CHICAGO, April 18 (UPI) -- A fielder's choice groundout by Eric Patterson produced the eventual winning run Friday in the Chicago Cubs' 3-2 win over Pittsburgh.
It was the Cubs' seventh straight win against the Pirates.
Chicago was leading 2-1 with one out in the bottom of the fourth when Patterson beat out a potential double-play grounder to Pittsburgh shortstop Luis Rivas and Geovany Soto scored from third base with what turned out to be the decisive run.
Reed Johnson and Mark DeRosa also had one RBI, while Johnson, DeRosa and Ryan Theriot all had two hits for the Cubs, who have won nine of their last 12 contests.
Winning pitcher Rich Hill (1-0) gave up an earned run and three hits in five innings with three walks and four strikeouts.
Three relievers gave up one run in a combined three innings before Kerry Wood earned his fourth save this season.
Pittsburgh scored on Xavier Nady's first inning single and Nate McLouth's solo homer in the eighth.
The losing pitcher was starter Ian Snell (2-1).
