Samardzija Leads Cubs To 2-0 Victory Over Pirates

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Jeff Samardzija gave up one hit over eight innings and Alfonso Soriano hit two run-scoring doubles as the Chicago Cubs cooled off the Pittsburgh Pirates 2-0 on Monday night.

Samardzija allowed only a fourth-inning infield single to Andrew McCutchen, the major leagues' leading hitter with a .373 average. The ball ricocheted off Samardzija.

Soriano provided two big one-out hits as Chicago ended its 28-inning scoreless streak that stretched to the second inning of last Friday's game at St. Louis.

Samardzija (7-8) struck out five and walked one in ending Pittsburgh's five-game winning streak. He was pulled after throwing 99 pitches.

McCutchen, who walked in the first inning, was the only Pirates to reach base until Josh Harrison led off the ninth inning with an infield single off closer Carlos Marmol, who retired the next three hitters for his 12th save.