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Marquis outduels Gorzelanny as Cubs nip Pirates

May 10, 2007 - 2:34 AM CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Jason Marquis is turning out to be one of the best free agent signings in baseball.

Marquis pitched a three-hit shutout to lead the Chicago Cubs to a 1-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

A 16-game loser last year with the St. Louis Cardinals, Marquis (5-1) turned in his first complete game since September 4, 2005.

Signed to a three-year $21 million contract, Marquis beat the Pirates for the second time in eight games and won his fifth consecutive decision.

Last Wednesday, Marquis pitched eight innings of one-run ball to lead Chicago to a 7-1 victory over Pittsburgh.

The 28-year-old righthander was even better this time around, setting down the first 16 batters before Don Kelly singled with one out in the sixth. He faced just three batters over the minimum, striking out five and not walking a batter.

Marquis got the only run he would need when Alfonso Soriano hit a leadoff home run in the first inning against hard-luck loser Tom Gorzelanny.

In his seventh start of the season, Marquis has not allowed more than seven hits in a game and the shutout lowered his ERA to a miniscule 1.70.

Marquis also allowed a double to Ryan Doumit in the seventh inning and a single to Jose Bautista in the eighth before finishing up with a 1-2-3 ninth to complete his 110-pitch performance.

Gorzelanny (4-2) lost his first decision on the road despite allowing just the one run and six hits in seven innings.

The 24-year-old lefthander struck out five and walked two. He has allowed more than three runs in just one start this season.

Matt Murton and Michael Barrett had two hits apiece for the Cubs, who had their five-game winning streak snapped in Tuesday's 15-inning loss to the Pirates.