08/27/2008 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago Cubs try to continue their season-long mastery of the Pittsburgh Pirates this afternoon, as they go for a sweep in the finale of their three-game series at PNC Park.
Chicago, which leads the majors with 82 wins and is five games ahead of the Milwaukee Brewers in the Central standings, has won 13 of its 17 matchups with the Bucs this season, including six of the eight meetings in the Steel City.
That trend almost did not continue on Tuesday, but the Cubs used a late rally to move 32 games above .500 for the first time since they were 90-58 on September 15, 1984.
Geovany Soto drove in a career-high seven runs and Chicago used a seven-run eighth inning to post a 14-9 win. Soto finished 3-for-5 with two doubles, a homer and three runs scored for the Cubs, who are 12-3 over their last 15 games overall.
Carlos Zambrano lasted only 4 1/3 frames and was tagged for six runs on eight hits with four walks and three strikeouts. The comeback made a winner out of Sean Marshall (3-3), who tossed a scoreless seventh.
Adam LaRoche, Doug Mientkiewicz and Jack Wilson each drove in two runs for Pittsburgh, which has dropped six straight games and 10 of its last 12 overall.
Pittsburgh starter Ian Snell was roughed up for five runs on five hits in four innings of work. Craig Hansen (0-2) took the loss after he gave up four runs on one hit and did not retire a batter in the troublesome eighth.
Heading to the hill for the Cubs today will be righty Jason Marquis, who is 8-7 with a 4.76 ERA. Marquis did not get a decision on Friday against the Washington Nationals, as he allowed four runs and four hits in 5 1/3 innings of a 13-5 loss.
Marquis lost to the Bucs the last time he faced them, but is 7-6 lifetime against them with a 4.05 ERA in 22 games, 18 of which have been starts.
Pittsburgh will try to avoid the brooms with left-hander Zach Duke, who has dropped his last eight decisions. Duke's latest setback came on Friday against Milwaukee, which managed four runs and six hits off of him in six frames, dropping him to 4-12 on the season, while raising his ERA to 5.29.
Duke has faced the Cubs 12 times over the course of his career and is 4-4 against them with a 3.16 ERA. However, he is winless last eight starts against them.
<< Report: DE Harvey ends holdout, signs with Jaguars
Jacksonville, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Defensive end Derrick Harvey has
reportedly ended his 33-day holdout, and has agreed to a deal with the
Jacksonville Jaguars that could be worth more than $33 million. Harvey was the
last ro
<< Report: Red Sox close to getting Kotsay from Braves
Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Red Sox are reportedly close to a
deal that will land outfielder Mark Kotsay from the Atlanta Braves.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Wednesday that the Braves will
continue the
<< Cardinals place OF Barton on DL
St. Louis, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The St. Louis Cardinals placed outfielder
Brian Barton on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday, retroactive to Monday, with
a strained right oblique.
In 69 games this season, the rookie Barton is hitting .26
<< Angels' Anderson has tendinitis in knee
Anaheim, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Angels left fielder Garret Anderson underwent
an MRI on Tuesday that revealed tendinitis in his left knee.
Anderson injured the knee when he made an outfield assist in the first inning
of Sunday's 5-3 win ov
Verlander hopes to slow down red-hot Indians >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Hard-throwing but inconsistent righty Justin Verlander
tries for a third straight win tonight when the Detroit Tigers host the
Cleveland Indians in the third and final game of a three-game series at
Comerica Park.
Verlan
White Sox, O's close set in Baltimore >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Right-hander Radhames Liz makes his second start since
returning from a stint in the minors tonight when the Baltimore Orioles
entertain the visiting Chicago White Sox in the finale of a three-game series
at Camden Yards.
Phils try to extend NL East lead over Mets >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Phillies' rally last year to overtake the Mets for the
National League East crown was pretty impressive. Last night's comeback to
recapture first place in the division wasn't too bad either.
After rallying from
With backs to the wall, Yanks continue battle with BoSox >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - With their chances for a 14th straight postseason
appearance dwindling by the day, the New York Yankees turn to Sidney Ponson to
right their ship tonight in the second test of a critical three-game series
with th
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