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Bucs aim to Locke up series against Cubs

Sep 13, 2014 - 1:03 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Jeff Locke has been a huge reason Pittsburgh is fighting for a playoff spot. The left-hander takes the mound tonight for the Pirates in the continuation of a three-game series against the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park.

The Pirates enter Saturday 2 1/2 games behind first-place St. Louis in the NL Central. The Bucs currently hold the second wild card spot, 1 1/2 games ahead of Milwaukee.

Locke has fashioned a 5-1 mark over his last seven starts. He struck out a career-high tying nine batters and won a 6-4 decision versus Philadelphia on Monday. Locke has compiled a 4-1 record in nine starts this year at PNC Park, including wins in each of his last three appearances.

In four career starts against the Cubs, Locke is 1-0 with a 3.52 ERA.

Felix Doubront counters for Chicago. Acquired from the Red Sox on July 30, Doubront is coming off a 5-0 loss to the Pirates a week ago at Wrigley Field. In that game, the lefty surrendered five hits and a pair of runs over five innings in his only previous outing against the Pirates.

Last night, Jordy Mercer knocked in three runs, Neil Walker had two RBI and the red-hot Pirates topped the Cubs, 7-3.

Josh Harrison, who is chasing the NL batting title, raised his average to .318 with a three-hit effort for Pittsburgh.

Chris Stewart had two hits and an RBI for the Pirates, who have won seven of their last eight games.

Gerrit Cole (9-5) continued his mastery of the Cubs, allowing three runs on five hits in six innings. Cole, who struck out six and walked one, has won each of his five career starts against Chicago.

Javier Baez and Arismendy Alcantara both hit solo homers for Chicago, which has dropped a season-worst seven straight games.

Cubs starter Tsuyoshi Wada (4-3) was tagged for four runs on nine hits and walked two in 4 1/3 innings.

Chicago trimmed its deficit to 4-3 in the sixth on Welington Castillo's RBI single. Cole got Alcantara on a popup behind the plate to escape a bases- loaded jam later in the inning.

"I was just going to keep trying to make good pitches. Things got a little funny in the sixth. I just tried to keep my emotions in check the best way I could and focus on every pitch," Cole said.

Pittsburgh has won six in a row over Chicago and 13 of the 17 meetings overall this season.