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Pirates-Cubs Preview

Jun 29, 2010 - 4:53 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Pittsburgh (25-50) at Chicago (33-42), 8:05 p.m. EDT

No matter how poorly they've played this season, the Pittsburgh Pirates continue to perform well against the Chicago Cubs.

Coming off their first road win in more than a month, the Pirates try to continue their success against the Cubs on Tuesday night at Wrigley Field.

Rookie Jose Tabata's go-ahead double in the ninth inning helped Pittsburgh (26-50) snap a 17-game road losing streak with a 2-1 win over Chicago on Monday - its first victory away from home since May 25. The result also ended a six-game overall skid.

"We're not going to let the numbers get to us," outfielder Lastings Milledge told the Pirates' official website. "We still got a lot of season to play."

Though the Pirates have the NL's worst record and are 30 games below .500 versus all other opponents, they are 8-2 against the Cubs (33-43), with six of those victories coming by one run. They've won three of four at Wrigley this season.

"We've been on a roll against these guys, especially here at this field," catcher Ryan Doumit said.

Chicago has lost 7 of 10. Its latest defeat came hours after the team placed pitcher Carlos Zambrano on the restricted list following his dugout tirade Friday against the White Sox. The volatile right-hander is expected to seek treatment for anger issues and won't be activated until after the All-Star break.

"We have to move on and focus on the other team," left fielder Alfonso Soriano said. We have a lot of things to do."

Especially against the Pirates. The Cubs have hit .225 and averaged fewer than three runs per game versus Pittsburgh this season.

Paul Maholm threw eight strong innings and Andrew McCutchen had an RBI triple Monday as the Pirates won for the third time in 21 games overall. McCutchen is 15 for 32 with six RBIs against the Cubs this season.

Jeff Karstens (2-2, 4.60 ERA) will take the mound Tuesday seeking to follow up Maholm's effort.

The right-hander is 2-1 with a 4.05 ERA in four starts against the Cubs. He allowed two runs in six innings, but didn't factor in the decision of a 3-2 win over Chicago on June 1.

Karstens also failed to get a decision Thursday, when gave up three runs in 5 1-3 innings of a 6-5 loss at Texas.

The Pirates are suddenly struggling with injuries to their infielders. Rookie second baseman Neil Walker suffered a concussion Friday at Oakland and has not played since, and the Pirates could be without Bobby Crosby after he left Monday's game following a collision with Milledge.

Pittsburgh will again try to get the best of Chicago scheduled starter Ted Lilly (2-6, 3.28), who is 0-2 with a 4.35 ERA in three starts against the Pirates this season. Chicago has totaled four runs in those losses.

Lilly, however, is 1-1 with a 2.63 ERA in his last four starts. The left-hander allowed one run in six innings of a 3-2, 13-inning win at Seattle on Thursday.

Ryan Theriot had a pair of hits Monday for the Cubs, who have scored 15 runs in seven games - more than half of that total came in an 8-6 win over the White Sox on Sunday.