Esmerlyn Valdez, Ryan O’Hearn homer in Pirates’ win vs. Cubs

PITTSBURGH — The final week of July can often decide whether teams identify themselves as buyers or sellers at the Trade Deadline. At times, the pressure can mount, building a losing streak. For a few days, it seemed the Pirates were headed in that direction.

Then came an offensive outburst to serve as a skid stopper. Pittsburgh defeated the Cubs, 8-7, on Sunday at PNC Park to salvage the…