The veteran southpaw threw 70 of 111 pitches for strikes, striking out five Pirates batters while increasing his record to 11-6. He faced only 26 batters, walking three, in his fifth career start against the Pirates and second this season.

Geovany Soto had two RBI, Derek Lee and Ronny Cedeno drove in one run each, and one run scored on Cedeno's non-RBI, fourth-inning, double-play groundout.

Reed Johnson had three of the nine hits for the National League Central Division-leading Cubs, who have won six of their last seven games.

Pittsburgh's run scored on losing pitcher Paul Maholm's second-inning infield single.

Ryan Doumit had three of the eight hits for the Pirates, who had won three of four.

Maholm (7-7) surrendered five earned runs on eight hits in six innings.