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| Marquis, Fukudome help Cubs finish off impressive homestand CHICAGO CUBS 4, PITTSBURGH 3 |
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CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Chicago Cubs manager Lou Piniella is keeping his team's recent hot stretch in perspective. Jason Marquis threw six effective innings and Kosuke Fukudome had an RBI single Sunday, leading the Cubs to a 4-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Marquis (2-3) allowed three runs - two earned - and four hits with three strikeouts and one walk. Two relievers bridged the gap to Kerry Wood, who threw a perfect ninth for his 10th save in 13 chances. Adam LaRoche hit a two-run homer and added an RBI single for Pittsburgh, which has lost 11 of the last 12 meetings between the NL Central Division rivals. LaRoche's two-run shot in the first was one of the only mistakes made by Marquis, who snapped a personal three-game losing streak and helped the Cubs finish their 10-game homestand at 8-2. "It's nice but it is only May," said Piniella of the homestand. "You don't win the pennant in May, you get in position in May and that's all we have done is put ourselves in position." "It's nice to get a win finally and help this team out," Marquis said. "It's fun contributing to our winning ways." While Marquis turned in a fine performance, the same could not be said for Pirates starter Phil Dumatrait (1-2). The lefthander issued a career-high seven walks, which helped the Cubs take the lead. "I was terrible," Dumatrait said. "I don't know what it was but I quit pounding the strike zone and I just walked too many guys." "Sometimes you have to take what they give you and that's what it was about today," Cubs second baseman DeRosa said. "Our team showed patience at the plate and it paid off for us." Chicago tied the game at 2-2 in the third as Dumatrait issued three consecutive walks to start the frame and Alfonso Soriano lifted a sacrifice fly to halve the deficit. Ronny Cedeno followed with a game-tying RBI single to left. Fukudome led off the fourth with a walk and advanced to second on DeRosa's single. After both players stole a base, Chicago took a 3-2 lead when Reed Johnson plated Fukudome with a sacrifice fly. The Cubs again took advantage of Dumatrait's wildness in the fifth. Dumatrait walked both Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez and left after allowing an RBI single to Fukudome that put Chicago up, 4-2. The Pirates cut the lead to 4-3 in the sixth, when Freddy Sanchez led off with a single. DeRosa fielded a grounder to second and tagged Sanchez. But his throw to first was off the mark, allowing Nate McLouth to advance to second. LaRoche followed with an RBI single to left. However, there would be no comeback, as the Cubs' bullpen held serve. Bob Howry threw a scoreless seventh, Carlos Marmol worked the eighth and Wood tossed a perfect ninth. The Pirates had won three straight series, but Dumatrait's struggles ended that streak. The 27-year-old allowed four runs and four hits with two strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings. "I thought he threw the ball well today, he just had a problem with his location," Pirates manager John Russell said. "You can't fall behind and walk guys against that team, they are playing good baseball." LaRoche said the Pirates' struggles against the Cubs have not worn on them. "I don't think anyone even realizes it because we have been winning ballgames," he said. "Here they have a good home field advantage, so all we can do is forget about it." |
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