Correia, Pirates outlast Chicago and avoid sweep

Associated Press

pittsburgh

Winning a career-best five straight starts might not be enough for Kevin Correia to keep his spot in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ starting rotation.

Correia gave up two runs and four hits in six innings, helping Pittsburgh beat the Chicago Cubs 3-2 and avoid getting swept at home for the first time since Sept. 9-11 against the Marlins.

“Kevin is a grinder,” Pirates second baseman Neil Walker said. “The way he pitched today is the way he always pitches. He doesn’t overpower anyone, but he just keeps battling and battling and he gave us a chance to beat a very good pitcher.”

Garrett Jones drove in the go-ahead run with a two-out double in the sixth inning. Walker and Michael McKenry homered for Pittsburgh.

Ryan Dempster (5-5) lost in what might his last start for Chicago, allowing three runs and five hits with in six innings with six strikeouts and no walks. Dempster said he is mulling a decision to accept a trade to Atlanta and is also “keeping all my options open.”

His ERA, which had been a major league-leading 2.11, rose to 2.25.

Despite his winning streak, Correia (8-6) has a 4.82 ERA in his last five starts and is a candidate to be moved to the bullpen following the acquisition of left-hander Wandy Rodriguez from Houston on Tuesday. Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said before the game that he might also consider going to a six-man rotation, at least temporarily.

“We acquired a very good pitcher who is going to help us,” Correia said. “Somebody is going to have to come out of the rotation. I thought about it a lot last night, but it wasn’t on my mind when I took the mound. I just tried to do the best I could to help the team win and the decisions about the rotation are out of my hands.”

Relievers Jared Hughes, Jason Grilli and Joel Hanrahan followed Correia with one scoreless inning each. Hanrahan recorded his 29th save in 32 chances.

“That back end of the bullpen is as good as it gets,” Chicago manager Dale Sveum said.

Pittsburgh entered the day leading the NL wild-card standings.

The Pirates pulled ahead 3-2 in the sixth inning when Jones lined a double that scored Alex Presley, who singled with one out and took third on Andrew McCutchen’s single.

“That was a good piece of hitting by Jones, because I threw a pitch that was really down and he went down and got it,” Dempster said.

Dempster threw a water cooler in the Cubs’ dugout after being lifted for a pinch hitter in the top of the seventh. He said his brief outburst was not partially a byproduct of the trade talk but came out of frustration over leaving the game.

“I have a lot of respect for [Sveum] but I don’t always have to agree with every move he makes,” Dempster said. “I’m allowed to be upset, but I was over it as soon as I got to the clubhouse.”

The Pirates recalled prized prospect Starling Marte from Triple-A Indianapolis and are expected to make him their regular left fielder. Marte will join them for tonight’s game at Houston. He has never played in the majors.