This is exactly why the Chicago Cubs are a .500 team. There is no way you should be getting shut out against the Pittsburgh Pirates but that is exactly what happened Tuesday night in Pittsburgh as the Pirates beat the Cubs 3-0. The Cubs offense took one walk in the game and struck out ten times in the poor outing.

The best chance the team came to scoring was in the eighth inning when they had two base runners on with the top of the lineup coming up. However, Alfonso Soriano and Kosuke Fukudome both struck out and Derrek Lee then ended the inning by grounding out to second base. Good job Soriano and Fukudome!

Geovany Soto was the only player to show up and actually hit the ball as he led the team with two hits.

Ted Lilly was the tough luck loser even though he threw a pretty good game. Lilly did give up eight hits over seven innings but struck out seven while only walk two Pirates. Two of the Pirates runs were scored with two outs off of Lilly. Ted also made a bad play on a wild pitch when he missed the return throw from Soto as Freddy Sanchez scored.

Just an ugly game as the Pirates even the series up at one game each. The rubber match will be Wednesday night and it will be Randy Wells trying to get the win for the Cubs.

- Cliff