GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NL: CHICAGO CUBS (72-69) at PITTSBURGH (62-80)

Cubs fall out of first place with loss to Pirates

<h3>PITTSBURGH 10, CHICAGO CUBS 5</h3>PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- The Chicago Cubs picked a bad time tofall into a losing rut.


The Pittsburgh Pirates roughed up Cubs starter Steve Trachsel ina 10-5 victory over the Cubs in the rubber game of a three-gameseries Sunday.


The loss dropped Chicago (72-70) into second place in theNational League Central, a game behind the Milwaukee Brewers(73-69), who defeated the Reds, 10-5, on Sunday. The Cubs hadspent the previous 24 days in first place.


"This loss here isn't life or death," Cubs manager Lou Piniellasaid. "We're behind. I understand that. It's just one game inthe standings. If we play well enough, we'll get a chance toget back on top and if we don't, it's not going to matter."

The Cubs play host to third-place St. Louis on Monday in amakeup of a contest previously rained out. Chicago then travelsto Houston for three-games starting Tuesday before playing theCardinals on the road for a four-game series beginning Friday.

"Let's not get too down about this loss," Piniella said."Pittsburgh's been playing well and hitting the heck out of theball. We've still got 20 games to go to do something. If wedon't play well the last 20 games, (losing this) game todayisn't going to make that much difference."


Chicago put a pair of runs on the board in the top of the secondinning when former Pirate catcher Jason Kendall hit a two-runsingle off Pittsburgh starter Matt Morris.


But Trachsel (6-10) could not hold the lead. Therecently-acquired righthander allowed six runs in the bottomhalf of the second, the big blow coming from Freddy Sanchez, whohit a bases-loaded triple to put the Pirates ahead 6-2.

Sanchez tried for the inside-the-park home run, but was thrownout at the plate to end the inning. Replays seemed to indicateSanchez may have slid safely under the tag by Kendall.

"It was deep tag, but the ball arrived ahead of him by about 12paces - but it was still a great effort to try for it," Piratesmanager Jim Tracy said. "I can't say enough good things about(Sanchez). He's a gamer. He's a winner. That's what you lookfor."


Trachsel's meltdown made a winner of Morris (9-9). The veteranrighthander pitched six innings, allowing four runs and sevenhits while striking out two and walking two.


"We fought back and played great defense," said Morris, who wasacquired by the Pirates from the San Francisco Giants on July31. "When you put up runs like that, it makes it real easy."

Morris also praised rookie center fielder Nyjer Morgan for aspectacular catch he made in the third inning, robbing AramisRamirez of an extra-base hit. Morgan caught a line drive bydiving with full extension to his left. The catch causedRamirez to stand near the batter's box with a stunned expressionon his face.


"I didn't see (Ramirez's reaction), I was too pumped up,slapping hands with everybody," Morgan said. "It's a play I'mused to doing. I just got a good read on it."


Trailing, 7-2, the Cubs made an effort to come back when AlfonsoSoriano hit his fourth home run in five games in the fifthinning, a two-run shot for his 24th of the season.

Geovany Soto hit his first career homer in the seventh, a soloshot off Romulo Sanchez to pull Chicago within 7-5.

But the Pirates added three runs in the eighth inning off Cubsreliever Kerry Wood to put the game away. Jose Castillo smackeda two-run double and Sanchez brought in the final run with anRBI groundout.