Cole off his game as Pirates fall to Cubs

Andrew McCutchen drives a solo home run to right-center off Jason Hammel to give the Pirates an early 1-0 leadPITTSBURGH -- The last time the Pirates and Cubs took the field at PNC Park, Chicago beat up on Pittsburgh's ace and stifled the Bucs' bats en route to a National League Wild Card Game victory. The circumstances may have been different, but the script was largely the same in the Cubs' 7-2 win on Monday night.

The Pirates jumped out to an early lead on Andrew McCutchen's homer, but the Cubs struck back quickly and decisively, pounding out six runs and chasing Cole before he could get out of the fifth inning. Anthony Rizzo and Ben Zobrist each drove in a run in the third inning, and…