It seemed that maybe, just maybe, the Pirates had found a way to stop the Cubs.

As we continue our virtual simulation of the 2020 season, the Pirates appeared to have finally stymied the Cubs offense.

That was, until Kyle Schwarber and Jason Heyward came up to bat. The duo had a pair of RBI hits as the Cubs came back to drop the Pirates, 4-2. The virtual Cubs improved to 11-3 on the year and won their fourth straight series to open the season. They also improved to 5-1 against the Pirates and hold a 2.5-game lead over the Reds in the NL Central.

It was a big bullpen effort, but the Pirates were keeping the Cubs in check.

Starter Joe Musgrove held the Cubs hitless into the third inning until Jason Kipnis gave the Cubs a 1-0 lead on a solo home run. It was a big hit for the veteran who has been struggling on the virtual year (the home run being was only his 4th hit of the season). Kipnis is now slashing .182/.333/.500 in 8 games.

The Pirates rallied back, tying the game on a Bryan Reynolds solo shot and taking the lead on a José Osuna RBI double. Musgrove kept the Cubs guessing, allowing just 3 hits and striking out 3 in 4.1 innings of work. Pirates relievers Steven Brault, Nick Burdi, Michael Feliz and Robbie Erlin pitched 2.2 innings, striking out 5 and allowing just 1 hit and 1 walk.

Against Kyle Crick, though, the Cubs picked up timely hits. After an Anthony Rizzo walk, pinch runner Albert Almora Jr. scored on an RBI double from Schwarber. Two batters later, Heyward picked up an RBI single.

It’s been a hot start for Heyward. The right fielder is slashing .342/.381/632 with 3 home runs and 7 RBI in 12 games. He leads the team in average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, OPS and is one of five Cubs with a team-leading 3 home runs.

The Cubs would’ve been in an even bigger hole if reliever Alec Mills hadn’t continued his strong performance out of the pen. Mills dug himself into trouble by allowing 3 straight base hits in the 7th to load the bases with one out. But he showed his moxie, getting Cole Tucker to ground into an inning-ending double play to end the threat and keep the score at 2-1.

Yu Darvish turned in another strong performance on the mound, striking out 6 in 6 innings of work, allowing just 2 runs, 5 hits and a pair of walks. His season ERA in 3 games sits at 1.89.

Craig Kimbrel picked up his 5th save of the year, inducing a game-ending double play from Starling Marte to seal the Cubs win.

The Cubs will look for their first sweep of the year at 1 p.m. on Thursday on Marquee’s Facebook page.

Here’s how the teams lined up in the third game of the series:

Cubs

Kris Bryant – 3B
Anthony Rizzo – 1B
Javy Báez – SS
Kyle Schwarber – LF
Willson Contreras – C
Jason Heyward – RF
Ian Happ – CF
Jason Kipnis – 2B
Yu Darvish – P

Pirates

Jarrod Dyson – CF
Cole Tucker – 3B
Adam Frazier – LF
José Osuna – 1B
Kevin Kramer – SS
J.T. Riddle – 2B
Jason Martin – RF
Luke Maile – C
Joe Musgrove – P

Watch the game in its entirety here: