The Cubs’ bats got it going early & often today, as they scored 7 runs in the game’s first 3 innings & cruised to a blowout 13-1 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field.

Chicago has now scored a total of 37 runs over their last 4 games, all without the services of Alfonso Soriano. (Soriano is currently on the 15 day DL)

Cubs skipper Lou Piniella once again played musical chairs with his lead-off hitter, choosing to put Reed Johnson there today. Johnson did go 0-3, but it didn’t matter much as the North Siders enjoyed their best offensive performance of the season to date.

Cubs righthander Jason Marquis dazzled in his finest start to date of the season, pitching 6 innings while allowing just 1 run on 6 hits & striking out 7.

Marquis got plenty of offensive support today to earn his 1st win of the season.

Ryan Theriot got it started in the 1st inning with a single to centerfield off Pirates starter Tom Gorzelanny.

Derrek Lee then followed with a 2-run homer (7th of season, leads majors) to left field, making it 2-0 Cubs.

The Pirates had a chance to get on the board in the top of the 2nd after Marquis allowed back-to-back 2 out singles to Jose Bautista & Brian Bixler.

Marquis then struck out Tom Gorzelanny to end the scoring threat.

The Cubs added another run in the bottom of the 2nd after Mark DeRosa led off the inning with a walk. Geovany Soto then followed with an RBI double, scoring DeRosa from 1st base to make it 3-0 Cubs.

Chicago was then able to knock Gorzelanny out of the game with a big 3rd inning.

After Aramis Ramirez drew a 1-out walk, Kosuke Fukudome followed with a single to right field, which advanced Ramirez to 3rd.

Mark DeRosa then hit an RBI single, scoring Ramirez from 3rd to make it 4-0 Cubs.

Lou Piniella was then able to show off his team’s speed, as they executed a perfect double-steal with Fukudome stealing 3rd base & DeRosa stealing 2nd base.

Ryan Doumit made a bad throw which allowed Fukudome to score from 3rd base, making it 5-0 Cubs. (DeRosa advanced to 3rd on the error)

DeRosa then scored on a wild pitch from Gorzelanny, making it 6-0 Cubs.

Jason Marquis then helped his own cause with an RBI double, scoring Ronny Cedeno (who drew a 2-out walk) from 2nd to give Chicago a 7-0 lead.

Now the last time the Cubs had a 7-0 lead against the Pirates, Pittsburgh was able to rally & tie it before Chicago finally pulled away in extra innings on April 7th.

That wasn’t the case today, as the Pirates tallied their only run on Freddy Sanchez’s RBI double in the 5th inning, scoring Nate McLouth (who hit a 2-out double) from 2nd & at least avoided Pittsburgh from being shutout for the 1st time this season.

The Cubs added 2 more runs in the bottom of the 7th inning after Ryan Theriot drew a leadoff walk. Daryle Ward then followed with his 1st hit of the season, which was a 2-run homer to make it 13-1 Chicago.

Derrek Lee left the game in the top of the 6th inning with neck stiffness, but Lou Piniella said after the game that Lee is fine & shouldn’t miss a significant amount of time.

Jason Marquis (1-0) gets his 1st win of the season & his 1st home win since September 1st, 2007.

Tom Gorzelanny (1-2) takes the loss & falls to 2-3 in 6 career starts against the Cubs.

Chicago will now try to sweep Pittsburgh for the 2nd time in 10 days tomorrow afternoon at 1:20 PM from Wrigley Field, as righthander Ryan Dempster (2-0, 2.37) will oppose Pirates lefty Zach Duke (0-0, 2.89).

This will be Dempster’s 1st start against the Pirates since April 16th, 2005 when he allowed 3 runs on 6 hits in 6 innings during the Cubs’ 4-3 win.

Duke has not beaten the Cubs at Wrigley Field since May 2nd, 2006 when he pitched a complete game & allowed just 5 hits during the Pirates’ 8-0 win.

Duke will face the Cubs for the 2nd time this season, as he allowed just 1 run on 8 hits in 7 innings, but received a no-decision during the Pirates’ 6-4 loss.

The Cubs re-called outfielder Matt Murton (0-2 today) from Triple A Iowa before the game & optioned 2nd baseman Eric Patterson (0-6 with 1 RBI in 3 games with Cubs) to the minors.

Signing off for now,