Cubs go for series win against Pirates

(SportsNetwork.com) - The Chicago Cubs look to secure a series victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday night in the third contest of a four-game set.

The Cubs have won seven of their last 10 as they rallied for a 9-8 victory on Tuesday night.

Pittsburgh's Jung-Ho Kang hit a three-run double in the seventh inning to put his club in front, but Welington Castillo opened up the eighth with a solo homer and the Cubs then plated three runs off Pirates closer Mark Melancon.

Starlin Castro singled to bring in two runs and Welington's ground out in the frame chased home Kris Bryant for the go-ahead run.

Castro also homered in the game and drove in four runs, while Bryant added two RBI and is 8-for-14 with six runs batted in since going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in his major league debut on Friday.

"I'm really proud of our guys," Chicago manager Joe Maddon said. "They all did their jobs and are playing at a very high level mentally and physically right now."

Cubs second baseman Addison Russell struck out three times and finished 0- for-5 in his MLB debut, while Anthony Rizzo was hit by a pitch for the sixth time this month, setting a club record for the month of April.

Josh Harrison and Starling Marte each homered for the Pirates, who had swept a three-game set with the Milwaukee Brewers prior to this series.

"We're not going to overreact," Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said "We had a game that we normally put away, but we didn't put it away."

Marte stayed hot at the plate as he has four homers and 10 RBI over his past five games.

Getting the call tonight for the Pirates will be Vance Worley, who split a pair of meetings with the Brewers to begin the season.

Worley was tagged in a road outing versus Milwaukee on April 11 for six runs over 6 1/3 innings. The righty then held the Brewers to a pair of runs over six innings on Friday, striking out six to help him work around six hits and four walks.

"I made sure I kept them off-balance," Worley said. "It's all about making adjustments."

The 27-year-old has pitched well against the Cubs, going 2-0 with a 2.39 earned run average in four career meetings.

The Cubs start Jason Hammel, who was in line for a victory versus San Diego on Friday before the bullpen served up a go-ahead, three-run homer to leave him with a no-decision.

The right-hander exited with a pair of runners on base and Brian Schlitter followed up giving up the longball. That left Hammel with a line of four runs and seven hits over 6 1/3 innings.

Hammel has issued just one walk while striking out 11 over his first two starts. He is 4-3 with a 3.88 ERA in eight games (7 starts) versus the Pirates.

The Pirates went 14-5 versus the Cubs last season, winning seven of 10 at home.