Harden pitches Cubs past Pirates 3-1

PITTSBURGH (AP) — One good week is all that’s needed to move near the top of the crowded NL Central. Or, maybe for the Chicago Cubs, one good series in Pittsburgh.

Rich Harden repeatedly worked out of trouble to win for the first time in more than six weeks, Ryan Theriot homered and the Cubs maintained their mastery of the Pirates by winning 3-1 on Monday night.

The Cubs started 1-6 on a 10-game trip that included manager Lou Piniella’s run-in with Milton Bradley and were 14-24 on the road before winning their eighth in their last 10 in Pittsburgh. They have won 20 of their last 25 games here, with two more remaining in this series.

Now that interleague play is over except for one makeup game, the Cubs are looking to make a move in the division, and are 31‚Ñ2 games behind first-place Milwaukee.

They are 18-17 against the NL Central, while the last-place Pirates — despite trailing fourth-place Chicago by only 21‚Ñ2 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 the injuries we’ve had and the juggling of the lineup. We’re right there in striking distance.”

The Pirates would be, too, if only they were modestly better in the division.

“The division is how you win the division,” shortstop Jack Wilson said. “If you don’t beat the teams in your division, you’re not going to go anywhere.”

The Pirates had numerous chances to get to Harden (5-4), who was 0-3 with a 5.64 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 grounded into a double play with two on and one out in the seventh.

Sanchez, hitless in four at-bats, also grounded out to Harden with the bases loaded and a run in following Andy LaRoche’s double in the fifth. An inning later, Harden struck out Jason Jaramillo and Wilson after one-out singles by Brandon Moss and Andy LaRoche.

“He really kept us off balance,” Pirates manager John Russell said. “He threw a couple of nice breaking pitches and made some really big pitches when he needed to.”

Harden, facing Pittsburgh for the first time, gave up nine hits — eight singles — and walked a batter, but struck out nine. The Pirates were 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position.