CHICAGO (AP) Brandon Lowe hit a tiebreaking two-run single in Pittsburgh's three-run sixth inning, and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Chicago Cubs 4-3 on Sunday to avoid a sweep of their weekend series.

Bryan Reynolds had two hits for Pittsburgh, including an RBI single in the first. Carmen Mlodzinski, Luke Weaver and Mason Montgomery combined for 3 2/3 hitless innings in relief of Bubba Chandler (8-9).

The Pirates (75-75) closed out a 4-2 stay in Chicago. They swept the White Sox before dropping two of three against the Cubs.

Miguel Amaya homered for Chicago, and Michael Busch had two hits. Matthew Boyd (8-5) allowed four runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings in his second straight loss.

The Cubs (83-67) dropped into a tie with Philadelphia for the top spot in the NL wild-card standings.

Montgomery worked a perfect ninth for his 13th save in 15 chances. The Pirates had a 3-2 lead on Saturday before a wild Gregory Soto surrendered two runs in the eighth inning of a 4-3 loss.

Chicago jumped in front in the series finale on Amaya's sixth homer, a two-run drive to left with two out in the fifth. It was his first homer since Aug. 16.

Pittsburgh responded with three runs in the sixth. Reynolds reached on a leadoff walk and scored on Nick Gonzales’ ground-rule double. With one out and the bases loaded, Lowe made it 4-2 when he drove in Rafael Flores Jr. and Gonzales with a pinch-hit liner to center off Aaron Civale.

Chicago closed to 4-3 on Nico Hoerner's grounder to second in the bottom half. But the Cubs left the bases loaded when Pedro Ramírez flied to right against Mlodzinski, ending the inning.

Pirates: Following an off day, the Pirates host the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night in the opener of a nine-game homestand.

Cubs: LHP David Peterson (7-8, 5.28 ERA) starts on Monday night against Atlanta. RHP Reynaldo López (4-4, 4.13) takes the mound for the visiting Braves.

---

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Copyright 2026 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.