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Cubs go for sweep vs. Pirates

Apr 20, 2008 - 2:24 PM Pittsburgh (7-10) at Chicago Cubs (11-6) 2:20 pm EDT

CHICAGO (Ticker) - Two games, two wins for the Chicago Cubs. They will attempt the clean sweep of a three-game series when they host the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday.

Rich Hill allowed one run in five frames in Friday's 3-2 win and Jason Marquis did him one better on Saturday, allowing one run in six frames in a 13-1 thrashing.

While Marquis was impressive, it was the Cubs' offense that was on display Saturday, led by slugger Derrek Lee's major league-leading seventh homer of the season. The 13-run outburst marked Chicago's highest-scoring game this season, topping Wednesday's 12-run effort against Cincinnati.

The Cubs pounded Pirates lefthander Tom Gorzelanny for seven runs in 2 2/3 innings, knocking him out of the contest with a four-run third.

Chicago has won six of its last seven games, averaging 8.6 runs per victory.

Pittsburgh lefthander Zach Duke (0-0, 2.89 ERA) will try to slow the surge on Sunday. The 25-year-old has been solid this season, allowing three earned runs combined in his first two outings before yielding four runs - three earned - and eight hits in six innings during Monday's 6-4 victory against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Once one of the top pitching prospects in the game, Duke spent much of the 2007 campaign in the minors after posting a 3-7 record with a 5.79 ERA through June 28.

The Cubs will look for their third consecutive solid start with righthander Ryan Dempster (2-0, 2.37 ERA) on the mound. The converted closer gave up four runs and five hits in six innings while walking five and striking out three to pick up the win during Tuesday's 9-5 victory against the Cincinnati Reds.