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Correia, Pirates blank Cubs

Sep 18, 2012 - 6:48 AM Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Starling Marte drove in two runs, Kevin Correia pitched seven scoreless innings and the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Chicago Cubs, 3-0, to take the finale of a four-game set.

The game was delayed for three hours and thirty-seven minutes due to rain, but the Pirates earned a much needed victory to stay within 2 1/2 games of the idle St. Louis Cardinals for the NL's final wild-card spot.

Winning for the ninth time in his last 12 decisions, Correia (11-9) pitched valiantly, giving up just two hits while striking out six.

Joel Hanrahan tossed a scoreless ninth to notch his 36th save of the season.

Travis Wood (6-12) set a career high for strikeouts, fanning nine, but was tagged for three runs on four hits in 5 2/3 innings.

Pittsburgh scored all of its runs in the third inning. Clint Barmes was hit by a pitch to start the frame and advanced to third on a single by Brock Holt. Marte then tripled to drive in both runners and came home on a double by Jose Tabata.

Chicago came in winners of seven of its last nine, but only four Cubs reached base on Monday night.

The Cubs would only advance a runner past second base once in the game, when Brett Jackson worked a leadoff walk in the third inning and later moved to third on Wood's double-play grounder to short.

But David DeJesus hit a grounder to first to end the threat.

Game Notes

The Pirates improved to 67-0 when leading after eight innings ... Pittsburgh captured the season series with Chicago on Monday, taking eight out of the 15 games ... Cubs second baseman Darwin Barney extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a base hit in the bottom of the third inning.