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Cubs eye rebound from uncharacteristic poor offensive showing

Aug 2, 2008 - 10:29 AM Pittsburgh (51-58) at Chi Cubs (65-45) 1:05 pm EDT

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- The Pittsburgh Pirates needed one day to take away what the Chicago Cubs had built up over the previous four contests - momentum.

Chicago held a tenuous a one-game lead heading into a pivotal four-game set with Milwaukee (61-49) on Monday. The Cubs swept the series at Miller Park to take a five-game lead in the National League Central.

However, the same Cubs team that outscored the Brewers, 31-11, and leads the majors in runs scored at home could not muster a run in their series opener as the Pirates posted a 3-0 victory.

On Saturday, Paul Maholm (7-6, 3.79) will be hoping to do his best impression of Jeff Karstens, who got the win after holding the NL's best offense without a run over six frames. The lefthander, who is 4-0 in seven career outings against the Cubs, will attempt to maintain his string of solid starts.

Maholm, who went 2-1 with a 2.43 ERA in five July starts, yielded one run and four hits over seven innings while matching a career high with nine strikeouts in Sunday's 3-1 home loss to San Diego. He received a no-decision.

Opposing him will be Ted Lilly (10-6, 4.49), who will searching for his second win in three turns. The lefthander did not receive a decision after allowing three runs and seven hits over six innings in Monday's 6-4 win at Milwaukee.