Nady caps Cubs comeback vs. Pirates
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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."