Samardzija leads Cubs to 2-0 win over Pirates

[July 24, 2012]  PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Jeff Samardzija gave up one hit over eight innings and Alfonso Soriano hit two run-scoring doubles as the Chicago Cubs cooled off the Pittsburgh Pirates 2-0 on Monday night.

Samardzija allowed only a fourth-inning infield single to Andrew McCutchen, the major leagues' leading hitter with a .373 average. The ball ricocheted off Samardzija.

Soriano provided two big one-out hits, scoring Starlin Castro both times, as Chicago ended its 28-inning scoreless streak that stretched to the second inning of last Friday's game at St. Louis. The Cardinal completed the sweep with two shutouts.

Samardzija (7-8) struck out five and walked one in ending Pittsburgh's five-game winning streak. He was pulled after throwing 99 pitches.

McCutchen, who walked in the first inning, was the only Pirates to reach base until Josh Harrison led off the ninth inning with an infield single off closer Carlos Marmol, who retired the next three hitters for his 12th save.

Soriano's double to center in the fourth inning off Erik Bedard (5-11) came after Castro drew a leadoff walk. In the eighth, Soriano doubled to right-center off Tony Watson after Castro led off with a single.

Bedard (5-11) allowed one earned run and two hits in seven innings while walking two and striking out 11.

Beside the fourth inning, the Cubs had just two base-runners against Bedard. Reed Johnson walked to lead off the game and Geovany Soto hit a two-out single in the seventh inning. Both were left stranded at first base.

The Pirates lost for just the fifth time in their last 26 home games. They entered the day a half-game behind Cincinnati in the NL Central.

NOTES: Chicago manager Dale Sveum said RHP Matt Garza would "probably not" make his scheduled start Friday against St. Louis. Garza left his start last Saturday at St. Louis after three innings because of cramping in his right biceps. Sveum and Garza both believe a stint on the DL stint will be avoided. . Chicago LHP Paul Maholm (8-6, 4.09) will face Pittsburgh RHP James McDonald (10-3, 2.93) on Tuesday night. Maholm, who spent the first seven years of his career with the Pirates, is 4-0 with a 0.89 ERA in his last five games, including four starts, while McDonald is on a career-best five-game winning streak.

[Associated Press]

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