Zambrano, Soriano lead Cubs past Pirates

Baseball Betting Lines

09/09/2007 - Pittsburgh, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Carlos Zambrano tossed a two-hitter over six-plus solid innings, and the Chicago Cubs pounded the Pittsburgh Pirates, 5-1, in the middle portion of a three-game series at PNC Park.

Zambrano, who had lost five straight starts - including three in a row since signing a five-year, $91.5 million contract on August 18 - struck out eight batters and walked five, allowing only a run.

"It's good to see your number one starter win after six starts," Chicago manager Lou Piniella said. "I had a nice talk with him the other day and told him to put it all behind him. We need a strong finish from him. He rewarded us with a really good performance tonight."

Alfonso Soriano homered for Chicago, which lost the opener of this set, 6-1, on Friday, and remains even with Milwaukee at the top of the National League Central standings after the Brewers beat Cincinnati, 4-3.

Nate McLouth and Adam LaRoche had the only hits for the Pirates, who entered the series having split a four-game set with St. Louis. Ian Snell (9-12) allowed four runs - three earned - on seven hits with a walk and three strikeouts over seven innings for the Bucs.

"I felt like I let the team down," Snell said. "I put some pitches up in the zone. Our defense played a really good game. They made some good catches and made some really good plays. That's what kept us in the game."

Chicago got on the board right away in the first when Ryan Theriot tripled and scored on Derrek Lee's single.

Soriano's two-run shot to left field after Jacque Jones had walked put the Cubs ahead 3-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth.

Chicago scored again in the seventh. Jason Kendall led off with a double and advanced to third on Nyjer Morgan's fielding error. Jones then reached first on LaRoche's fielding error, scoring Kendall.

Pittsburgh got on the board in the home half. LaRoche led off with a single, and Jose Bautista and Ronny Paulino walked to load the bases for Jack Wilson, whose sacrifice fly off reliever Carlos Marmol scored LaRoche. Pinch-hitter Josh Phelps struck out swinging and Morgan grounded out to first, though, to end the inning.

The Bucs again loaded the bases in the eighth, but Bob Howry entered the game and induced Paulino to ground out.

Chicago then added an insurance run in the ninth, as Mark DeRosa was hit by a pitch and scored on a Jones triple two batters later.

Game Notes

Marmol, Howry and Ryan Dempster completed the two-hitter for Chicago...Pirates left fielder Jason Bay left in the sixth due to a sore right knee...Pittsburgh is 6-5 against the NL Central-rival Cubs this season, with a 4-4 split in the Steel City. The Pirates are 15-11 in the last 26 matchups against Chicago.

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