There’s nothing like beating a last place team to raise your spirits.  The Cubs took care of business against the last place Pirates in Pittsburgh yesterday by a score of 4-2.  Derrek Lee continued his hot hitting ways with two homeruns and three of the four Cubs RBI.  Lee now has 31 homeruns on the season and a team leading 96 RBI.

Ted Lilly looked good in his 6.0 innings of work, giving up just two hits and two earned runs.  John Grabow, Angel Guzman and Carlos Marmol pitched the last three innings holding the Pirates hitless.

The second game of the series in Pittsburgh will be played tonight with Ryan Dempster (8-8) going for the Cubs against the Pirates Zach Duke (10-13).

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The Rockies and Giants both won yesterday, so the Cubs kept pace with both teams.  The Marlins and Braves were both idle, so the Cubs gained a 1/2 game on them.   It’s nothing to get too excited about, but it’s always better to win than to lose.

Tonight, the Reds visit Colorado, the Padres visit San Francisco, the Braves travel to Houston, and the Marlins take on the Mets in New York.