Harden, Theriot lead Cubs by Pirates 3-1
June 30, 2009
PITTSBURGH (AP)—One good week is all that’s needed to move near the top of thecrowded NL Central. Or, maybe for the Chicago Cubs, one good series inPittsburgh.
Rich Harden(notes) repeatedly worked out of trouble to win for the first time inmore than six weeks, Ryan Theriot(notes) homered and the Cubs maintained their masteryof the Pirates by winning 3-1 on Monday night.
The Cubs started 1-6 on a 10-game trip that included manager Lou Piniella’srun-in with Milton Bradley(notes) and were 14-24 on the road before winning theireighth in their last 10 in Pittsburgh. They have won 20 of their last 25 gameshere, with two more remaining in this series.
Now that interleague play is over except for one makeup game, the Cubs arelooking to make a move in the division, and are 3 1/2 games behind first-placeMilwaukee.
They are 18-17 against the NL Central, while the last-place Pirates—despite trailing fourth-place Chicago by only 2 1/2 games—are 10-22.
“We need to try to string some wins together and take a shot at it,”Theriot said. “I really feel we’re right where we want to be, with all theinjuries we’ve had and the juggling of the lineup. We’re right there in strikingdistance.”
Series at a Glance Chi Cubs 3 Pittsburgh 1 Mon, Jun 29 – Final Chi Cubs at Pittsburgh Tue, Jun 30 – 7:05 pm ET Chi Cubs at Pittsburgh Wed, Jul 1 – 7:05 pm ET
The Pirates would be, too, if only they were modestly better in thedivision.
“The division is how you win the division,” shortstop Jack Wilson(notes) said.“If you don’t beat the teams in your division, you’re not going to goanywhere.”
Still, Wilson won’t concede the Pirates—despite their 16 consecutivelosing seasons—can’t contend this season.
“How many of those games are like this?” he said. “It’s not like we’regetting blown out. You look at other teams that are in last place in theirdivision, they’re much less talented than the top teams. But I don’t think we’reless talented than the Cardinals or the Brewers.”
The Pirates had numerous chances to get to Harden (5-4), who was 0-3 with a5.64 ERA in four starts since last winning May 12, but never did.
They stranded a combined five runners during the fifth and sixth innings,and No. 3 hitter Freddy Sanchez(notes) grounded into a double play with two on and oneout in the seventh.
Chicago Cubs closer Kevin Greg… AP – Jun 29, 9:50 pm EDT
Sanchez, hitless in four at-bats, also grounded out to Harden with the basesloaded and a run in following Andy LaRoche’s(notes) double in the fifth. An inninglater, Harden struck out Jason Jaramillo(notes) and Wilson after one-out singles byBrandon Moss(notes) and Andy LaRoche.
“He really kept us off balance,” Pirates manager John Russell said. “Hethrew a couple of nice breaking pitches and made some really big pitches when heneeded to.”
Harden, facing Pittsburgh for the first time, gave up nine hits—eightsingles—and walked a batter, but struck out nine. The Pirates were 1 for 8with runners in scoring position.
“Interesting game,” Harden said. “I don’t think I’ve given up so manysingles in one game … but I was able to make some pitches.”
Kevin Gregg(notes) pitched the ninth for his 13th save in 16 opportunities.
Zach Duke(notes) (8-6) couldn’t extend his five-game home winning streak, giving upseven hits and three runs in seven innings. However, the Pirates have scoredonly five runs with the left-hander on the mound during his six losses.
Chicago Cubs' Alfonso Sori… AP – Jun 29, 9:48 pm EDT
The Cubs, 6-0 losers to the White Sox on Sunday, took a 1-0 lead on AndresBlanco’s(notes) two-out RBI single in the second. Theriot hit his seventh homer onebatter into the third, and Bradley’s run-scoring double made it 3-0 in thefourth.
Bradley, who will sit down the next two days to work with hitting coach VonJoshua on improving his .195 average as a left-handed hitter, went 2 for 4 tobump his average to .238. He was 1 for 16 with nine strikeouts in his previoussix games.
NOTES: The Cubs are 3-1 against Pittsburgh. … Cubs 3B Aramis Ramirez(notes)(dislocated shoulder) is taking batting practice in PNC Park before going on arehabilitation assignment Thursday. … Cubs RHP Angel Guzman(notes) (triceps) mightstart a rehab assignment the same day. … The Pirates are 13-13 this month.They must win Tuesday for their first winning June since 1996 (15-12). … TheCubs don’t see many crowds like this: 15,400. … Pirates C Ryan Doumit(notes) (brokenwrist) starts a rehabilitation assignment at Bradenton on Tuesday.
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