Chicago Cubs Edge Pittsburgh Pirates 4-3 on Dansby Swanson’s Clutch Sacrifice Fly – August 17, 2025 Game Recap

Sunday, August 17th, 2025

Chicago Cubs Edge Pittsburgh Pirates 4-3 With Late Sacrifice Fly

The Chicago Cubs secured a 4-3 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday at Wrigley Field, clinching the rubber game of their weekend series. A pivotal sacrifice fly by Dansby Swanson in the eighth inning put the Cubs ahead for good in a closely contested matchup.

Cubs Break Through in the Eighth

In the bottom of the eighth inning, with runners on second and third and only one out, Isaac Mattson intentionally walked Nico Hoerner to load the bases. Dansby Swanson then delivered with a fly ball to right field, bringing in Carson Kelly for the decisive run.

Chicago's Offense Finds Key Hits

Pete Crow-Armstrong and Ian Happ both contributed two hits apiece for the Cubs. After falling behind 3-2 in the sixth, Chicago responded when Carson Kelly’s bloop single drove in Seiya Suzuki to tie the score. The Cubs loaded the bases in that inning, but Swanson flied out to end the threat.

Pirates' Chances Slip Away

The Pirates grabbed a 3-2 lead in the sixth with a two-run double from Joey Bart. Ronny Simon singled to put runners at first and third, but Ben Brown managed to get Spencer Horwitz to ground out, ending the rally. The Pirates also missed a critical opportunity in the eighth, stranding a runner on third after Bart struck out and Simon fanned as well.

Pitching Highlights

Caleb Thielbar earned the win for Chicago by getting the final out in the top of the eighth, while Andrew Kittredge recorded a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his first save of the season. Isaac Mattson took the loss for Pittsburgh.

Key Stat

The Pirates struggled in crucial situations, going just 3 for 13 with runners in scoring position and leaving 10 runners stranded on base.

Up Next

The Pirates head to Toronto for a three-game series. Paul Skenes (7-9, 2.13 ERA) takes the mound in the opener, matched up against Kevin Gausman (8-9, 3.79 ERA) for the AL East-leading Blue Jays.

The Cubs begin a crucial five-game set with the Milwaukee Brewers, starting with a split doubleheader on Monday. Cade Horton (7-3, 3.07 ERA) gets the start in Game 1, while the Game 2 starter remains undecided.

In summary

The Chicago Cubs edged the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-3 in a tightly contested game, highlighted by Dansby Swanson's sacrifice fly in the eighth inning. The Cubs' timely hitting and strong bullpen performance helped them secure the series win at Wrigley Field and gain momentum heading into a critical series with the Milwaukee Brewers. The Pirates, despite several chances, could not capitalize with runners in scoring position. As both teams move into challenging upcoming series, the playoff race in the National League remains intense.

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