CHICAGO (AP) — Starling Marte singled with one out in the seventh inning to end Jon Lester’s no-hit bid, leading the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 2-1 victory at the Chicago Cubs Sunday.
Jung Ho Kang’s double to put Gerrit Cole ahead at Wrigley Field. Kang added an eighth-inning home run to help the Pirates beat the major league-leading Cubs for the first time in six tries this season.
Cole (4-3) allowed three hits in eight shutout innings. Mark Melancon gave up a run in a shaky ninth but held on for his 11th save in 12 chances.
Lester (4-2), who threw a no-hitter with Boston in 2008, had permitted only two walks and retired 16 straight batters before Marte’s opposite-field liner to right on a changeup.
Marte stole second and scored on Kang’s drive to the gap in right-center, chasing Lester after 109 pitches. He struck out nine.
