Saturday, May 17, 2008
CHICAGO — Nate McLouth hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer off Carlos Marmol in the ninth to lift the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 7-6 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Saturday even though Alfonso Soriano hit two home runs for the second straight day.
The Pirates had lost 10 straight to the Cubs and were 0-7 against them this year before McLouth came through with the big hit.
Freddy Sanchez beat shortstop Ryan Theriot’s throw to first on a grounder up the middle with one out before McLouth’s drive off Marmol (1-1) to the basket above the right-field wall. Pittsburgh won for the ninth time in 12 games.
Matt Capps gave up a two-out RBI single to Ryan Theriot after Soriano doubled for his fifth hit of the game, but retired Derrek Lee on a fly to right for his 10th save.
Damaso Marte (3-0) pitched a perfect eighth.
Soriano has 20 hits in his last 37 at-bats, raising his average to .295 after a brutal start.