Pirates knock Cubs out of first, 10-5
PITTSBURGH - The Chicago Cubs fell out of first place in the NL Central because they again couldn't beat a team that's spent most of the past month in last place.
Freddy Sanchez's bases-loaded triple highlighted Pittsburgh's six-run second inning and rookie Nyjer Morgan make an exceptional catch and drove in two runs, allowing the Pirates to knock the Cubs out of first place with a 10-5 victory Sunday.
Sanchez drove in four runs as the Cubs' fifth loss in seven games and Milwaukee's 10-5 victory in Cincinnati put the Brewers back into the NL Central lead that Chicago had owned or shared since Aug. 17.
Chicago got off to a promising start, taking a 2-0 lead in the second on former Pittsburgh catcher Jason Kendall's two-run single up the middle against Matt Morris (9-9), who had won only once in 15 starts since June 17.
But Chicago starter Steve Trachsel (0-2) made it through only two innings - he is 1-6 since June 13, with the Cubs and Orioles - as the Pirates came back with the pivotal six-run inning keyed by doubles from Adam LaRoche and Jack Wilson and Sanchez's three-run triple. Rookies Morgan and Steve Pearce also had run-scoring singles.
Sanchez tried to stretch his triple into an inside-the-park homer, but was thrown out at the plate on shortstop Ryan Theriot's relay throw. Sanchez added a run-scoring grounder during a three-run ninth keyed by pinch-hitter Jose Castillo's two-run double against Kerry Wood.
Morgan, a 27-year-old prospect sidelined for much of this season at Triple-A Indianapolis by a broken thumb, added another RBI single in the fourth against reliever Carmen Pignatiello for his second RBI of the game and third of his career.
Morgan's biggest contribution might have been the excellent catch he made to end the fourth against Aramis Ramirez. Morgan ranged far to his left and stretched out to make a catch that left Ramirez shaking his head in frustration - a common sight lately for the Cubs in Pittsburgh.
Chicago has won 10 of its last 15 against the teams in contention for the division title, the Brewers and Cardinals. But the Cubs have dropped seven of 12 to the Pirates, including two of three in this series.
The Cubs tried to get back into it on Alfonso Soriano's 24th homer and fourth in four games, a two-run shot off Morris, and Geovany Soto's pinch-hit homer in the seventh.
But with Trachsel lasting only two innings, manager Lou Piniella was forced to use eight pitchers during a tiring stretch in which the Cubs don't have a day off from Aug. 27 through Sept. 20. They were supposed to be off Monday, but will return to Chicago to play a makeup game against St. Louis before going back on the road Tuesday at Houston.
Morris managed to last six innings despite his poor first, giving up seven hits and four runs.