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Cubs fall out of first place with loss to Pirates

Sep 9, 2007 - 10:36 PM PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- The Chicago Cubs picked a bad time to fall into a losing rut.

The Pittsburgh Pirates roughed up Cubs starter Steve Trachsel in a 10-5 victory over the Cubs in the rubber game of a three-game series Sunday.

The loss dropped Chicago (72-70) into second place in the National League Central, a game behind the Milwaukee Brewers (73-69), who defeated the Reds, 10-5, on Sunday. The Cubs had spent the previous 24 days in first place.

"This loss here isn't life or death," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. "We're behind. I understand that. It's just one game in the standings. If we play well enough, we'll get a chance to get back on top and if we don't, it's not going to matter."

The Cubs play host to third-place St. Louis on Monday in a makeup of a contest previously rained out. Chicago then travels to Houston for three-games starting Tuesday before playing the Cardinals on the road for a four-game series beginning Friday.

"Let's not get too down about this loss," Piniella said. "Pittsburgh's been playing well and hitting the heck out of the ball. We've still got 20 games to go to do something. If we don't play well the last 20 games, (losing this) game today isn't going to make that much difference."

Chicago put a pair of runs on the board in the top of the second inning when former Pirate catcher Jason Kendall hit a two-run single off Pittsburgh starter Matt Morris.

But Trachsel (6-10) could not hold the lead. The recently-acquired righthander allowed six runs in the bottom half of the second, the big blow coming from Freddy Sanchez, who hit a bases-loaded triple to put the Pirates ahead 6-2.

Sanchez tried for the inside-the-park home run, but was thrown out at the plate to end the inning. Replays seemed to indicate Sanchez may have slid safely under the tag by Kendall.

"It was deep tag, but the ball arrived ahead of him by about 12 paces - but it was still a great effort to try for it," Pirates manager Jim Tracy said. "I can't say enough good things about (Sanchez). He's a gamer. He's a winner. That's what you look for."

Trachsel's meltdown made a winner of Morris (9-9). The veteran righthander pitched six innings, allowing four runs and seven hits while striking out two and walking two.

"We fought back and played great defense," said Morris, who was acquired by the Pirates from the San Francisco Giants on July 31. "When you put up runs like that, it makes it real easy."

Morris also praised rookie center fielder Nyjer Morgan for a spectacular catch he made in the third inning, robbing Aramis Ramirez of an extra-base hit. Morgan caught a line drive by diving with full extension to his left. The catch caused Ramirez to stand near the batter's box with a stunned expression on his face.

"I didn't see (Ramirez's reaction), I was too pumped up, slapping hands with everybody," Morgan said. "It's a play I'm used to doing. I just got a good read on it."

Trailing, 7-2, the Cubs made an effort to come back when Alfonso Soriano hit his fourth home run in five games in the fifth inning, a two-run shot for his 24th of the season.

Geovany Soto hit his first career homer in the seventh, a solo shot off Romulo Sanchez to pull Chicago within 7-5.

But the Pirates added three runs in the eighth inning off Cubs reliever Kerry Wood to put the game away. Jose Castillo smacked a two-run double and Sanchez brought in the final run with an RBI groundout.