Pirates hit century mark as Cubs hand them 100th loss of season

Well, no one can accuse the Pittsburgh Pirates of backing into 100 losses.

Rookie starting pitcher Miguel Yajure was roughed up for seven runs in two innings, and the Chicago Cubs rolled to a 9-0 victory over the Pirates on Thursday night at PNC Park.

The loss dropped the Pirates to 59-100. That assured them of the ninth season with triple-digit losses in franchise history and the first since 2010.

“It’s not good, especially as hard as we work, but we’ve just got to keep moving forward,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said of reaching the century mark. “I think we can use the entire year as motivation to be better next season. I don’t think there is a specific number that accounts for that.”

The 23-year-old Yajure gave up seven hits in his third major-league start and fourth overall appearance in the majors. He also walked two and struck out one as the Pirates lost for the eighth time in their last 11 games.

“He left too many balls over the plate, and they didn’t miss them,” Shelton said. “You can’t leave that many balls over the plate at this level.”

Yajure readily admitted it was not a good way to end the season. He wound up with an 8.40 ERA in 15 innings in the major leagues and had a 2-4 record with 3.40 ERA in 11 combined starts with Triple-A Indianapolis and Low-A Bradenton.

“I learned I have to take advantage of the opportunity,” Yajure said. “I have to keep working. This gives me a bad taste. It makes me so mad, but I’m going to do my best in the offseason and come back strong next year.”

Meanwhile, rookie left-hander Justin Steele and two relievers shut out the Pirates on six hits, all singles. It marked the 16th time the Pirates were blanked this season.

Yajure (0-2) had shown some promise in his previous starts, including pitching five scoreless innings against the San Francisco Giants on May 14 at PNC Park. The Giants have the best record in the major leagues with three days remaining in the season.

However, Yajure looked overmatched against the Cubs as Rafael Ortega hit the first pitch of the game down the right-field line for a home run.

The Cubs then scored six runs in the second inning while sending 10 batters to the plate to take a 7-0 lead.

Sergio Alcantara started the outburst with a two-run homer into the right-field stands. Frank Schwindel brought home a run with a groundout, Ortega stole home on the back end of a double steal, Willson Contreras hit a run-scoring double and Matt Duffy had an RBI single.

“I felt good body-wise, but I couldn’t get into a rhythm, especially in the second inning,” Yajure said.

The Cubs (69-90) added two more runs in the fifth on back-to-back RBI singles by David Bote and Alcantara off Tanner Anderson to make it 9-0. Anderson, though, helped save the bullpen by pitching two-run ball over five innings in relief of Yajure.

“Tanner pitched his butt off,” Shelton said.

Alcantara had three of the Cubs’ 13 hits and Ortega, Contreras and Duffy added two each.

Steele (4-4) gave up four hits with seven strikeouts and one walk. Rex Brothers and Jason Adam pitched one inning each to finish the shutout.

“He attacked the zone and went right after us,” Shelton said of Steele. “He’s got a sneaky fastball. It’s 92-93 (mph) but it looks faster than that. We didn’t get many good swings against it.”

NOTES: The Pirates begin their last series of the season when they host the Cincinnati Reds at 6:35 p.m. Friday in the opener of a three-game set. Wil Crowe (4-8, 5.77) will pitch for the Pirates against Luis Castillo (8-16, 4.05). By making his 25th start, Crowe will become the first rookie to lead the team in starts since Josh Fogg in 2002. … Anderson was selected from Indianapolis prior to the game. Rookie Roansy Contreras was optioned to Indy a day after pitching three scoreless innings in his major league debut. Left-hander Dillon Peters was transferred from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL to open a 40-man roster spot for Anderson. … Tony Grieco, who is finishing his 75th season as a Pirates usher, threw out the ceremonial first pitch.