PITTSBURGH, May 25 (UPI) -- Joel Hanrahan struck out the final two batters in the ninth inning Friday to preserve a strange shutout and give Pittsburgh a 1-0 win over the Chicago Cubs.
Chicago lost its 10th straight game while wasting one opportunity after another.
A.J. Burnett and four relievers combined to blank Chicago despite the Cubs managing 10 hits. Chicago put a runner on second base in six of the innings, but could never come up with a clutch hit.
Burnett (3-2) gave up six hits and struck out six in 5 1/3 innings.
Hanrahan gave up two singles in the ninth and the Cubs had the tying run on second with one away. Hanrahan then mowed down David DeJesus on four pitches and got Starlin Castro to strike out swinging to end the game.
It was Hanrahan's 11th save.
Pittsburgh's run came against Ryan Dempster (0-3) in the second when Pedro Alvarez singled, went to second on a ground out by Matt Hague and scored on a base hit by Rod Barajas.
The Pirates had lost their previous two games.
