Cubs 14, Pirates 2
Chicago pounded out 13 hits and Carlos Zambrano had a solid outing as the Cubs hammered the Pittsburgh Pirates 14-2 on Monday night.
Zambrano (6-6) won for the third time in four starts, allowing one run on three hits over 5 1/3 innings with seven strikeouts. Three Chicago relievers combined to shut the door from there.
Third baseman Aramis Ramirez drove in four runs with two hits and five other Cubs had at least two hits. Zambrano helped his own cause by belting a two-run homer, his first of the year.
Paul Maholm, who has just one win in his last eight starts, took the loss. He was drilled for eight runs over 3 1/3 innings, walking one and striking out three to fall to 7-12 this season.
Chicago jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first before bringing across seven runs in the fourth and chipping in four more in the fifth.
Pittsburgh second baseman Neil Walker scored the team’s two runs but the Pirates were just 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position.