• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Cubs go for third series sweep of Pirates

Aug 27, 2008 - 10:51 AM Chi Cubs (82-50) at Pittsburgh (57-75) 12:35 p.m. EDT

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- The Chicago Cubs will look to feast on the Pittsburgh Pirates one last time when the teams meet in their season finale on Wednesday.

Boasting the most potent offense in the National League, the Cubs have had more success against their division rivals than any other team. Chicago has beaten Pittsburgh in 13-of-17 meetings and is averaging nearly eight runs a game in the series.

The Pirates, who have lost six straight and 8 of 10, are 12 games under .500 since the All-Star break (13-25), falling into last place in the NL Central.

Chicago sends Jason Marquis (8-7, 4.76) to the mound. In four starts this season against Pittsburgh, he is 2-1 with a 3.47 ERA.

The righthander would appreciate the same run support the Cubs have supplied in the first two games. After a 12-3 victory on Monday, Chicago tallied 13 hits and nine walks en route to a come-from-behind victory, 14-9, on Tuesday.

Geovany Soto, who set a career-high with seven RBI, had two bases-clearing doubles and a solo home run.

If the Pirates are to snap their current losing skid, Zach Duke (4-12, 5.29) will have to end his own stretch of futility. The lefthander has lost eight straight decisions, going winless since a June 9 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Overall, Pittsburgh has lost eight of the last nine starts Duke has made.