Pirates Blitz Cubs in Eighth

With one big inning, the Pittsburgh Pirates turned a tight game into an easy victory.

Josh Fogg outpitched Kerry Wood, and Pittsburgh scored nine runs in the eighth inning for a 10-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Monday.

Fogg was clinging to a one-run lead when he led off the eighth by drawing a walk from reliever Phil Norton. The next six batters reached safely, and suddenly the Pirates were in control.

“You never expect to get those type of runs, particularly off a pitching staff as good as Chicago’s,” Manager Lloyd McClendon said. “We were very fortunate they gave us some walks.”

Jeff Reboulet and pinch-hitter Randall Simon each hit a two-run single in the big inning, and Cub pitchers walked in three runs.

Aramis Ramirez had a run-scoring single, and Brian Giles drove in two runs with a bases-loaded walk and a single that capped the outburst.

Kenny Lofton, who had two singles and scored twice during the rally, extended his hitting streak to 24 games, longest in the National League this season. The Pirates sent 14 batters to the plate in the inning.

Fogg (2-2), activated from the disabled list Monday, held the Cubs to three hits and didn’t allow a runner past second base. He struck out five and walked three in seven innings.

“I threw a lot of off-speed pitches trying to keep them off balance,” Fogg said. “To get one against a guy like [Wood] is a big thing.”

McClendon thought Fogg was outstanding.

“I never, ever thought he was going to be as sharp as he was coming back off that layoff,” McClendon said.

Fogg was lifted for a pinch-hitter when his second at-bat came up in the eighth.

“The inning got so long we couldn’t send him back out there,” McClendon said.

Wood (4-3) gave up one hit and one run in seven innings, striking out 10, but was lifted after throwing 113 pitches.