh when he surrendered three consecutive singles.
Brad Keller entered with runners on base and immediately hit a batter, then walked Triolo on four pitches to force in a run with the bases loaded. Despite the shaky performance, Keller escaped the jam by striking out Cruz swinging on a full count.
Ryan Pressly closed things out with surgical precision, needing just six pitches to retire the side in order with three ground balls. Manager Craig Counsell trusted Pressly in the save situation, and the veteran delivered a clinic in efficiency.
Pittsburgh Pirates Pitching
| Pitcher | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | Pitches-Strikes | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew Heaney (L, 3-5) | 6.0 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 76-54 | 3.24 |
| Isaiah Mattson | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 20-14 | 4.15 |
| Ryan Borucki | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7-4 | 3.67 |
Heaney kept the Cubs hitless through the first three frames, showcasing the form that earned him a 3.24 ERA coming into the contest. However, Tucker’s fourth-inning single opened the floodgates, and Crow-Armstrong followed with the game-changing two-run blast. Heaney surrendered Suzuki’s solo shot in the sixth before departing after six innings of work.
The Pirates bullpen stepped up behind Heaney. Isaiah Mattson fired two scoreless frames with a pair of strikeouts, while Ryan Borucki closed out the ninth with a perfect inning.
Advanced Pitching Metrics
Jameson Taillon (Cubs)
- First-pitch strikes: 11 of 24 batters faced
- Called strikes: 21 | Swinging strikes: 9 | Foul balls: 12
- Ground balls-fly balls: 2-9 ratio
- Game Score: 62
- Quality starts streak: 6 consecutive
Taillon’s ability to locate his fastball and induce weak contact kept the Pirates off balance all night. The veteran right-hander attacked the zone aggressively, throwing 57 of his 92 pitches for strikes.
Andrew Heaney (Pirates)
- Batters faced: 22
- Called strikes: 21 | Swinging strikes: 14 | Foul balls: 19
- Ground balls-fly balls: 3-4 ratio
- Seven strikeouts in six innings
Heaney’s breaking ball generated plenty of swings and misses, but the home run ball proved costly. Both long balls came on pitches elevated in the zone that didn’t miss their spots by much.
Situational Hitting Analysis
Cubs with RISP: 1-for-3 (Crow-Armstrong’s 2-run HR)
Pirates with RISP: 1-for-5 (Frazier’s RBI single)
The Cubs made the most of their limited opportunities with runners in scoring position. Crow-Armstrong’s fourth-inning blast came with Tucker aboard after his one-out single. Chicago’s disciplined approach at the plate resulted in just two runners left on base all game.
Pittsburgh’s offensive struggles with RISP continued a troubling trend. Cruz left two runners on base with two outs in the seventh, striking out swinging against Brad Keller to end the threat. The Pirates went 1-for-5 with RISP and left five runners stranded overall.
Defensive Highlights and Base Running
Caught Stealing:
- Oneil Cruz (CS, 3)
Cruz attempted to swipe a bag but was thrown out, marking his third caught stealing of the season. The speedster entered the game with four stolen bases in his previous nine contests but couldn’t convert on this attempt.
Ground Ball Distribution:
- Taillon: 2 ground balls, 9 fly balls
- Palencia: 2 ground balls, 0 fly balls
- Pressly: 3 ground balls, 0 fly balls
The Cubs pitching staff induced plenty of fly ball outs, keeping the ball in the air and away from Pittsburgh’s speedy outfielders. Pressly’s ninth-inning performance featured three consecutive grounders, showcasing his ability to get quick outs when needed.
Context Behind the Numbers
The Cubs improved to 41-27 on the season and 20-11 at home with the victory, maintaining their grip on first place in the NL Central. Chicago came into the series riding momentum, having won seven of their last 10 games. Their pitching staff had been lights out, and Taillon’s performance continued that trend.
Pittsburgh fell to 28-41 overall and a dismal 9-22 on the road. The Pirates entered Wrigley Field in fifth place in the division, 13 games behind the Cubs. Their road woes have been well-documented, ranking near the bottom of the National League in road scoring and extra-base hits away from home.
This marked the fourth meeting between the teams in 2025. The Cubs had dominated the season series, winning three of the first four matchups by a combined score of 23-9. Additional analysis of player performance throughout the season can be found at Match vs Player Stats.
Individual Standout Performances
Pete Crow-Armstrong: The 23-year-old center fielder continues his breakout campaign. His 18th home run moved him into fifth place among NL outfielders. What’s remarkable about PCA’s season is his ability to hit pitches all over the zone. His fourth-inning homer came on the highest pitch he’s ever taken deep, per Statcast data. His chase rate sits at nearly double the league average, yet he maintains elite production.
Crow-Armstrong entered the game leading the NL in wins above replacement among outfielders. Manager Craig Counsell praised his growth, saying after the game that Crow-Armstrong had proven him wrong about his offensive ceiling.
Jameson Taillon: Returning to face the organization that drafted him provided extra motivation. Taillon has been a workhorse for the Cubs rotation, and this outing marked his sixth consecutive quality start. His command was impeccable through six innings before fatigue set in during the seventh. The Cubs gave up just two earned runs all game, a testament to their pitching depth.
Seiya Suzuki: The Japanese outfielder’s 17th homer of the season continued his consistent power production. Suzuki entered the contest batting in the heart of the Cubs order and delivered when it mattered. His solo shot in the sixth provided crucial insurance that proved necessary given Pittsburgh’s seventh-inning rally.
What the Pirates Needed But Didn’t Get
Pittsburgh desperately needed production from their middle-of-the-order bats. Cruz and Reynolds combined to go 0-for-8 with three strikeouts, leaving multiple runners stranded. When your shortstop and center fielder can’t come through in clutch spots, winning on the road becomes nearly impossible.
The seventh-inning rally showed fight, but it came too late. Frazier’s single and Triolo’s bases-loaded walk cut the deficit to one, but the Pirates couldn’t capitalize on Brad Keller’s control issues. Cruz’s strikeout with the bases loaded epitomized Pittsburgh’s frustrating night at the plate.
Series Outlook and Paul Skenes Preview
The loss set the tone for what would be a challenging series for Pittsburgh. Paul Skenes, the Pirates’ ace with a 4-6 record and sparkling 1.88 ERA, was scheduled to take the mound in Game 2 on Friday night against Cade Horton (3-1, 4.11 ERA). The Skenes-Horton matchup promised fireworks between two talented young right-handers.
For the Cubs, the victory continued their first-half dominance. Their bullpen had been the best in baseball over the previous few weeks, and this game showcased why. Three relievers combined for 2.2 scoreless innings, allowing zero hits while striking out one and walking two. That kind of depth makes Chicago a legitimate contender in the NL Central race.
Final Thoughts on Pittsburgh Pirates vs Chicago Cubs Match Player Stats
The pittsburgh pirates vs chicago cubs match player stats from June 12, 2025 reveal a game decided by timely hitting and dominant pitching. The Cubs got home runs when they needed them, while the Pirates left too many runners on base. Taillon’s revenge game against his former club proved to be the difference, as he outdueled Heaney in a pitcher’s duel that featured just seven combined runs.
Chicago’s ability to win close games at Wrigley Field has been a hallmark of their season. They’re now 20-11 at home, creating a fortress that visiting teams struggle to conquer. Pittsburgh’s road struggles continued, dropping them to 9-22 away from PNC Park. Until the Pirates figure out how to score runs consistently on the road, they’ll remain mired in the basement of the NL Central.
For more comprehensive coverage and analysis of MLB matchups, visit sources like ESPN, CBS Sports, Baseball Reference, and MLB.com for the latest stats and game recaps.
The tale of this game comes down to execution. The Cubs executed in key moments. The Pirates didn’t. Simple as that.

