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Pirates-Cubs Preview

May 15, 2010 - 11:12 PM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Pittsburgh (15-20) at Chicago (15-21), 2:20 p.m. EDT

After the Chicago Cubs took advantage of their struggles for years, the Pittsburgh Pirates have turned the tables.

The Pirates look to complete their first three-game sweep at Wrigley Field in a decade Sunday when they try for their eighth straight win over their NL Central rivals.

After going 6-27 against the Cubs (15-22) from Sept. 21, 2007-Sept. 29, 2009, including a 3-14 record at Wrigley Field, the Pirates (16-20) have won seven in a row versus Chicago. That streak includes a sweep at home earlier this month and two victories in this series.

Pittsburgh won 4-3 on Saturday as Jeff Clement homered in the ninth and Andrew McCutchen had two hits with an RBI, continuing his season-long success against the Cubs.

The Pirates are hitting .293 against the Cubs this season as opposed to .227 against the rest of the league. McCutchen, 11 for 14 (.786) with five RBIs in four games against Chicago, had five hits Friday after going 0 for 9 in his previous series against Cincinnati.

McCutchen will try to help the Pirates complete their first three-game sweep of the Cubs at Wrigley Field since May 5-7, 2000.

Chicago, which is 8-10 at home this season, has lost nine of 11 overall.

The Cubs scored in the ninth off Octavio Dotel on Saturday but couldn't plate the tying run from third with one out.

"We had chances offensively, especially in the bottom half of the ninth, but, boy, that big hit is really elusive," manager Lou Piniella said.

The Cubs will try to avoid the sweep when they face Ross Ohlendorf (0-1, 3.00 ERA).

On Monday, Ohlendorf made his first start in more than a month, giving up one run and three hits in four innings of a 2-1 loss to the Reds. The right-hander, who had been on the disabled list with back spasms after making only one start, threw 84 pitches and walked four.

"I wish I had been able to pitch deeper into the game," Ohlendorf told the Pirates' official website. "Even though I was limited somewhat on a pitch count, I still could have done a better job at not walking guys to pitch deeper. I feel like I could have thrown more strikes."

In Ohlendorf's only start against the Cubs, which came last season, he gave up four hits in seven innings of a 3-0 win, striking out eight.

Chicago counters with Ted Lilly (1-3, 4.88).

Lilly held Florida scoreless for five innings in his last outing but ended up suffering his third straight defeat, giving up four runs and five hits in seven innings of a 4-2 loss Monday.

The Cubs have scored two or fewer runs while Lilly's been on the mound in all four of his starts, including his outing against the Pirates on May 5 when he gave up four runs and nine hits in six innings of a 4-2 loss.

The left-hander has lost three of his last four starts against the Pirates.