Ramirez HR ends Bucs’ sweep plan

Associated Press

CHICAGO

The Pirates have had plenty of success against the Cubs the last two seasons, but a three-game sweep at Wrigley Field remains elusive.

Aramis Ramirez ended a long home run drought, Ryan Dempster threw six solid innings and the Cubs avoided a three-game sweep with a 3-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday.

In the last 23 games against the Cubs, the Pirates are 16-7, but they have not been able to sweep the Cubs at Wrigley Field since May 5-7, 2000.

“We’re not disappointed. We went out and played a ballgame and they played better than us. We won the series. That was the objective coming in,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. “We’ll move on.

“We had a chance to sweep, but we didn’t sweep. We have to do things to win a game.”

Pittsburgh also had the opportunity to win five straight road games for the first time since May 13-26, 2004.

Ramirez’s line drive solo shot in the second broke a streak of 155 at-bats without a home run, the second longest stretch of his career. Ramirez went 170 at-bats between homers from Aug. 2, 1998, until April 21, 2000.

“It seems like they always give us a tough time. They’ve got good pitching, good young players. But we should play better against them,” Ramirez said.

Dempster (4-4) recovered from a poor start to post his fifth quality start in his last six outings. After allowing two runs, a walk and Lyle Overbay’s two-run double in the first inning, Dempster settled down to shut out the Pirates on four hits over the next five innings.

Dempster allowed four hits and two runs overall, striking out five and walking three. He beat the Pirates for first time in five starts dating to May 4, 2010.

“A few pitches got away from him in that first inning,” Cubs manager Mike Quade said. “We’ve talked a little about him regrouping and getting himself back in tune with command of his pitches. After that first inning, he was able to do that. He’s had a great May.”

The Cubs got three scoreless innings from their bullpen, one each from Kerry Wood, Sean Marshall and closer Carlos Marmol, who earned his 10th save.

Pirates starter Jeff Karstens (3-4) allowed three runs — two earned — and struck out four over five innings.