Cubs-Purates: Just Come on Home, Boys

Filed: September 9th, 2009 Source: Cubbie Nation I consider the Pittsburgh Pirates a balm. A cure-all, really. Whatever is wrong with your team, sprinkle in a series with the Pirates, and apply liberally. Need a little offense? Try that pitching staff, with their 4.63 ERA, good for 14th in the NL. Want to give your bullpen a rest? Your starters are practically sure to go long against an offense ranked 13th. Hoping for a few lucky breaks to go your way? Hey man, with the worst fielding percentage in the league, you will get good bounces against that team. As it turns out, the Cubs needed all of the above, and found it in Pittsburgh, beating the Pirates 8-5 Wednesday afternoon to finish off the three-game sweep. Now, as far as the game itself, you'd be hard pressed to find fault with the Cubs. Carlos Zambrano was effective, limiting the Pirates to a pair over six innings. You'll hear some controversy over an animated discussion he had with Lou Piniella after getting yanked in ...