Bream, Fisher Lead Pirates Past Cubs, 4-0

Sid Bream hit a two-run homer Friday to support Brian Fisher’s first career shutout and help the Pittsburgh Pirates snap Chicago’s three-game winning streak with a 4-0 victory over the Cubs.

Fisher, 3-4, allowed six hits, walked two and struck out six in gaining his first triumph since May 24 and second complete game this season. The right-hander has been a reliever most of his two-plus major-league seasons. He was moved into the Pirates’ starting rotation early in May.

“Ray Miller (pitching coach) has had a lot of patience with me, and that helps so much,” Fisher said. “He’s a great teacher.”

Miller praised Fisher for being an eager student. “He knew that he needed an off-speed pitch, so he came up to me and said, ‘Let’s learn one.’ It can take a week or a year to learn a change-up. He’s a fast learner.”

Dickie Noles, 4-2, started for Chicago in place of Scott Sanderson, who has a pulled groin muscle, and suffered the loss. He yielded four runs on six hits in seven innings.

The Pirates opened a 1-0 lead in the first. Barry Bonds opened with a single, stole second and scored on Johnny Ray’s one-out single.

Bream’s two-out, two-run homer extended the Pirates’ advantage to 3-0 in the third. Bobby Bonilla doubled and, one out later, Bream hit Noles’ first pitch into the center-field bleachers for his ninth homer.

Pittsburgh took a 4-0 lead in the fourth. R.J. Reynolds singled, stole second, advanced to third on Mike LaValliere’s bounceout and scored on Rafael Belliard’s fielder’s-choice grounder.

The Cubs failed to get a runner to third base as they were shutout for the third time this season. Fisher was 0-3 with a 10.00 ERA in his previous four starts.

“When we don’t hit, I never know whether to credit their pitching or our hitting,” Cubs Manager Gene Michael said. “So I’ll say it was a combination. Fisher is a good kid and a harder worker.”