• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Pirates try to break the brooms out at Wrigley

May 29, 2011 - 2:36 PM (Sports Network) - Last season, the Pirates won a total of four series on the road. They already have seven series victories outside of Pittsburgh this season.

Pittsburgh opened the season by taking two of three in Chicago, but today the Pirates will aim to accomplish something they haven't done since May 5-7, 2000 -- sweep a three-game set at Wrigley Field.

In their last 22 games against Chicago, dating back to September 30, 2009, Pittsburgh has posted a 16-6 record against the Cubbies.

Jeff Karstens will try to follow in the footsteps of Paul Maholm's amazing performance on Saturday when he takes the mound this afternoon for the Pirates. The right-hander pitched two innings of relief Wednesday and suffered the loss in the 11th inning to Atlanta when he gave up a two-run homer to Brooks Conrad.

Karstens' last start was a 10-1 win over the Tigers at PNC Park on May 20. He's 4-2 with a 3.86 ERA in eight career games (6 starts) against the Cubs. He's 4-1 all-time at Wrigley Field.

Ryan Dempster looks to win his third straight decision when he gets the ball for the Cubs. The righty allowed one run over seven innings in a victory over the Mets.

Dempster is 6-11 with a 5.74 ERA in 46 games (21 starts) against the Pirates. He's dropped his last four starts against the Buccos, dating to May 4, 2010, going 0-4 with a 7.23 ERA in those outings.

Yesterday, Maholm tossed a three-hitter and was backed by four home runs in the Pirates' 10-0 rout. Maholm (2-7) did not walk a batter and struck out four in his third career shutout and fifth career complete game. He threw just 91 pitches -- 66 for strikes -- and lowered his earned run average to 3.18.

The left-hander had not received much run support this season, a primary factor in his deceptive record, but got plenty of it Saturday.

Ronny Cedeno hit a three-run blast, Andrew McCutchen had a two-run homer, while Lyle Overbay and Chris Snyder slugged solo shots to help the Pirates to a second consecutive win. They withstood a ninth-inning rally Friday to beat Chicago, 4-2, in the opener to this three-game series.

"Welcome relief for him, and probably kind of kicked in some adrenaline for him that, 'Okay, I've got something to work with, I just need to take over and get these outs,'" said Pirates manager Clint Hurdle. "And that's what he did."

Pittsburgh scored five of its runs against Cubs starter Randy Wells (1-1), who was activated off the 15-day disabled list before the game. He had been sidelined since his first start of the season with a strained right forearm.

Neil Walker went 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored. He's has hit safely in all 14 of his career games against the Cubs, while McCutchen has reached base safely in each of his last 20 contests vs. Chicago.