Another ugly loss for Cubs, this time to Pirates

Manager Lou Piniella explained his decision to keep defensively challenged Jake Fox in the starting lineup Tuesday night at Pittsburgh by saying during his pregame radio show that the rookie has been swinging the bat well and the Cubs struggle to score runs.

They grapple with fundamental baseball, too.

In another frustrating loss in a season and, in particular, a month chock-full of them, the Cubs' follies continued as the Pirates won 3-0 at PNC Park.

The Cubs saw Pittsburgh's Freddy Sanchez score from second base on a dropped third strike when pitcher Ted Lilly whiffed on catcher Geovany Soto's throw, which would have easily nailed Sanchez.

They watched Soto make the last out in the top of the seventh when he chugged to third base on Mike Fontenot's single - after momentarily stopping around second - and was thrown out easily by left fielder Brandon Moss.

Lastly, with runners on second and third and none out in the eighth, the Cubs saw Alfonso Soriano (.198 batting average in June) fail to put the ball in play.

He struck out. Ditto Kosuke Fukudome. Derrek Lee grounded out, and the Cubs came away empty-handed.

All that and Milton Bradley wasn't even in the starting lineup.

The only good news for the Cubs was that the game ended their June. They went 11-14, their first losing month since August 2007.

"We're just going up and down," Soto told reporters. "We've had good games, great games, then we have bad games. We've got to find a rhythm."

Pittsburgh right-hander Ross Ohlendorf was in a good rhythm all game. He pitched 7 innings of 4-hit ball in his first career start against the Cubs, striking out a career-high eight and not walking a batter.

John Grabow and Matt Capps (18th save) finished up, as the Pirates handed the Cubs their eighth shutout loss and second in three games.

"I'm sure our guys expect more out of themselves (offensively)," Lilly said. "But I think we're going to be all right with the bats."

Even the hot-hitting Fox was a nonfactor for the struggling Cubs offense, as he went 0-for-4.

Sanchez's hustle play on the basepaths came in the fourth and ignited the Pirates' offense. He added an RBI single in the fifth and a run-scoring double off Lilly in the seventh.

Meanwhile, Cubs injured third baseman Aramis Ramirez reportedly will begin his rehab assignment Friday for Class A Peoria at Kane County.

"I think by Monday (against Atlanta) he'll be playing," Piniella said before the game. "That'll be a positive for us."

Joe Aguilar's game tracker

Fox sighting: In his first start at third base with a left-hander (Ted Lilly) on the mound, rookie Jake Fox made a backhanded stab to trigger a 5-4-3 double play.

Soto smashing: Geovany Soto went 2-for-3 with a walk, doubling high off the fence in deep left-center.

Samardzija's back: After being called up from Class-AAA Iowa earlier in the day, Jeff Samardzija pitched a scoreless eighth inning.

Steady Teddy: Ted Lilly took the loss, despite recording his 12th quality start. He allowed 2 earned runs over 7 innings.

It's official: The June 16 rainout against the White Sox will be made up Sept. 3 at 1:20 p.m. at Wrigley Field.