PITTSBURGH – Call it the Taylor Swift effect.
Ever since Cubs clubhouse manager Danny Mueller decided to light a T-Swift scented candle Craig Counsell was gifted, the North Siders have been red hot, winning 9 of their last 12 to turn around their cruel summer with a record of 16-8 in August.
“We’ve gone on a nice little run here so we’re gonna credit Taylor Swift,” Counsell joked with Marquee Sports Network’s Taylor McGregor.
They had to shake off a rough start by Kyle Hendricks Wednesday afternoon after the Professor allowed six runs in just an inning and two-thirds.
The Cubs trailed by seven through six innings before taking advantage of another shaky performance by Pittsburgh’s bullpen.
Christian Bethancourt hit a two-run homer in the seventh to start Chicago’s surge. The catcher added a two-run double in the eighth and laced a sharp bases-loaded single to left against Pirates closer David Bednar (3-7) to complete the comeback.
“(RBIs are) a big part of the game,” said Bethancourt, who is hitting .423 with three homers and 15 RBIs in 11 games with Chicago. “And you get as many as I did today, that’s an unbelievable day. That’s probably a day I will not forget.”
Pete Crow-Armstrong had a career-high four hits to boost his batting average over his last 21 games to .341 (26 of 76). Ian Happ chipped in three hits for the Cubs, who scored 41 runs across three games at PNC Park to improve to 17-8 over their last 25 games to move two games above .500 (68-66) for the first time since May 25 and stay on the fringe of contention for a wild-card playoff spot.
“We’re playing really good baseball,” Happ said. “The offense is doing its job. We’ve strung together some good offensive performances. Got to continue to do that.”
Porter Hodge (3-1) pitched two scoreless innings to become the unlikely winner.
Chicago’s rally spoiled a solid if not spectacular start by Pirates rookie Paul Skenes. The 22-year-old gave up three runs, two earned, over the first two innings but settled down to retire 11 of the final 13 batters he faced.