PITTSBURGH -- Dansby Swanson hit a two-out, go-ahead single in the 10th inning, and Matthew Boyd had a strong start and remained unbeaten since losing on Opening Day. However, the Cubs left-hander had a no-decision as the Cubs beat the Pirates, 3-2, on Friday night in the opener of a three-game series at PNC Park.
Swanson put the Cubs ahead 2-1 and Seiya Suzuki added an insurance run by drawing a bases-loaded walk.
Gavin Hollowell allowed an unearned run in the 10th but notched his first save of the season. Caleb Thielbar (3-2) pitched a scoreless ninth for the win.
Boyd pitched through traffic while allowing one run in seven innings against the Pirates. He surrendered seven hits and walked three, but escaped two jams to leave with the score tied 1-1.
After the Pirates strung two walks and two infield singles in the fifth inning, they had the bases loaded with no one out. However, Boyd got out of the sticky situation by getting Jake Mangum and Nick Gonzales to fly out, then struck out Bryan Reynolds.
Pete Crow-Armstrong then drew the Cubs into a 1-1 tie in the sixth with his 22nd home run of the season.
The Pirates put runners on the corners with one out in the seventh, but Gonzales flied into an inning-ending double play with left fielder Ian Happ throwing out Henry Davis at home.