Chicago opened a four-game lead over San Diego for the top NL wild card and trails NL Central-leading Milwaukee by five games with 12 games remaining. The Cubs won for the fifth time in six games and sent the Pirates to their ninth loss in 10 games.

Taillon struck out out three and walked two, retiring 15 of 16 batters during a stretch from the first until the sixth. He is 3-0 with a 1.61 ERA since returning Aug. 18 from a strained left groin.

Michael Soroka, Porter Hodge, and Brad Keller finished a three=hitter, the Cubs’ 14th shutout, with Keller getting one out for his second save this season.

Busch homered in the second, his 28th this season, and Nico Hoerner scored on a wild pitch later in the inning by Braxton Ashcraft , who gave up three runs and six hits in four innings.

Crow-Armstrong and Dansby Swanson hit consecutive doubles in the fourth, and Crow-Armstrong connected for his 29th homer in the sixth against Cam Sanders.

Keller reliever with the bases loaded and struck out Jared Triolo.

Chicago is 13-9 in a stretch of 24 consecutive games against teams with sub-.500 records.

Cubs rookie RHP Cade Horton faces RHP Paul Skenes , the major league ERA leader, on Tuesday night.

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