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Cubs look for sixth straight win against Morris

Sep 9, 2007 - 1:36 PM Chicago Cubs (72-69) at Pittsburgh (62-80), 1:35 pm EDT

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) - The Chicago Cubs hope to ride the momentum of Carlos Zambrano's best start in over a month into Sunday's finale of a three-game series with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Zambrano, who had lost his five previous starts and was booed at Wrigley Field after his last start, took a one-hitter into the seventh inning in Saturday's 6-1 triumph that allowed the Cubs to remain tied atop the National League Central with the Milwaukee Brewers (72-69). Each club is two games ahead of the St. Louis Cardinals (69-70).

Recently acquired Steve Trachsel (0-1, 4.50) will make his second start for the Cubs, who dropped the opener of the series, 6-1. Acquired from the Baltimore Orioles on August 31, Trachsel was 6-8 with a 4.45 ERA in 25 starts for the Orioles.

The righthander who pitched for the Cubs from 1993-99, allowed three runs and seven hits over six innings in a 6-2 defeat to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday.

Matt Morris (8-9, 4.54) will try to derail Chicago's pennant stretch drive. However, the righthander has lost his last five starts against the Cubs after going 11-3 in his first 24 starts.

The righthander who was acquired from the San Francisco Giants at the trade deadline, has just one win in seven starts for the Pirates. He yielded five runs and five hits in five frames of a 6-2 loss to St. Louis on Tuesday.