Pirates get rare DH sweep at Wrigley

[October 01, 2009]  CHICAGO (AP) -- Ryan Doumit had four hits and four RBIs to help the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Chicago Cubs 8-2 Wednesday night for a doubleheader sweep.

Jeff Karstens tossed five innings for the second victory by a no-name Pittsburgh pitcher over a high-priced Cubs starter on the day. A few hours before Karstens beat Carlos Zambrano, Charlie Morton threw a four-hitter in a 4-0 victory over Ted Lilly.

While Karstens and Morton make just over $400,000 each, the combined 2009 salary of Zambrano and Lilly is $31.75 million -- or about $577,000 per start.

Doumit hit his 10th homer to help Pittsburgh complete its first doubleheader sweep at Wrigley Field since June 20, 1983. Jason Jaramillo, who backs up Doumit at catcher, had a two-run double in the opener.

Zambrano (9-7) gave up four runs and six hits with four walks over six innings in his final outing of a disappointing season. The right-hander failed to post double-digit victories for the first time in his seven years as a full-time starter.

The leader of a rotation that had carried the Cubs to the 2007 and 2008 NL Central titles, Zambrano recently said he would retire if has a similarly frustrating season next year -- even though he still would have two years left on his $91.5 million contract.

Karstens (4-5), who has pitched mostly in relief this season, allowed two runs and five hits. Morton (5-9) was dominant in the opener, shutting down the same Chicago team that lit him up for 10 runs seven weeks earlier.

"I try not to put so much emphasis on one game," Morton said of the 17-2 loss on Aug. 14. "But it's a big step in the sense that, yeah, I came here and gave up 10 runs in an inning. This time ... I was throwing pretty much everything for strikes, more than I have been. Just being more aggressive with my pitches."

The 25-year-old right-hander, acquired in the June 3 trade that sent Nate McLouth to Atlanta, had a career-high eight strikeouts, walked three and hit two batters. Morton had never thrown more than seven innings in a game.

"He used his off-speed pitches very well and he didn't get behind very often," Pirates manager John Russell said. "You take away the (Aug. 14) start ... and his numbers have been pretty good."

Morton, who had a 3.66 ERA in his other 17 starts, was supported by four first-inning runs.

Lilly (12-9) allowed five hits in seven innings and retired 19 of the last 21 batters he faced but still suffered his second home loss this season. The Cubs' lone All-Star finished with a team-best 3.10 ERA but recorded his fewest victories since 2005, when he had 10 for Toronto.

"One (reason) I was brought here was to try to get this team to the postseason and win some postseason games," said Lilly, who in 2007 lost his only playoff start with the team. "I don't really feel I've met expectations at this point. Maybe next year will be different."

Lilly walked two of the game's first three batters before Lastings Milledge singled to load the bases. Steve Pearce then grounded to second baseman Andres Blanco, who shoveled to shortstop Ryan Theriot for the second out.

Milledge slid hard and kicked his legs sideways, knocking down Theriot as a run scored. Milledge was able to reach the bag with his arms, so he wasn't called for leaving the baseline, but fans still booed him the rest of the day.

"It was a clean play," Theriot said. "Take guys out ... that's how you play the game. I'd do the same thing."

Jason Jaramillo followed with a two-run double to make it 3-0 and Brian Bixler singled home a run on the next pitch.

Pittsburgh struck first again in the nightcap, with Andrew McCutchen hitting a leadoff triple and scoring on Milledge's single. The Pirates added three more in the third on Doumit's two-run double and Brandon Moss' single.

NOTES: Before the sweep, the Pirates had been 3-15 at Wrigley since Sept. 21, 2007. ... Zambrano went 2-5 with a 5.03 ERA in 13 home starts. He was 7-2 with a 2.73 ERA on the road. ... The Cubs went over the 3 million attendance mark for the sixth straight season. ... Pittsburgh pitchers have allowed only one home run in the last 10 games. ... Zach Duke has the Pirates' only other shutout this year. ... Cubs 1B Derrek Lee, who fouled a ball off his foot Tuesday, sat out the first game. After X-rays showed no damage, he played in the second.

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.