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Cubs look to hold ground in NL Central

Sep 7, 2007 - 1:43 PM Chicago Cubs (71-68) at Pittsburgh (61-79) 7:05 pm EDT

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) - The Chicago Cubs' late loss proved to be costly in more ways than one.

The Cubs will be looking to move back on top in the National League Central when they visit the Pittsburgh Pirates in the opener of a three-game series on Friday.

With a 7-4 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday in which closer Ryan Dempster gave up four runs in the ninth, Chicago (71-68) fell back into a tie for first place with the Milwaukee Brewers (71-68) in the Central. The St. Louis Cardinals (69-68) remain just one game back in the most hotly contested division race in the majors.

The Cubs have struggled of late, dropping three of four to the Dodgers to fall to just 15-19 since August 1. They also are just 4-5 this season against the last-place Pirates.

Rich Hill (8-7, 3.84 ERA) will attempt to fix that on Friday. The 27-year-old lefthander has suffered just one loss since the All-Star break, going 3-1 with a 3.90 ERA in 10 starts while holding opponents to a .248 batting average.

In three career starts against Pittsburgh, Hill owns a 1-0 record with a 1.69 ERA.

The Pirates suffered an embarrassing 16-4 loss to the Cardinals on Thursday, allowing 22 hits while burning through six pitchers. Pittsburgh has dropped seven of its last nine games.

The Pirates will counter with their own promising young lefthander, Tom Gorzelanny (13-7, 3.57). The 25-year-old has won four of his last five decisions and is 1-1 with a 0.60 ERA - one run in 15 innings - in two career starts against the Cubs.