[joncarlos]

Games 6 through 8: Pirates (3-2) at Cubs (2-3)

After 2 games in lovely San Diego, our long, strange trip takes us to chilly Chicago for an early season showdown with our toughest NL Central rivals. At least the flight is more pleasant after a pair of wins against the Padres.

Game 6: Ainsworth (0-1, 4.77) vs. Mark Prior (0-0, 8.53, 24yo with ratings of 9/8/6)

The Bucs continued their streak of getting the lead early in the opener against the Cubs, getting an RBI single from O'Keefe in the first after Todd Walker's bobbled grounder had prolonged the inning. There was a 51-minute rain delay in the top of the 2nd and then Chicago tied it up in the 2nd when Kurt Ainsworth loaded the bases with none out, then struck out Ricky Ledee and gave up an RBI fielder's choice to Dan Wilson before getting Prior to ground out to end the threat. Chicago took the lead in the 4th on a passed ball and a 2-run HR by Ledee, then made it 5-1 in the 5th on an RBI fielder's choice by Lance Berkman. Prior left after 5.1 innings with that 5-1 lead and the Pirates scored 2 in the 7th (2-run double by Dunn) and a solo HR by O'Keefe (#2, in the 8th) to make it 5-4. The Pirates tied the game in the top of the 9th on a 437-foot solo HR by Torcato (1) and took the lead on back-to-back doubles by Sweeney and O'Keefe. Eric Gagne pitched a perfect 9th for his 4th save and TJ Tucker (1-0) got the win in relief of Ainsworth (5 IP, 5 runs, 7 Ks) and John Bale (2 scoreless innings). Pirates 6, Cubs 5.

Eric Gagne has now pitched 7 innings and has not allowed a baserunner. Mike O'Keefe was 4-for-5 in this game with a double and a HR, one run scored and 3 RBI.

Game 7: Foppert (0-0, 9.45) vs. Aaron Rakers (1-0, 1.35, 6/6/7 ratings)

The Bucs didn't get an early lead in this game, as the Cubs took a 4-0 lead after just 2 innings. Pittsburgh cut the lead to 4-2 in the 3rd on an RBI single by Dunn and RBI double by Torcato, but the Cubbies made it 6-2 in the 5th with a 2-out, 2-run HR by Berkman. Chicago made it 8-2 in the 8th with a pair of runs off Jesse Crain and Alan Embree, and the Bucs made the score closer than it looked with 2 in the 9th on an RBI single by Boone and sac fly by Torcato. Jesse Fpppert (0-1) was tagged for 6 runs (5 earned) in 5 innings, his second ugly start in a row. Cubs 8, Pirates 4.

Game 8: Fossum (1-0, 1.42) vs. Ryan Vogelsong (1st start, 9-9, 4.38 in 2004, 6/6/8 ratings)

The Cubs got a great performance from Vogelsong, who pitched 7 scoreless innings and struck out 7. Casey Fossum (1-1) kept it close through 6 innings, giving up only a solo HR to Jared Sandberg in the 2nd. In the 7th, though, the Cubs scored 2 more runs off Fossum when Berkman hit an RBI triple and scored when Mike Sweeney muffed Carlos Rivera's ground ball. Fossum worked 7 innings, allowing those 3 runs on 4 hits and 3 walks while fanning 8. Cubs 3, Pirates 0.

Around the League

Ross Peeples (PIT) will miss the next 5 weeks with a rotator cuff strain. Ross was pitching at AAA Nashville this year.

Through 8 games, the Yankees have a record of 8-0 and the Astros are their opposite at 0-8.