Cole outduels Lester as Bucs take finale

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CHICAGO — Gerrit Cole tossed eight shutout innings, and Jung Ho Kang smacked an RBI double and solo homer as the Pirates took a 2-1 victory on Sunday over the Cubs and Jon Lester, who no-hit Pittsburgh through 6 1/3 innings.

The Pirates notched their first victory in six games against the Cubs this season.

Dexter Fowler led off the Cubs’ first with a double that shortstop Jordy Mercer lost in the sun, and Chicago collected two more hits off Cole, including a double by Ben Zobrist with two outs in the fourth.

Kang, whose double in the seventh came one out after Starling Marte ended Lester’s no-hit bid with a single, hit his fourth home run of the season with one out in the ninth, launching a 3-2 fastball from Cubs closer Hector Rondon into the left-field bleachers.

The Cubs, who lead the Majors in run differential, tallied in the ninth on Anthony Rizzo’s sacrifice fly off Mark Melancon.

MOMENTS THAT MATTEREDSeventh: On May 19, 2008, Lester threw a no-hitter for the Red Sox against the Royals. On Sunday, he held the Pirates …

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