Cubs hold down Bucs

Associated Press

Chicago

Alfonso Soriano hit two solo home runs and Ted Lilly pitched seven strong innings to lead the Chicago Cubs to a 3-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday night.

After ending its 17-game road losing streak on Monday night, the Pirates’ offense came on a solo homer by Ryan Doumit in the fifth inning. The Pirates have lost 19 of their last 22 games and are 25 games below .500 (26-51).

With unseasonably cool weather and the wind blowing in, Lilly took advantage by getting a number of fly outs. He allowed one run and six hits, struck out five and walked one.

Lilly pitched out of a jam in the seventh inning. With runners on second and third and one out, he got Ronny Cedeno to pop out on the first pitch and struck out pinch-hitter Ryan Church.

The Cubs have scored 13 runs in the Lilly’s last eight starts.

Cubs reliever Sean Marshall pitched a scoreless eighth and Carlos Marmol regained his form for a perfect ninth for his 14th save in 17 opportunities.

Pittsburgh starter Jeff Karstens (2-3) allowed three runs, two earned, and seven hits in six innings. He struck out two and walked one.

Koyie Hill doubled with one out in the second and moved to third on Doumit’s passed ball. Starlin Castro then lifted a fly ball to left field and Hill just beat Jose Tabata’s throw standing up.

With two outs in the fourth inning, Soriano homered to left on the first pitch.

Doumit led off the fifth with his seventh homer of the season.

Soriano gave Lilly an insurance run in the sixth inning with a two-out home run.