CHICAGO (Interstat) — In a tense, briskly played pitchers’ duel that defied pregame projections, Bryan Reynolds’ two-run homer in the seventh inning was the only offense as the Pittsburgh Pirates edged the Chicago Cubs 2-0 on a chilly Friday afternoon at Wrigley Field.

The game, witnessed by 28,811 fans and completed in a crisp 2 hours and 41 minutes, was dominated by starting pitching until Reynolds connected. The Cubs’ Shota Imanaga was brilliant, striking out nine over six perfect innings, retiring all 18 batters he faced. The Pirates, however, broke through immediately after his departure.

Facing reliever Caleb Thielbar to start the seventh, Ryan O’Hearn laced a sharp line-drive single to right for Pittsburgh’s first hit. Reynolds then drove Thielbar’s next pitch deep to left field for his third home run of the season, providing all the necessary runs.

The Pirates managed only three hits total but made them count. The Cubs out-hit Pittsburgh 6-3 but went 0 for 9 with runners in scoring position and stranded 10 baserunners, repeatedly failing to capitalize on opportunities against a parade of Pittsburgh pitchers.

Pittsburgh starter Carmen Mlodzinski set the tone, navigating 5 1/3 scoreless innings despite allowing six hits and two walks. He worked out of jams in the third and fourth innings, with the Cubs leaving two men on in each frame. His most critical escape came in the sixth. After singles by Alex Bregman and Ian Happ put runners on first and second with one out, Mlodzinski struck out Seiya Suzuki. Reliever Mason Montgomery then entered and struck out Pete Crow-Armstrong to end the threat, stranding three Cubs after a walk loaded the bases.

Montgomery earned the win, his first of the season. The Pirates’ bullpen combination of Isaac Mattson, Gregory Soto and Dennis Santana was flawless over the final three innings. Santana struck out two in a perfect ninth to record his first save.

The Cubs’ best chance to answer came in the eighth against Soto. After a one-out walk to Suzuki and a force out, another walk put the potential tying run on base, but Matt Shaw flew out to right to end the inning.

Imanaga’s dominant performance was wasted, as Thielbar took the loss, falling to 1-1. Cubs left fielder Ian Happ had two of Chicago’s six hits.

The victory improved Pittsburgh’s record to 8-5, marking its seventh win in nine games following a 1-3 start to the season. The Cubs fell to 6-7. The result was an upset according to pregame metrics; statistical projections gave Chicago a 61.7% probability to win, with a simulated score of 6-4 in favor of Pittsburgh. The actual combined total of two runs went well under the over/under line of 6.5.

The most important sequence of the game was undoubtedly the top of the seventh inning. After being completely stifled by Imanaga for six innings, the Pirates’ offense ignited the moment he exited. O’Hearn’s immediate single off Thielbar broke the no-hit bid and the tension, setting the stage for Reynolds, who promptly changed the game with one swing. This two-pitch, two-run outburst against the new pitcher proved decisive in a contest where scoring chances were exceedingly rare.

The two teams continue their series at Wrigley Field on Saturday.