Chicago Cubs Score and Recap (4/29/25): Cubs 9, Pirates 0 – Four Home Runs Lead Cubs to Shutout Victory in Pittsburgh

The Cubs traveled to PNC Park to kick off a series against the division-rival Pirates on Tuesday night. Chicago used a power surge to build a huge edge in the middle innings and eventually posted an impressive shutout victory.

Both starting pitchers, Shōta Imanaga and Andrew Heaney, were sharp out of the gate and neither side scored through the first three frames. Carson Kelly gave the North Siders the lead when he launched a two-run homer to left in the top of the 4th.

The Cubs doubled their advantage to 4-0 in the 5th when Pete Crow-Armstrong hit a tape-measure two-run shot to the back of the right field bleachers. There was a scary moment in the 6th when Imanaga was forced to come out of the game accompanied by the trainer with what was later called leg cramps.

Chicago broke the game wide open in the top of the 7th on an RBI single by Kyle Tucker followed by Seiya Suzuki whacking the third two-run homer of the night to make it a 7-0 game. Dansby Swanson added a solo dinger the following frame and Kelly singled home one more in the 9th to bring the final score to 9-0. (Box score)

Key Moment

Heaney retired the first 11 Cubs batters he faced on Tuesday before Suzuki hit a double with two down in the 4th. The next five hitters reached base safely as the road team moved on top 4-0.

Why the Cubs Won

They hit four home runs to build up a big lead and the pitching did a nice job keeping the Pirates off the board.

Stats That Matter

• Sounds like Imanaga is fine, and he did a good job before he came out: 5 IP, 0 R, 6 H, 3 K, 1 BB.
• Suzuki is a very important piece in the middle of the lineup and he finished a single short of the cycle on Tuesday.
• Kelly had three hits and three RBI after being moved up into the cleanup spot.

Bottom Line

Other than that brief scare with Imanaga, this game went very well for the Cubs. The lineup continues to put up big numbers and the bullpen at least has held its own. Craig Counsell got good results with his retooled batting order Tuesday, so maybe he sticks with it for a while.

On Deck

The second game of the series is Wednesday at 5:40pm CT. Matthew Boyd takes on Carmen Mlodzinski in a matchup available on Marquee with radio coverage on 670 The Score.