PITTSBURGH (AP) — Dansby Swanson hit a grand slam to cap an eight-run sixth inning, and the Chicago Cubs had eight stolen bases – their most in a game in more than 100 years — on the way to an 18-8 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday night. Swanson’s slam came off Domingo German, was the third of the shortstop’s nine-year career — and second this season — and pushed the Cubs’ lead to 9-2. Swanson also homered with the bases loaded on April 24 against Houston rookie Spencer Arrighetti.
The Cubs last had eight steals in 1913. Rookie center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong led the way with three stolen bases as the Cubs won for the seventh time in 10 games. That raised his season total to 26 in 93 games.
Crow-Armstrong has only been caught once this year. Ian Happ added two steals and Nico Hoerner, Cody Bellinger and Seiya Suzuki had one each. All eight steals came in eight attempts against catcher Yasmani Grandal.
Starter Mitch Keller was on the mound for seven steals during his four innings. Chicago entered the game eighth in the major leagues in stolen bases with 112. Miguel Amaya had a career-high four hits and four RBIs for the Cubs.
His double knocked in the first two runs in the big sixth inning to make it 5-2 before Suzuki hit a run-scoring single, Hoerner drew a bases-loaded walk from German and Swanson hit his slam. Amaya is 12 for 18 with three homers and 10 RBIs in his last five games. Suzuki also had four of the Cubs’ 21 hits and Crow-Armstron.