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Bay, Maholm lead Pirates past Cubs

May 10, 2007 - 11:28 PM CHICAGO (Ticker) -- The Chicago Cubs are having trouble getting two games over the .500 mark while the Pittsburgh Pirates are having trouble period.

Paul Maholm pitched seven-plus innings and Jason Bay hit a home run and had three RBI as the Pirates defeated the Cubs, 6-4, in the finale of a three-game series on Thursday.

The Cubs came into the game having won nine of their last 11 games and were trying to climb two games over .500 for the first time since May 3, 2006. However, the Pirates opened up a 6-1 lead and held on for the victory, just their fourth in a dozen games.

"In spite of the lowest on-base percentage in baseball, we are only three games under .500," Pirates manager Jim Tracy said. "Our players have done a great job weathering a storm and keeping us afloat. I am not sure a year ago we could have done that."

Maholm (2-4) allowed four runs, seven hits and one walk while striking out four. The lefthander departed with one out in the eighth inning after allowing a two-run pinch-hit homer to Michael Barrett, who cut Pittsburgh's lead to 6-4.

"After we put up the early three spot it was just time to go out and pitch my game," Maholm said. "I just tried to keep my team in the game and stay aggressive."

Reliever Matt Capps closed out the eighth and Salomon Torres pitched a perfect ninth for his 11th save of the season.

Carlos Zambrano (3-3) took the loss, allowing six runs - four earned - and seven hits in six innings. The righthander, who allowed three runs in the first inning, struck out six.

"I think I need to work on my mechanics," Zambrano said. "I think that is all that it is. I was feeling good out there my arm is fine."

Zambrano opened the game by hitting Freddy Sanchez with a pitch and allowing a double to Jose Bautista. Bay followed with a two-run double and scored the third run of the frame later in the inning on a sacrifice fly by Xavier Nady.

"I think it was important to get to Zambrano early," Bay said. "When you watch tape on him it seems like first innings give him some trouble."

Aramis Ramirez's seventh homer of the season in the second cut the lead to 3-1, but the Pirates plated a pair of runs in the third thanks to a fielding miscue.

After two outs were recorded, Zambrano walked Ryan Doumit. A fly ball to right field by Nady appeared to end the inning, but right fielder Matt Murton dropped the ball, allowing Doumit to score.

"I thought I took a good route to the ball," Murton said. "There is really no excuse for dropping it. That is not acceptable."

Adam LaRoche followed with a single to bring Nady in from second base and put the Pirates ahead, 5-1. Pittsburgh went ahead, 6-1, when Bay led off the next inning with a drive over the fence in left for his fifth home run.

"With Zambrano, I have talked to (Cubs' pitching coach) Larry Rothschild about his arm angle." Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. "It's definitely a mechanical flaw, he has to stay more closed with his arm motion."

Angel Pagan hit his first home run of the season in the sixth to cut the deficit to four before Barrett's fifth blast of the season two innings later made it a two-run game.

"We hit three homers but two were solo," Ramirez said. "At least when we were down 6-1 we battled back."

Derrek Lee came to the plate representing the tying run later in the frame, but Capps struck him out to end a nine-pitch at-bat.

"Striking out D-Lee right there was huge," Capps said. "He is the best hitter in baseball right now. He could have tied the game with one swing of the bat."

Lee finished the day with one hit to extend his hitting streak to 17 games. The first baseman also has reached base safely in all 32 games this season. The last Cubs' player to reach in 32 straight was Sammy Sosa in May 1998.

Chicago's Alfonso Soriano also singled to extend his hitting streak to 18 games. He is batting .364 (28-for-77) during the streak.

Doumit stayed hot for Pittsburgh with two hits and a run. Since being recalled from Class AAA Indianapolis, he has hit safely in 11-of-12 games, batting .475 (19-for-40) with seven doubles, two homers and seven RBI.

"Doumit has earned the right to stay in the lineup," Tracy said. "He Has hit, and has played well in the outfield too. He is taking advantage of his opportunity."