Lincoln gets 1st win for Pirates over Cubs

[July 01, 2010]  CHICAGO (AP) -- Brad Lincoln pitched seven strong innings for his first major league win, Garrett Jones had a key RBI double and the Pittsburgh Pirates continued their mastery of the Chicago Cubs with a 2-0 victory Wednesday.

The last-place Pirates have beaten the Cubs nine times in 12 meetings. One-third of their victories (27) this season have come against Chicago.

Pittsburgh broke the scoreless tie in the eighth with two unearned runs when Andy LaRoche reached on Aramis Ramirez's error with one out, Andrew McCutchen singled and Jones drove a ball off the ivy in left-center for a run-scoring double against reliever Andrew Cashner (0-3).

After an intentional walk to Ryan Doumit loaded the bases, Chicago reliever Sean Marshall struck out Pedro Alvarez, but walked Lastings Milledge to make it 2-0.

Lincoln (1-2) allowed just four hits in seven innings, the longest outing of his career in just his fifth major league start. He walked one and struck out six. Joel Hanrahan pitched the eighth and Octavio Dotel the ninth for his 16th save in 19 chances to complete the five-hit shutout.

It marked the sixth time in the past 11 games the punchless Cubs have scored one run or fewer. They had a leadoff man on base five times Wednesday but couldn't come through with a clutch hit.

With the wind blowing in at 16 mph, Alfonso Soriano's long drive to left stayed in and was caught by Jose Tabata in the fifth. Soriano had homered twice Tuesday night.

One out later, Starlin Castro lined a double over first base to put runners at second and third before Lincoln struck out pinch hitter Tyler Colvin.

Former Pirate Tom Gorzelanny, making his first start since May 26 and back in the rotation with Carlos Zambrano on the restricted list following his outburst at U.S. Cellular Field on Friday, pitched five shutout innings for the Cubs, allowing four hits before being lifted for Colvin.

Pittsburgh had two runners on in the fourth but Doumit lined into a double play and the Pirates loaded the bases in the fifth before Gorzelanny escaped by getting LaRoche on a fielder's choice bouncer to short.

NOTES: LaRoche made his fourth career start at second base. Infielders Neil Walker (concussion) and Bobby Crosby (concussion-like symptoms) are both out. ... The Pirates finished their nine-game road trip to Texas, Oakland and Chicago at 2-7 -- both wins at Wrigley Field.

[Associated Press; By RICK GANO]

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