Russ Ohlendorf dazzled in his 1st career start against the Cubs on Tuesday evening from PNC Park, as he struck out a season-high 8 batters to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 3-0 shutout win.

The Pirates got their 1st rally of the game going in the 4th after Freddy Sanchez hit a lead-off single against Cubs starter Ted Lilly, as Micah Hoffpauir blocked the ball with his glove in right field.

3 batters later, Andy LaRoche singled to put runners on 1st & 2nd with 2 outs for Brandon Moss.

Moss struck out swinging, but the ball caromed to the shortstop which allowed Moss to reach 1st safely & Sanchez to score from 2nd to give Pittsburgh a 1-0 lead.

Geovany Soto had a chance to nail down Sanchez at the plate, but his throw went wide left & sailed to the 1st base side for an error.

LaRoche also advance to 3rd base on the play.

Robinzon Diaz then grounded out to Ryan Theriot at shortstop to end the inning.

The Cubs had a chance to tie it up in the top of the 5th after Geovany Soto hit a 1-out double against Pirates starter Russ Ohlendorf.

Mike Fontenot & Ryan Theriot then both struck out looking to end the scoring chance.

Pittsburgh got another rally going in the bottom of the 5th after Jack Wilson reached safely on a bunt single against Lilly.

Russ Ohlendorf then laid down a sac bunt, which advanced Wilson to 2nd with just 1 out.

2 batters later, Freddy Sanchez hit an RBI single past a diving Mike Fontenot at 2nd base to score Wilson & give the Pirates a 2-0 lead.

With 2 outs & Sanchez on 2nd, Delwyn Young struck out swinging to end the inning.

Pittsburgh tried to add onto their lead in the 6th after Adam LaRoche hit a lead-off single against Lilly.

2 batters later, Brandon Moss hit a single to put runners on 1st & 2nd with just 1 out for Robinzon Diaz.

Diaz then hit into a doubleplay to end the inning.

The Cubs then let a good scoring chance slip away in the 7th after Geovany Soto & Mike Fontenot hit back-to-back 2-out singles against Ohlendorf.

Soto then tried to take 3rd base on Fontenot’s single & was easily gunned down at 3rd base on a perfect throw by Brandon Moss in left field to end the inning.

The Pirates were able to add onto their lead in the bottom of the 7th after pinch-hitter Steve Pearce hit a 1-out double against Lilly.

2 batters later, Freddy Sanchez doubled to score Pearce from 2nd & give Pittsburgh a 3-0 lead.

With 2 outs & Sanchez on 2nd base,  Delwyn Young flied out to Micah Hoffpauir in right field to end the inning.

Chicago then let another promising rally slip away in the 8th after Ryan Theriot hit a lead-off single against Pittsburgh reliever Josh Grabow.

Pinch-hitter Milton Bradley then singled, as Jack Wilson’s throw sailed over the head of Freddy Sanchez at 2nd base & into right field to allow both runners to reach scoring position.

Alfonso Soriano & Kosuke Fukudome then both struck out, which left it up to Derrek Lee.

Lee then grounded out to Freddy Sanchez at 2nd to end the scoring chance.

Geovany Soto drew a 2-out walk in the 9th, but Pirates closer Matt Capps got Mike Fontenot to fly out to Brandon Moss in left field to end the game.

Soto was the only Cub to record a multi-hit game tonight, as he went 2-for-3 with a double despite making a critical baserunning error in the 7th inning.

Russ Ohlendorf (7-6) gets the win for Pittsburgh after pitching 7 shutout innings & allowed just 4 hits while striking out a season-high 8 batters.

Ted Lilly (7-6) takes the loss for the Cubs after allowing 3 runs (2 earned) on 8 hits in 7 innings despite striking out 7 batters.

Matt Capps pitched a scoreless 9th for his 18th save of the season.

The Cubs will try to win their 1st road series since early June on Wednesday evening at 6:05 PM cst from PNC park, as Chicago righthander Randy Wells (2-3, 2.57) will face Pittsburgh righthander Virgil Vasquez (1-0, 3.00).

Wells will look to win his 3rd straight outing & is 1-1 in 5 road starts this decision with a 2.20 EA.

Vasquez will make just his 5th major league start on Wednesday & won his first career game on June 26th against Kansas City after allowing 2 runs on 4 hits in 6 innings pitched while striking out seven during the Pirates’ 5-3 win.

Before Tuesday’s game, the Cubs optioned reliever Jose Ascanio to Triple-A Iowa & brought up Jeff Samardzija.

Samardzija has a 8.10 ERA in just 5 games this season with the Cubs.

Signing off for now,

Matt T for Cubshub.com