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PITTSBURGH — \u2014 Ian Happ<\/a> homered for the second consecutive game and the Chicago Cubs<\/a> handed Paul Skenes<\/a> his third straight loss with a 7-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates<\/a> on Thursday.<\/p>\n The win came one night after the Cubs ended a 10-game losing streak. Happ hit a tiebreaking three-run homer in the seventh inning of that game.<\/p>\n Happ had three hits on Thursday, including a two-run homer in the eighth that pushed the Cubs\u2019 lead to 5-2. He has reached base safely in 41 consecutive games in Pittsburgh, the city where he grew up. Seiya Suzuki<\/a> had two hits and two RBI for Chicago.<\/p>\n Skenes (6-5) lost his third straight start despite striking out 10 in 5 1\/3 innings. The 2025 NL Cy Young Award winner fanned six batters in a row from the first to the third.<\/p>\n Only one of the three runs against Skenes was earned, as third baseman Tyler Callihan<\/a> and shortstop Jared Triolo<\/a> made throwing errors in a two-run sixth inning that extended the Cubs\u2019 lead to 3-0.<\/p>\n Colin Rea<\/a> (5-3) won for the first time in five starts, allowing two runs in 5 1\/3 innings. Hoby Milner<\/a>, Caleb Thielbar<\/a> and Trent Thornton<\/a> combined for 3 2\/3 innings of scoreless relief.<\/p>\n Bryan Reynolds<\/a> homered for the Pirates.<\/p>\n Pittsburgh third baseman Nick Gonzales<\/a> exited after the third inning with left knee discomfort.<\/p>\n Cubs: Open a three-game series Friday night at St. Louis with LHP Shota Imanaga<\/a> (4-5, 4.04 ERA) facing RHP Andre Pallante<\/a> (5-4, 3.76).<\/p>\n Pirates: Host the Minnesota Twins<\/a> and former Pittsburgh manager Derek Shelton in a three-game series beginning Friday. Pirates RHP Jared Jones<\/a> will make his first major league appearance since 2024,<\/a> a little more than a year after undergoing elbow surgery. RHP Taj Bradley<\/a> (5-1, 2.77) starts for the Twins.<\/p>\n ——<\/p>\n