NATIONAL LEAGUE New-addition Walker helps Cubs jar Pirates

Todd Walker had three hits and as many RBIs in the Cubs' 8-3 triumph.
CHICAGO (AP) -- Signing Todd Walker already is paying off for the Chicago Cubs.
Filling in while Mark Grudzielanek is on the disabled list with a partially torn Achilles' tendon, Walker went 3-for-5 with three RBIs on Wednesday to lead the Cubs over the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-3.
"He had some big hits," Cubs manager Dusty Baker said. "He started us off early."
The rest of the Cubs quickly fell in line. Aramis Ramirez homered twice, and Matt Clement scattered two hits for the Cubs, who got their first win at Wrigley Field this year.
Mondesi spoils bid
Raul Mondesi spoiled Chicago's shutout bid with a three-run homer in the seventh off Kyle Farnsworth.
Walker led off the first inning with a first-pitch double off Ryan Vogelsong (1-1).
Two batters later, Sammy Sosa drove Walker home and the Cubs were rolling. After not allowing an earned run in their previous 13 innings, the Pirates pitchers gave up eight in the first four innings.
The Cubs chased Vogelsong in the third when they batted around and scored four runs -- including back-to-back homers onto Waveland Avenue by Moises Alou and Ramirez. Vogelsong looked as if he might get out of the inning when he struck out Alex Gonzalez for the second out and intentionally walked Michael Barrett to get to Clement. But the move backfired when Clement singled to short to load the bases.
Walker then came through again, hitting a two-run single to give Chicago a 7-0 lead.
"I thought I had pretty good stuff," said Vogelsong, who allowed 10 hits and seven runs in three innings, striking out five and walking two. "They hit everything I threw up there. It didn't matter if it was a good pitch or a bad pitch.
Ramirez, traded to the Cubs from the Pirates last July, made it 8-0 with his second homer, a shot to left on a 2-2 pitch in the fourth. It's the eighth multi-homer game of Ramirez's career and his second against his former team since last Sept. 21.
Clement (1-1) has been struggling with his location, not going longer than five innings in his first start or his six Cactus League outings. And he still doesn't have everything figured out, issuing three walks and hitting one batter in six innings. But he appears to be getting closer to the pitcher who won 14 games last year.
After giving up singles to Tike Redman and Jason Kendall in the first inning, Clement didn't allow another hit. He also struck out seven.