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Wilson, Gorzelanny propel Pirates past Cubs

Sep 8, 2007 - 2:41 AM By Chris Adamski PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) - Jack Wilson continued his hot streak and Tom Gorzelanny pitched seven strong innings against his hometown team as the Pittsburgh Pirates prevented the Chicago Cubs from taking over sole possession of first place with a 6-1 victory Friday night.

Wilson went 3-for-4 - including his 10th home run and three RBI - to give him 14 hits in his past five games.

Gorzelanny allowed one earned run on six hits in seven innings to win for the fifth time in the past month. He also had two walks with three strikeouts.

"We did everything right tonight," Pittsburgh manager Jim Tracy said. "We pitched great, we played great defense and we did a tremendous job manufacturing runs."

Derrek Lee and Geovany Soto each went 2-for-3 for the Cubs (71-69), who remained tied for first in the National League Central after the Milwaukee Brewers (71-69) lost in Cincinnati Friday.

"Maybe (the Cubs are trying to do too much), because we know we are tied for first place," Cubs outfielder Alfonso Soriano said. "Nothing worked for us today, so hopefully tomorrow it will get better."

The Pirates, who earlier in the day announced the firing of general manager Dave Littlefield after more than six years on the job, scored the game's first run in the bottom of the first when Freddy Sanchez's sacrifice fly plated Nyjer Morgan.

Pittsburgh added two more runs in the second after Ronny Paulino singled to score Steve Pearce. Wilson then doubled to plate Paulino.

Wilson is batting .700 (14-for-20) in his past five games.

"This is almost the same as a really bad slump - you don't know why it's happening or what's going on, but it's nice," Wilson said.

"Especially with being able to feed off Paulino and the way he's swinging the bat right now, too. He's in the 7-hole and I'm the 8-hole; we're just trying to contribute at the bottom of the lineup."

The Pirates made it 4-0 in the third when Adam LaRoche drove in Jason Bay with a double. Wilson's homer was to left with one out in the six. It scored Paulino to make it 6-0.

Gorzelanny improved to 14-7, tying him for the second-most victories among National League lefthanders. A native of Evergreen Park, Illinois, Gorzelanny has allowed only two earned runs in two starts this season against the Cubs.

"I was trying to attack guys and make pitches," Gorzelanny said. "And I just was trying to get them to swing at things - fortunately I was able to do that. Some pitches were working. In the right situations, I made the right pitches."

The Cubs' only run came courtesy of pinch hitter Ronny Cedeno, who drove in Soto with a double in the seventh. They loaded the bases with two outs in the eighth, but Damaso Marte induced Soto to fly out to right to end the threat.

"I don't know what to chalk it up to," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. "We'll chalk it up to we lost 6-1 and leave it at that. I don't know if we're trying to overdo it or what, but we'll go out there tomorrow and try again."

Rich Hill (8-8) was charged with six runs on nine hits and a walk in six innings.

"It wasn't a very good outing," Hill said. "I will take it and move on; that's it. I made some good pitches that got hit. I didn't walk many guys I walked one guy so that wasn't an issue; my command was pretty good. I look at the positives. But it was overall not very good. I have to go ahead and move past it."