(File Photo: Source for Photo: Chicago Cubs’ Ian Happ returns to the dugout after hitting a two-run home run off Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Brandan Bidois during the eighth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Thursday, May 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Ian Happ homered for the second consecutive game and the Chicago Cubs handed Paul Skenes his third straight loss with a 7-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday.

The win came one night after the Cubs ended a 10-game losing streak. Happ hit a tiebreaking three-run homer in the seventh inning of that game.

Happ had three hits on Thursday, including a two-run homer in the eighth that pushed the Cubs’ lead to 5-2. He has reached base safely in 41 consecutive games in Pittsburgh, the city where he grew up. Seiya Suzuki had two hits and two RBIs for Chicago.

Skenes (6-5) lost his third straight start despite striking out 10 in 5 1/3 innings. The 2025 NL Cy Young Award winner fanned six batters in a row from the first to the third.

Only one of the three runs against Skenes was earned, as third baseman Tyler Callihan and shortstop Jared Triolo made throwing errors in a two-run sixth inning that extended the Cubs’ lead to 3-0.

Colin Rea (5-3) won for the first time in five starts, allowing two runs in 5 1/3 innings. Hoby Milner, Caleb Thielbar and Trent Thornton combined for 3 2/3 innings of scoreless relief.

Bryan Reynolds homered for the Pirates.

Pittsburgh third baseman Nick Gonzales exited after the third inning with left knee discomfort.

Up next

Cubs: Open a three-game series Friday night at St. Louis with LHP Shota Imanaga (4-5, 4.04 ERA) facing RHP Andre Pallante (5-4, 3.76).

Pirates: Host the Minnesota Twins and former Pittsburgh manager Derek Shelton in a three-game series beginning Friday. Pirates RHP Jared Jones will make his first major league appearance since 2024, a little more than a year after undergoing elbow surgery. RHP Taj Bradley (5-1, 2.77) starts for the Twins.

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Esmerlyn Valdez (55) can’t make the catch on Toronto Blue Jays Kazuma Okamoto double during the second inning of a baseball game in Toronto on Sunday, May 24, 2026. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) The Pittsburgh Pirates announced they optioned outfielder Esmerlyn Valdez to Triple-A Indianapolis ahead of yesterday’s series finale against the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park. 

Valdez joined the Pirates on May 22 before the team’s series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre and spent six days with the major league club. 

He hit his first Major League home run in a 4-1 victory over Toronto on Sunday, a two-run shot in the seventh inning. Valdez added his second career home run — and his first at PNC Park — during the Pirates’ 12-1 win over the Cubs on Tuesday.

Valdez started five of the Pirates’ previous six games in right field and recorded two hits in 16 at-bats with two walks and nine strikeouts.  

(Credit for Photo: Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of the United States Postal Service)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Boston, MA) The United States Postal Service issued its North American Soccer stamp yesterday during the 2026 Boston World Exposition as part of the event’s sports-themed programming.

The stamp release comes ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.

The tournament is scheduled to begin June 11th in Mexico and conclude July 19th in New Jersey. The United States is set to host 78 World Cup matches across 11 cities.

Soccer’s popularity in the United States has grown in recent decades, with millions of youth participants and widespread fan engagement.

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Pirates’ Nick Gonzales hits a two-RBI single during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Nick Gonzales left the Pittsburgh Pirates’ game against the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park yesterday due to an injury. 

Gonzales exited ahead of the top of the fourth inning after appearing to be in discomfort following a deep fly ball in the second inning. He had previously taken a foul ball off his left knee during the Pirates’ 10-4 loss to the Cubs on Wednesday.

The Pirates announced that Gonzales was removed as a precaution due to left knee discomfort. He is considered day-to-day and is currently being evaluated by the team’s medical staff. 

Tyler Callihan replaced Gonzales in the game after being recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis earlier in the day. 

Gonzales is slashing .296/.350/.344 for an OPS of .694, with 55 hits in 186 at-bats, nine doubles, 22 RBI and 13 walks to 36 strikeouts. 

(File Photo of the Blackhawk School District Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(California, PA) Blackhawk softball lost in the 2026 WPIAL Class 4A championship game, marking the second consecutive year the Lady Cougars have finished as runners-up.

Elizabeth Forward defeated the Lady Cougars 5-3 at Lilley Field on the campus of PennWest California.

Despite the loss, Blackhawk will enter the PIAA Class 4A playoffs as the No. 2 seed from the WPIAL. The team will face the top seed from District V or District IX at a site and time to be determined on Monday, June 1st.

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jared Jones (37) delivers during the first inning of a spring training baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, on Feb. 25, 2025, in Bradenton, Fla. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough, File)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Jared Jones will make his first MLB appearance since 2024 when he starts against the Minnesota Twins on Friday night.

Jones missed all of last season after injuring his elbow during spring training. He underwent internal brace surgery on May 21, 2025.

“Pretty damn cool,” Jones said Thursday. “It took a lot of time, 12 months, almost exactly, of not playing baseball. You kind of get a sense that you need it. That’s kind of what I’ve learned about myself over that time. I’m just extremely grateful to be back.”

The 24-year-old Jones made five rehab starts in the minor leagues, pitching 18 1/3 innings. As a rookie in 2024, Jones had a 6-8 record with a 4.14 ERA in 22 starts.

Carmen Mlodzinski will be moved from the rotation to the bullpen. He is 4-3 with a 3.76 ERA in 11 games this season. He has a 2.63 ERA in 94 career relief appearances.

“We feel this gives the team the best chance to win in all areas,” Pirates manager Don Kelly said. “Carmen has done a nice job as a starter, and he can also fill that role in the bullpen, multiple innings. That’s a starting pitcher-ish, bulk, multi-inning high leverage guy out of the (bullpen).”

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Texas Rangers’ Andrew McCutchen flies out against Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Jose Quintana in the first inning of a baseball game Monday, May 18, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Former NL MVP outfielder Andrew McCutchen was designated for assignment by the Texas Rangers on Wednesday, after he hit .192 in his 37 games.

The 39-year-old McCutchen was replaced by free agent infielder Nicky Cruz in a move spurred by the lingering absences of shortstop Corey Seager and second baseman Josh Smith. Seager is out with lower back inflammation, and Smith still hasn’t rejoined the team since a stint in the hospital with viral meningitis.

“Certainly respect to Andrew, what he’s accomplished, not only in this game, but more importantly, who he is as a person,” president of baseball operations Chris Young said. “It’s been wonderful having him around, but we’re at a point where given the injuries on the left side of the infield, middle infield specifically, that we’re thin and so Nicky gives us another option and provides some versatility.”

The Rangers had another setback with their middle infield when shortstop Ezequiel Duran exited Wednesday’s game against Houston after four innings due to an illness.

Lopez, who started at second base in the No. 9 spot against the Astros, moved to shortstop to replace Duran. Justin Foscue took over at second.

The 31-year-old Lopez, who signed a major league contract, has played in 693 big league games over parts of eight seasons with five teams. The left-handed hitter was designated for assignment by the Chicago Cubs on Saturday.

McCutchen had two doubles, one home run and five RBIs with Texas, with 21 of his plate appearances coming as a pinch hitter. Those were the most at-bats as a pinch hitter for any MLB player this season.

The Rangers have seven days to trade, release or outright McCutchen to the minor leagues.

McCutchen played the past three seasons for Pittsburgh, the club that drafted him in the first round in 2005 and promoted him in 2009 for his major league debut. McCutchen played his first nine years in MLB with the Pirates, making five straight All-Star teams and winning the 2013 National League MVP award while becoming one of the most popular players in that franchise’s history.

He then bounced around with four other teams between 2018 and 2022 before reuniting with the Pirates. He played in 135 games last year, hitting .239 with 13 homers and 57 RBIs before becoming a free agent.

He is a career .271 hitter with 333 homers, 1,157 RBIs and 220 stolen bases in 2,299 games.

“I played against him during his MVP season,” Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said. “I know who this guy is and I got to know him even better this year. Those are not easy, but part of the game. He was a pro and understood.”

Seager is doing moderate baseball activity, but there is no timeline for his return. The two-time World Series MVP, including with the Rangers in 2023, has been eligible to come off the 10-day disabled list since Monday.

Smith had been on the IL since May 5 with a right glute strain when the Rangers announced May 15 that the 28-year-old would be hospitalized at least a week after feeling ill and getting the diagnosis of meningitis. Young said Smith could rejoin the club Thursday.

“We’ll be able to evaluate where he is from a strength standpoint,” Young said. “The physical toll that it’s taking on him and what the buildup is going to be, I can’t answer yet. But he’s healthy. We’re very grateful to the doctors and the medical staff that treated him and took great care of him.”

(File Photo of a Past Ellwood City Wolverines Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Washington, PA) Ellwood City baseball captured its first WPIAL Class 3A championship since 2012 with a 5-2 win over South Park yesterday at EQT Park in Washington, Pennsylvania.

The victory marked the third consecutive playoff game in which Ellwood City rallied from behind.

The team overcame deficits against Burrell in the quarterfinals and Riverside in the semifinals.

With the win, Ellwood City advances to the PIAA playoffs, where it will face the District VI runner-up between Phillipsburg-Osceola and Tyrone. The site and time of that matchup have yet to be determined.

The game will take place on Monday, June 1st.

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Chicago Cubs’ Ian Happ, top, rounds the bases after hitting a three-run home run off Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Yohan Ramírez (49) during the seventh inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Wednesday, May 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Ian Happ hit a tiebreaking three-run home run and drove in five runs on Wednesday night while playing in his hometown as the Chicago Cubs ended their 10-game losing streak with a 10-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Happ’s three-run shot snapped a 4-4 tie and started a six-run inning that helped the Cubs get their first win since May 15. Pinch-hitter Michael Conforto hit a two-run home run later in the inning to extend the lead to 10-4.

Happ also hit a two-run single in the first inning to open the scoring and has reached base in each of his last 40 games in Pittsburgh. He was one of five Cubs with two hits.

Brandon Lowe hit a three-run homer for the Pirates and rookie Konnor Griffin had a solo blast that drew the Pittsburgh into a 4-4 tie in the fourth inning.

Chicago is just the second team in major league history to have two 10-game winning streaks and a 10-game losing streak in the same season, along with the 2017 Los Angeles Dodgers.

Jacob Webb (1-1) struck out the side in order in the sixth. Yohan Ramirez (2-2), who allowed Happ’s home run, was charged with four runs in 1/3 inning.

Neither starter factored in the decision as Cubs veteran Jameson Taillon and Pirates rookie Bubba Chandler both allowed four runs in five innings. Taillon has lost his four previous starts. Chandler has gone seven starts since his only win of the season.

Bryan Reynolds had three hits for the Pirates, who had won their previous three games.

Wednesday marked the 2,000th regular-season game played at PNC Park, which opened in 2001. The Pirates have a 1,003-996-1 record there.

Up next

Cubs RHP Colin Rea (4-3, 4.83 ERA) starts Thursday night against 2025 NL Cy Young Award winner RHP Paul Skenes (6-4, 3.00) in the finale of the four-game series.

(File Photo of a Past Ellwood City Wolverines Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Washington, PA) Ellwood City baseball will face South Park in the WPIAL Class 3A championship game today.

First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. at EQT Park in Washington, Pennsylvania.

Ellwood City earned its spot in the title game with a 6-5 win over Riverside on Thursday at Pullman Park in Butler.

Ellwood City will try to win its first district championship since 2012 when it defeated Riverside 9-7 for the 2A title.