Harden helps Cubs get back to winning
Maybe it was a change of scenery or the change back to National League ball.
Or maybe it was the lineup changes.
In any event, the Cubs won a road game for a change Monday night when they quieted the sixth-place Pittsburgh Pirates 3-1 at PNC Park behind the solid starting pitching of Rich Harden.
Harden worked 7 innings of 1-run ball, and late men Carlos Marmol and Kevin Gregg (13th save) finished to give the Cubs their second victory on this road trip against 6 losses.
Harden (5-4) earned his first victory since May 12, and he got help from a lineup that manager Lou Piniella shook up.
The most notable change was Piniella moving right fielder Milton Bradley from the third spot to sixth. Piniella said on his pregame radio show that Bradley would get the next two nights off to work on his left-handed stroke.
Batting right-handed against Pirates starter Zach Duke, Bradley got an RBI double in the fourth inning and a single in the sixth.
The lineup shuffle moved Derrek Lee up to the third spot from cleanup. Inserted into the fourth hole was Jake Fox, who started at third base and singled twice after going 0-for-8 in the final two games against the White Sox.
Fox led off the second with a single and eventually scored on a single by No. 8 hitter Andres Blanco. Ryan Theriot gave the Cubs a 2-0 lead in the third when he yanked a pitch from Duke over the left-field wall for this seventh homer.
"We need to try to string some wins together and take a shot at it," Theriot told reporters. "I really feel we're right where we want to be, with all the injuries we've had and the juggling of the lineup. We're right there in striking distance."
Bradley's RBI single came after Geovany Soto led off the fourth with a walk. Harden gave up 9 hits while striking out nine. The Pirates left eight on base.
"Interesting game," Harden told the media. "I don't think I've given up so many singles in one game - but I was able to make some pitches."
In other news, third baseman Aramis Ramirez will take batting practice each day in Pittsburgh and could begin a minor-league rehab assignment as early as Thursday. Piniella told reporters he'd like Ramirez to get 20-25 minor-league at-bats. Ramirez is recovering from a dislocated left shoulder.
Reliever Angel Guzman (triceps injury) also may begin a rehab stint as early as Thursday.
Bruce Miles' game tracker/p>
Monday's grade: A. After failing in nearly every aspect of the game Sunday against the White Sox, the Cubs played nearly flawless ball against the Pirates. They committed no errors and got 2 quick and clean innings from their bullpen.
Return to quality: After failing to get a quality start in four of their last five games, the Cubs got one from Rich Harden, his seventh of the season. Harden gave up 1 run in 7 innings while walking one and striking out nine.
Power ball: Shortstop Ryan Theriot hit his seventh homer of the season, a solo shot in the third. It was Theriot's first homer since June 7 at Cincinnati.
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