Chicago, IL (Sports Network) – Aramis Ramirez drove in four runs and Carlos Zambrano returned to the rotation with 5 1/3 solid innings and a home run as Chicago crushed Pittsburgh, 14-2, to begin a three-game set.
Marlon Byrd and Jeff Baker each had two hits, scored twice and drove in a pair of runs to pace an 18-hit attack for the Cubs, who have won five of their last seven.
Zambrano (6-6) allowed one unearned run on four hits and four walks while fanning seven for Chicago, which won for just a fourth time in 13 tries against the Pirates this season.
Paul Maholm (7-13), who had entered the game with a 7-1 career mark against the Cubs, could not get through the fourth inning and suffered the loss after getting beaten up for eight runs on nine hits and a walk over 3 1/3 innings for the Buccos, who have lost 14 straight road games.