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Maholm hopes for some run support in Chicago

May 28, 2011 - 2:32 PM (Sports Network) - Pirates starter Paul Maholm just can't seem to catch a break, but today he can point to his past success against the Cubs to try and pull him out of a winless slump - that is if Pittsburgh can provide enough offense for the left-hander.

Maholm has lost his last four decisions with his only victory coming April 25 against Washington in a 4-2 final. Those four runs incredibly are the most scored by the Pirates in any of his 10 start this season. Eight other times they've been held to a pair of runs or less. He's received just 13 runs of support in his first 10 starts and the offense has been held to one run or less six times.

It isn't as if Maholm has struggled this season because he's given up three earned runs or less in all but two of his starts. Unfortunately for him, the Pirates have faltered in nine of his 10 games pitched in 2011. That includes a 5-3 Pirates loss at Wrigley Field in his first start of the season on April 2. In that game, Maholm threw shutout ball for 6 2/3 innings and didn't get a decision. He left with a 3-0 lead, but the Cubs scored five times in the eighth inning.

Maholm holds a 7-2 mark with a 5.89 ERA in 14 lifetime starts against the Cubs. The Bucs have posted a 10-4 record in those 14 starts.

Taking the ball today for the Cubs will be Randy Wells, who comes off the 15- day disabled list. His only start came April 4 against Arizona, but since then Wells has been sidelined with a right forearm strain. He was 0-2 with an 8.22 ERA in two minor league rehab appearances.

Wells is 2-1 with a 3.46 ERA in five starts all-time against the Pirates.

Yesterday, Kevin Correia threw 7 1/3 scoreless innings to lead the Pirates to a 4-2 win.

Correia (7-4) gave up only five hits, while fanning two and walking a pair of batters to become the first National League pitcher to reach seven victories this season.

"He had great stuff today," Pirates catcher Chris Snyder said. "His fastball was very, very live and three strikeouts came on the slider, which was good to see for him."

Andrew McCutchen paced the offense with two hits and an RBI as Pittsburgh snapped a three-game skid. He has reached base safely in each of his last 19 games against the Cubs.

Alfonso Soriano smacked his 12th home run of the year and Carlos Pena had two of the Cubs' five hits.

Doug Davis (0-3) went 4 2/3 innings, giving up four runs -- two earned -- on four hits while walking six and fanning three.

"I'm not going to make any excuses for walking six people, that's for sure," Davis said. "I've been around long enough to know that walking that many guys, against any team, was going to come back to haunt you."

The Pirates won two of three meetings with the Cubs from April 1-3 in the Windy City and are 15-6 in the past 21 encounters between the NL Central inhabitants.