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As trade talks swirl, Dempster takes hill against Bucs

Jul 31, 2012 - 2:55 PM (Sports Network) - Two of the National League's best veteran pitchers get together again tonight when the Pittsburgh Pirates visit the Chicago Cubs in the finale of a three-game series at Wrigley Field.

Pittsburgh enters the middle test of the series in a two-game losing skid, which has dropped it three games behind the Cincinnati Reds atop the NL's Central Division.

The Pirates had won four straight before losing in the finale of a series in Houston and dropping Monday's opener in Chicago, 14-4.

Anthony Rizzo and Starlin Castro each homered during a nine-run fifth inning for the Cubs.

Chicago dealt outfielder Reed Johnson and left-handed pitcher Paul Maholm to the Atlanta Braves and also sent catcher Geovany Soto to the Texas Rangers.

"I've never really been a part of anything like that. It was just like every time I turned around someone else was leaving," Cubs catcher Steve Clevenger said. "I guess that's what happens this time of year."

Darwin Barney blasted a three-run homer off Erik Bedard in the fourth inning and tied a career-high with four RBI. Castro went 3-for-4 and drove in three in Chicago's third consecutive victory.

Justin Germano (1-1), making his first start in a Cubs uniform, allowed four hits and a pair of runs over five innings. Germano, who was acquired earlier this month from Boston, made his first major league start since Oct. 3, 2010 while he was with Cleveland.

Bedard (5-12) was shelled for seven hits and nine runs - eight earned - over 4 1/3 frames to suffer his sixth defeat in his last seven decisions.

Michael McKenry knocked in two runs for the Pirates. Starling Marte had three hits and an RBI.

The Pirates also made a deal Monday night, acquiring outfielder Travis Snider from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for pitcher Brad Lincoln.

The Cubs send 35-year-old Canadian Ryan Dempster to the mound two starts after he had a five-start streak without allowing a run.

He dropped his earned run average from 2.90 to 1.86 in the stretch, during which he improved his record from 0-3 to 5-3.

Dempster's lost two subsequent starts at St. Louis and Pittsburgh while allowing 12 hits and seven runs in 12 innings.

Dempster is 8-14 in 51 career meetings with the Pirates, including a 1-0 loss in Pittsburgh on May 25 after allowing a run on seven hits in 7 1/3 innings.

He'll be opposed by fellow 35-year-old A.J. Burnett, who began his season at 1-2 before winning nine straight decisions between May 19 and July 8.

Included in the nine-start run was the 1-0 defeat of Dempster and the Cubs in May, in which Burnett tossed 5 1/3 innings of scoreless six-hit ball.

That win got Burnett to 5-0 in six career starts against the Cubs, in which he's allowed a .241 opposition batting average and posted a 3.47 ERA.

Burnett is 5-3 in eight road starts this season.

The Pirates won four of the initial six games between the teams in 2012, including a three-game sweep in May in Pittsburgh. The Cubs won two of three in Pittsburgh between July 23-25.

The Cubs last won the season series in 2009.