Newly promoted Oneil Cruz drove in four runs and Bligh Madrid piled up three hits in his major league appearance to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 12-1 blowout victory over the Chicago Cubs on Monday night.
Both rookies were called up from Triple-A Indianapolis hours before the game and produced immediately.
Cruz, considered the Pirates’ top prospect, hit a three-run double to center field to cap a four-run third-inning drive that increased Pittsburgh’s lead to 7-0. It was his third game in the Major Leagues.
The 6-foot-1 Cruz also had an RBI single during a five-run seventh inning.
Madris hit a two-run single in the second inning, his first major league at-bat. He became the first Pirates player to have three hits in his debut since Jason Kendall in 1996.
JT Brubaker (1-7) pitched six shutout innings for his first win since Aug. 24, a span of 14 starts.
The Pirates took advantage of five walks from rookie Caleb Kilian (0-2), who allowed seven runs in 2 1/3 innings. Kilian made the third start of his career.
For the Pirates, Dominican Oneil Cruz 5-2 with four RBIs and two runs scored.
For the Cubs, Venezuelans Rafael Ortega 4-2; Willson Contreras 3-0. Puerto Rican Nelson Velázquez 1-1. Dominican Jonathan Villar 4-1. The Mexican Alfonso Rivas 4-1 with a run scored.