(CHICAGO) – Willson Contreras drew a standing ovation in perhaps his last home game at Wrigley Field, then keyed an early burst as the Chicago Cubs beat the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates 4-2 Tuesday for their season-high sixth straight win. Contreras, one of three members left from the 2016 World Series title team, tipped his cap after being cheered at the plate his first time up. Contreras, an All-Star catcher who can become a free agent after this season, has acknowledged this might be his last homestand as a member of the Cubs before the Aug. 2 trade deadline. Seiya Suzuki, Ian Happ and Nico Hoerner hit consecutive doubles in the first to give Keegan Thompson (8-4) ample run support. LINKC. Suzuki provided insurance with a homer in the eighth off reliever Will Crowe. Thompson went a career-high seven innings, retiring 16 of 18 batters before Hoerner committed a fielding error at shortstop with one out in the seventh, and 6 foot 7 rookie Oneil Cruz followed later with a two-run homer to center field. Thompson completed the inning without further damage to top his previous high of 6 1/3 innings against the Reds on June 28. Mychal Givens pitched the ninth to earn his second save. Closer David Robertson wasn't used for the second consecutive game after earning a win and save Saturday and Sunday at Philadelphia. The Cubs have (40-57) have their best winning streak since taking seven in a row last Aug. 31-Sept. 6. The Pirates have lost four of five.

(audio courtesy of WSCR)