Free Live Odds - Scores and Odds - Sports News - Sports Information - Live Scores - Sports Statistics - Sports Articles - Sports Standings - Live Scoreboard - Live Odds - Sporting Events - Live Lines

(Sports Network) - After winning a pair of marathon outings from the Pittsburgh Pirates earlier this week, the Chicago Cubs will try for a more traditional victory when they go for a sweep of the three-game series between the National League Central foes tonight at PNC Park.

The Cubs outlasted the Bucs in 15 innings last night after coming through with a 10-8 decision that lasted 12 frames in Monday's series opener. Chicago twice failed to hold on to late leads in Wednesday's 6-4 triumph, but still managed to earn its fourth straight win.

Felix Pie put the Cubs ahead for good with a two-run single off Phil Dumatrait in the top of the 15th. Sean Marshall then held the Pirates scoreless in the bottom of the inning to record his first career save.

Aramis Ramirez had given Chicago a 4-2 lead with a two-run homer in the 14th, but Adam LaRoche kept the game going by belting a two-run blast off Kevin Hart with one out in Pittsburgh's half of the frame.

The Pirates also rallied to tie the contest in the bottom of the ninth inning, as Jason Bay greeted Cubs closer Kerry Wood with a solo home run to forge a 2-2 deadlock.

Both starting pitchers put forth outstanding performances but were long gone when the game was finally decided. Chicago's Ryan Dempster yielded just one hit and a pair of walks in seven shutout innings, while Zach Duke tossed seven innings of one-run ball for Pittsburgh.

The Pirates, who lost for the fourth time in five games, have now had four of their first eight outings of 2008 go into extra innings. The club won twice in additional time during its season-opening series in Atlanta.

The Cubs are hoping that runs will be a little easier to come by when Matt Morris is on the mound for Pittsburgh this evening. The former All-Star followed up a mediocre 2007 campaign with an unimpressive first start of this season, as Morris was touched for four runs (three earned) and eight hits in five innings against Florida this past Friday. He did not receive a decision in a 5-4 Pirates' loss.

Morris went just 10-11 with a 4.89 ERA in 32 starts last season, splitting the year between San Francisco and the Pirates, and was hit hard in a pair of appearances against the Cubs. The right-hander produced a 7.59 ERA and a .388 batting average against in those two starts, although Morris did manage a win in one of the games.

For his career Morris is 12-8 with a 4.50 ERA in 30 games (27 starts) versus Chicago, with most of those appearances coming during his tenure with the rival St. Louis Cardinals.

Morris's mound opponent tonight, Rich Hill, had a solid season debut for the Cubs despite not being able to pick up a win. Against Houston last Friday at Wrigley Field, the lanky left-hander yielded just two runs and four hits through six innings and recorded a no decision in Chicago's 4-3 defeat. Both runs Hill allowed came on a home run by the Astros' J.R. Towles in the fourth inning.

The 28-year-old is 2-1 lifetime against the Pirates with a 3.62 ERA in five starts, but both those victories came in Chicago. In two previous appearances at PNC Park, Hill is 0-1 and surrendered eight runs in 13 innings.

Chicago has now won five straight meetings with Pittsburgh dating back to last season.