The Cubs claimed a 4-3 victory over the Pirates in an MLB regular-season contest on Friday evening. The game concluded at the home stadium after what proved to be a hard-fought affair between the two sides. It ended with the hosts holding on for a narrow win that felt as though it could have gone either way.
And here's the thing about this result — we had called a home victory in our preview, with 58 per cent confidence. That assessment held up, though the margin was far from comfortable. The Pirates pushed back whenever the Cubs threatened to pull away, keeping things tight throughout.
Looking at the recent form, both sides had been through mixed results before this encounter. The Cubs had lost three of their previous four games, including a heavy 12-2 defeat to the Pirates just the day before. The visitors, meanwhile, had won four of their last five outings before tonight's match.
By then, the momentum had shifted in favour of the home side. They came out with something to prove after that comprehensive loss earlier in the week, and it showed in their approach. The Pirates found it difficult to respond when the Cubs started building pressure.
To be fair, neither team dominated for long stretches of the game. The Cubs managed to string together enough runs to take a lead, while the Pirates answered whenever their opportunity arose. It was never going to be straightforward for either side, and that made the final outcome all the more satisfying for the home crowd.
The result leaves the Cubs with a sense of relief after that poor run of form. A single win does not fix everything, but it stops the slide and gives the squad something to build on going forward.