Cubs’ Dempster shuts down Pirates

Associated Press

CHICAGO — Ryan Dempster pitched a five-hitter for his third career shutout, Jeff Baker had a two-run double and the Chicago Cubs beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-0 on Tuesday night.

Derrek Lee added a two-run single for the Cubs, who have won seven of nine games. The Cubs (82-74) guaranteed a winning record for the third straight season. It’s only the second time in the last 70 years the Cubs have had three or more consecutive winning seasons.

Dempster struck out six and walked two. He retired the ninth inning in order to record his first shutout since July 3, 2001, against the Montreal Expos, when he was a member of the Florida Marlins.

With the victory, Dempster (11-8) became the second active pitcher with at least 87 wins and 87 saves. John Smoltz has 213 wins and 154 saves.

Dempster is finishing the season strong. He is 5-1 in his last six decisions and makes his last start Sunday against the Diamondbacks.

Pirates starter Kevin Hart (4-9) made his second start against his former team since being acquired from the Cubs in a five-player deal July 30. The troubles continued from the first inning for Hart, who is 1-8 in 10 starts since being acquired from the Cubs.

The Pirates, who were shut out for the 17th time, have dropped 17 of their last 18 road games.

White Sox-Indians rained out

CLEVELAND — The game between the Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Indians scheduled for Tuesday night was postponed because of rain.

The game was called more than two hours before it was set to begin. The rainout will be made up as part of a doubleheader today starting at 4:05 p.m., though rain is in the forecast.

Chicago’s Carlos Torres will face Fausto Carmona in the first game. Mark Buehrle will face the Indians’ Justin Masterson in the second game.

There had been talk the White Sox would shut down Buehrle, who is 1-7 since pitching a perfect game on July 23.

“They talked to me after my last start and said, ’You’re not officially shut down, but there’s a chance you won’t pitch anymore, so we can give some of these younger guys a try,”’ Buehrle said. “I don’t like sitting four days between starts, anyways. Sitting these last two weeks would’ve been tough.”

Today will also mark the last starts of the season for Masterson and Carmona.

The Indians will need a starter for Sunday’s season finale at Boston, but right now manager Eric Wedge is leaning toward Tomo Ohka.

Indians outfielder Michael Brantley, who has missed the last two games with a sprained left ankle, was in Tuesday night’s lineup.