Cubs Defeat Pirates 3-2 In Rain-Delayed Game
CHICAGO (KDKA/AP) -- The Pirates and Cubs were delayed several hours Sunday afternoon in Chicago due to rain, but finally got things started around 5 p.m.
Former Pirate and current broadcaster Bob Walk described it as a monsoon, but the clouds eventually parted and they were able to get the game in. The Pirates were looking for a three-game sweep, but instead ended up on the wrong end of the 3-2 final score.
After allowing two runs, a walk and Lyle Overbay's two-run double in the first inning, the Cubs' Ryan Dempster (4-4) 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.
Chicago's Aramis Ramirez also ended a long home run drought.
Pirates starter Jeff Karstens (3-4) allowed three runs – two earned – and struck out four over five innings. Karsten, who recently took the rotation spot of the injured Ross Ohlendorf, departed after throwing just 71 pitches.
The Pirates did take an early 2-0 lead over the Cubs.
Overbay continues to swing a hot bat for the Bucs. He had a home run on Saturday and has a four-game hit streak going. He drove in both Pittsburgh runs Sunday with his two-run double in the first.
Andrew McCutchen and Neil Walker drew back-to-back walks against Dempster, and both scored on Overbay's double into the right-field corner.
McCutchen has now reached base safely in his last 21 games against the Cubs. Walker, who singled in the sixth, has hit safely in all 15 games he's played against Chicago in his career.
The Cubs scored their first run in the second on the long-overdue home run from Ramirez.
The line drive solo shot broke his 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.
Carlos Pena followed with a single. Speedy Cubs rookie Tony Campana then hit a grounder to shortstop Ronny Cedeno and beat the throw, which skipped away from Overbay.
Pena advanced to third on the play and Cedeno was charged with an error, snapping his 35-game errorless streak.
Pena scored on Koyie Hill's sacrifice fly to right, his run unearned because of Cedeno's miscue. Pena beat the throw of Pirates right fielder Garrett Jones, but he slid into catcher Ryan Doumit.
Doumit was hurt on the play, leaving the game with what the Pirates called an injured left ankle. He was replaced by backup Chris Snyder.
The Cubs manufactured the go-ahead run in the third. Kosuke Fukudome led off with a double, went to third on Darwin Barney's sacrifice bunt and scored on Starlin Castro's sacrifice fly.
Chicago got three scoreless innings from their bullpen, one each from Kerry Wood, Sean Marshall and closer Carlos Marmol.
Marmol, who earned his 10th save, has allowed just one earned run in his last 21 innings.
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