Lee's 2 HRs for Cubs put Pirates into record book -- in a bad way
There haven't been many Cubs players to count on this year.
Two of them went to work Monday in Pittsburgh, and both came through again.
Starting pitcher Ted Lilly became the first Cubs pitcher to reach 11 victories, and first baseman Derrek Lee hit a pair of homers as the Cubs beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-2 at rainy PNC Park.
The Pirates fell to 54-82, assuring themselves of a record-setting 17th consecutive losing season.
"There isn't any team that wants to lose," Cubs manager Lou Piniella told reporters after the game. "Some are a little more fortunate, some have more money to spend, some of them draft better players.
"But I'm sure this organization in the near future will start winning with more regularity. It would be great for the National League and the fans here. They've had a lot of history here and success in the past to draw on."
Lee got things going in the first inning, when he homered to center field against Pirates starting pitcher Daniel McCutchen.
In the third, Ryan Theriot singled with two outs and rode home on Lee's second homer of the game, a line shot down the line in left. It was Lee's fourth 2-homer game this season and second in three days. Lee hit 2 in New York on Saturday.
"It's been a good few days," Lee told reporters. "I definitely have been feeling good at the plate. It seems when I get a pitch, it's been going out of the ballpark."
Lilly (11-8) gave up a solo homer to Andy LaRoche with one out in the bottom of the third. In the fifth, he walked Delwyn Young with one out. Brandon Moss followed with an RBI double over the head of center fielder Kosuke Fukudome.
After working a 1-2-3 sixth, Lilly exited, having thrown 87 pitches, 59 strikes.
"He's been good," Lee told cubs.com in reference to Lilly. "He had a great first half, made the all-star team. He's continued that in the second half. He should probably have more wins the way he's pitched.
"Since he's been here, Teddy's been nothing but a winner. When he takes the mound, you feel you have a shot to win the baseball game."
The Cubs got solid bullpen work from John Grabow, Angel Guzman and Carlos Marmol, who earned his 10th save.
<p class="factboxheadblack">Bruce Miles' game tracker</p> <p class="News"><b>Select company:</b> Derrek Lee hit homers No. 30 and 31. He became the eighth Cub with at least three 30-homer seasons while with the club. The others are Sammy Sosa, Ernie Banks, Billy Williams, Ron Santo, Hank Sauer, Hack Wilson and Aramis Ramirez.</p> <p class="News"><b>Maintaining quality:</b> Ted Lilly turned in the Cubs' 83rd quality start. The team is 52-31 in those games, and the starters' ERA is 2.08. Lilly worked 6 innings, giving up 2 hits and 2 runs for his team-leading 19th quality start.</p> <p class="News"><b>Losing is the Pitt:</b> The Pirates suffered their 82nd loss, assuring themselves of a 17th straight losing season, breaking the record they held with the 1933-48 Phillies. </p>