Pirates walk to victory
PITTSBURGH — The Chicago Cubs keep finding ways to make their miserable season even worse.
They committed four errors, left 12 men on base and blew three leads — including the last one in the 11th inning of their 7-6 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday night.
"It seems like we find ways to lose ballgames," said Aramis Ramirez, who was on base six times and scored three runs in Chicago's fifth straight defeat. "The other team isn't beating us. We're beating ourselves right now."
Jose Bautista's bases-loaded walk scored Jose Castillo to cap Pittsburgh's two-run, 11th-inning rally. Xavier Nady had three hits and scored two runs for the Pirates (52-81), who avoided clinching their 14th consecutive losing season.
"Everyone contributed to this win," Nady said. "It's always nice to see that. We'll have to continue to build on this."
Chicago led 4-0 through 4Z\x innings, and starter Carlos Zambrano was working on a perfect game.
But the Pirates tied it before the sixth inning was over. The Cubs took one-run leads in the seventh and the 11th, only to give the advantages away in the bottom half of those frames.
"Basically we gave it to them," Cubs manager Dusty Baker said. "We'd hit into a double play, we gave them the last two (runs with poor defense). Usually we play pretty good defense; we didn't play pretty good defense tonight."
Derrek Lee's RBI single in the top of the inning appeared to be the winning hit, but closer Ryan Dempster couldn't protect the final lead.
With one out, little-used Humberto Cota delivered a pinch-hit single down the left-field line and was replaced by pinch-runner Ian Snell. Castillo followed with a single up the middle before Joe Randa grounded to shortstop Ronny Cedeno.
His throw was mishandled by second baseman Freddie Bynum, allowing Snell to score. Dempster (1-6) intentionally walked Chris Duffy before Bautista's game-winning base on balls.
Matt Capps (5-1) got out of a two-on, one-out situation in the 11th to earn the win.
Each of the Pirates' 12 available position players reached base safely or had an RBI. Five relievers allowed only two runs in six innings, all three pinch-hitters had hits and Snell — a starting pitcher — scored the tying run.
"Basically the entire team contributed in one way or another," Pittsburgh manager Jim Tracy said. "It's a great effort and I am extremely proud of them."
