Nady’s hit lifts Cubs over Bucs

Associated Press

CHICAGO

Xavier Nady has had quite a journey since he last was successful as a pinch-hitter.

Try this over less than two years: He was traded from the Pirates to the Yankees, had Tommy John surgery and signed with the Cubs as a free agent.

“I knew it had been a long freakin’ time,” Nady said Sunday after he singled home the go-ahead run in the eighth inning as Chicago rallied to defeat Pittsburgh 4-3 — the Cubs’ first victory over the Pirates following seven losses.

Nady had been hitless in 10 at-bats as a pinch hitter, including 0 for 9 this season, since delivering July 19, 2008, when he was with Pittsburgh.

“Pinch-hitting is difficult, and I have a lot of respect for the guys that have been good at it,” Nady said. “You sit around waiting for your chance. You might go a couple of days without playing. Then you come up ... and a lot of times it’s a crucial at-bat.”

The Pirates, who had outscored the Cubs 32-14 in winning their first five games against them this season, were going for their first series sweep at Wrigley Field in 10 years.

“It’s great to take the series, but being ahead ... you want to win the games you’re supposed to win,” said reliever Evan Meek, who couldn’t protect a 3-1 seventh-inning lead for starter Ross Ohlendorf.

After Cubs right fielder Kosuke Fukudome prevented two runs with a diving catch on Ohlendorf’s fly, the Cubs rallied to tie it in their half of the seventh.

“Game saver,” Cubs starter Ted Lilly said of Fukudome’s play, which came on a line drive after Ohlendorf had faked a bunt. “He was playing really shallow and had to run that down. It was impressive.”