• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Pirates-Cubs Preview

Jun 28, 2010 - 3:56 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Pittsburgh (25-49) at Chicago (32-42), 8:05 p.m. EDT

The Chicago Cubs managed to close a tumultuous week with a much-needed victory.

They will try to begin stringing wins together - and put an ugly incident behind them - when they host the Pittsburgh Pirates, losers of 17 straight on the road, Monday night.

Chicago (33-42) has dropped six of nine and is dealing with the indefinite suspension of pitcher Carlos Zambrano, who had to be separated from teammate Derrek Lee during a dugout meltdown Friday. The club is awaiting feedback from Major League Baseball to determine the length of his suspension, with general manager Jim Hendry saying he hopes to get a response "in the next day or so."

The Cubs managed to avoid a sweep by their crosstown rivals Sunday, beating the White Sox 8-6 to snap their 11-game winning streak.

Three years ago, the Cubs turned things around and went on the win the NL Central after Zambrano fought in the dugout and clubhouse with former catcher Michael Barrett and manager Lou Piniella got ejected in back-to-back games against Atlanta.

"I don't think it's because of the Zambrano incident that we win today," third baseman Aramis Ramirez said. "I don't think we're going to get hot because of it. No team wants to go through that."

Tyler Colvin hit a three-run home run and finished with three hits and four RBIs. It was only the second time in eight games that Chicago scored more than three runs.

The Cubs should be in good position to put together a win streak, as the Pirates (25-50) have not won on the road since May 25 and have dropped six straight overall. Chicago, though, has lost seven of nine to Pittsburgh this season, scoring 27 runs while hitting .227.

The Cubs dropped two of three to the Pirates from May 14-16 in the only matchup at Wrigley Field in 2010.

Pittsburgh moved within two defeats of matching the longest road losing streak in team history, set in 1985, by getting swept by Oakland over the weekend. The Pirates were outscored 22-6 in the three games and made four errors in a 3-2 loss Sunday.

"We stunk," manager John Russell, whose team has lost 18 of 20, told the Pirates' official website. "We're not a very good team right now. Too many stupid mistakes. ... We can't play that way and expect to win."

The Pirates have a 7.21 ERA in the last six games. They'll look for a better effort from Paul Maholm (4-6, 4.24 ERA), who is coming off the shortest start of his career.

Maholm gave up seven runs - five earned - and four walks in one inning of a 13-3 loss to Texas on Wednesday.

"It was one of those days. It was the worst outing of my career," he said. "You leave pitches over the middle and fall behind and that's what happens."

The left-hander has been much more effective in two starts against the Cubs this season, going 2-0 with a 3.00 ERA.

Chicago will counter with Randy Wells (3-6, 5.21), who is looking for his first win since April 30.

The right-hander has gone 0-6 with a 6.24 ERA since. He gave up six runs and 10 hits in six innings of an 8-1 defeat to Seattle on Wednesday.

Wells has posted a 2-1 mark with a 4.05 ERA in four starts versus the Pirates. He pitched five scoreless innings but didn't get the decision in a 2-1 victory May 31, his most recent outing against Pittsburgh.