Pirates 2, Cubs 0
Francisco Liriano tossed seven innings of two-hit ball and Russell Martin drove in one run and scored another as visiting Pittsburgh snapped a three-game skid in the series opener.
Liriano (4-2) shut out Chicago over seven innings for the second time this season, striking out eight and walking five while outdueling Travis Wood (5-4), who struck out six and allowed one run on four hits over six innings for his 11th quality start in 12 outings this season. Jason Grilli gave up a pair of two-out singles in the ninth before locking down his 23rd save in as many chances.
The Pirates' offensive woes continued, but they managed to break through in the sixth, when Jordy Mercer doubled just inside the left-field line with one out and scored on Martin's double into the left-field corner two batters later. Pittsburgh added a run on Travis Snider's fielder's choice in the ninth.
The Cubs didn't record a hit until Wood's single to left with one out in the fifth, but they still managed to leave 10 men on base. They used an error and two walks to load the bases in the second and had two on with one out in the fourth but couldn't capitalize.
Chicago also left two in scoring position in the fifth, when Liriano struck out Anthony Rizzo to end the inning, and had the tying run on in the ninth before Grilli struck out Darwin Barney to end it.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Liriano has pitched seven or more scoreless innings 13 times in his career, including four games in which he allowed two or fewer hits. … The Pirates registered their major league-leading 10th shutout and improved to 6-18 when scoring two or fewer runs. … The Cubs have been shut out four times and allowed a total of seven runs in those contests.