Nady caps Cubs comeback vs. Pirates

[May 17, 2010]  CHICAGO (AP) -- Pinch hitter Xavier Nady lined a go-ahead single in the eighth inning as the Chicago Cubs rallied to defeat Pittsburgh 4-3 Sunday, their first victory over the Pirates after seven straight losses.

Unable to protect a 3-1 seventh-inning lead, the Pirates failed to complete their first sweep at Wrigley Field in 10 years.

Alfonso Soriano singled off D.J. Carrasco (1-1) with one out in the eighth, stole second and went to third on a wild pitch. After Geovany Soto drew a two-out walk, Nady singled to right field for his first pinch-hit since July 19, 2008 -- when he was with the Pirates.

Nady had been 0 for 9 as a pinch-hitter this season.

Sean Marshall (2-1) worked a scoreless eighth in relief of Ted Lilly, who allowed three runs on six hits in a season-high seven innings. Carlos Marmol pitched a perfect ninth for his sixth save as the Cubs won for only the third time in their last 12 games.

The Pirates, who had outscored the Cubs 32-14 in winning their first five games against them this year, took a 3-0 lead in the second.

Ryan Doumit doubled and Steve Pearce walked before Bobby Crosby hit an RBI single that Soriano misplayed in left field for an error. Lastings Milledge followed with a two-run single.

Soriano doubled home a run in Chicago's second as Milledge turned the wrong way in left field while pursuing the ball.

After Cubs right fielder Kosuke Fukudome saved two runs in the seventh with a diving catch on Ross Ohlendorf's fly, the Cubs rallied to tie it in their half.

Ohlendorf, who allowed two runs on four hits in six-plus innings, walked Mike Fontenot and was relieved by Evan Meek. Fontenot went to third on Fukudome's two-out single and scored on Meek's wild pitch. Shortstop Ronny Cedeno bobbled Starlin Castro's grounder for an error before Derrek Lee singled home Fukudome.

NOTES: Pearce was back at 1B for the Pirates two days after hurting his knee. He went 1 for 3 and made two nice defensive plays. ... Cubs 2B Ryan Theriot sat out after being hit in the left elbow by a pitch Saturday. Asked if Theriot would be able to play Monday, manager Lou Piniella said: "We'll see."

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.