Bucs snap road losing streak

Associated Press

CHICAGO

Paul Maholm pitched a season-high eight innings, and Jose Tabata hit a go-ahead double in the ninth as the Pittsburgh Pirates ended a 17-game road losing streak with a 2-1 win over the Chicago Cubs on Monday night.

The last time the Pirates won on the road was May 25 in a 2-1 victory at Cincinnati. It was their third win in 21 games overall.

Maholm (5-6) allowed one run and seven hits. He did not walk a batter.

Octavio Dotel hit Aramis Ramirez with a pitch leading off the ninth but rebounded for his 15th save in 18 chances.

Before the game, Carlos Zambrano was placed on the restricted list and the Cubs expect to be without the hot-tempered pitcher until at least the All-Star break.

Both teams struggled to get anything going until Ryan Doumit led off the ninth with a single off Cubs reliever Andrew Cashner.

After a sacrifice bunt by Ronny Cedeno, Cashner walked pinch-hitter Ryan Church. Cubs manager Lou Piniella brought in Carlos Marmol, who was greeted by Tabata with a double over the head of center fielder Tyler Colvin, who moved from right after a double switch.

Ramirez singled with one out in second inning. With two outs, Geovany Soto hit a blooper down the right-field line. Pirates right fielder Lastings Milledge came charging in, while second baseman Bobby Crosby was sprinting to get under the ball. Milledge and Crosby collided right before the ball dropped between them.

Both players got knocked to the ground. Soto ended up with a double and Ramirez went to third. Crosby was looked at by a team trainer, but stayed in the game before leaving in the bottom of the third with concussion-like symptoms.

Starlin Castro followed with a grounder to third baseman Pedro Alvarez, who tried to throw out Ramirez at the plate. But the one-hop throw got by Doumit, allowing Ramirez to score.