Bla Bla » high 18 points from Justin Edmonds

PITTSBURGH -- The National League MVP doesnt play favourites when it comes to hot streaks. Neither do the Pittsburgh Pirates, who rode Andrew McCutchen to another win Wednesday. McCutchen homered and reached base four times and the Pirates beat the Chicago Cubs 4-2 at rainy PNC Park on Wednesday night. McCutchen is batting .462 during a seven-game hitting streak and has 12 extra-base hits during 10 June games. "I dont compare (career-best stretches)," McCutchen said. "Im not big on that. Im just seeing the ball hitting the ball. Im in a spurt where Im feeling really good right now." So are the Pirates, who have taken two of the first three games of the series with their NL Central rivals. Pittsburghs Brandon Cumpton (2-2) pitched five effective innings, and the offence pounded Cubs starter Jason Hammel (6-4) for 11 hits in five innings, snapping his streaks of 14 1-3 innings without allowing a run and 52 innings without allowing a homer when McCutchen hit his 10th in the first. McCutchen also had a single and walked twice. "Hes hot," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "When he gets his pitch, hes not missing." Luis Valbuena likewise continued his recent strong hitting with three hits for last-place Chicago, which has lost three of four after a season-best five-game winning streak. The games first pitch was delayed 1 hour, 38 minutes because of a severe thunderstorm that began sweeping through downtown Pittsburgh about an hour before the scheduled start time. Rain fell again during the sixth inning. McCutchens fly ball landed more than a row into the left-field seats -- but it almost became an extra-long out when leftfielder Chris Coghlan leaped into the stands. He landed in the seats and said he had a read on the ball but that a fan outmanoeuvred him for it. "Best non-catch effort Ive ever seen," Cubs manager Rick Renteria said. "I would have went there and shook his hand myself if he caught that ball," McCutchen said. The Pirates Gregory Polanco went 1 for 5 with an RBI groundout a day after his much-hyped major league debut Tuesday. Making his sixth start of the season and fourth since being given a regular rotation spot, Cumpton allowed two runs on five hits and two walks with five strikeouts. On his final pitch, he struck out Nate Schierholtz swinging with the bases loaded. "Its something I need to work on, getting through the fifth and sixth innings," Cumpton said. "It was a good experience, a real confidence booster for me." Justin Wilson, Tony Watson, Mark Melancon and Jason Grilli followed with a hitless inning each. Grilli earned his 10th save of the season during what was his 400th career appearance. Hammel had won two previous starts against the Pirates this season and entered Wednesday with the second-best WHIP in the majors (0.88). He allowed 14 baserunners Wednesday. "It was rough," Hammel said with a laugh. "A lot of hits given up. Up in the zone. Obviously could have been better strikes thrown, but I battled through. It could have been a lot worse - 11 hits through five innings? Its amazing they only put up four." Hammel was spared a worse line by some poor baserunning by Pittsburgh, which hit into two peculiar double plays and had another runner thrown out at third during the seventh inning after Hammel was out of the game. The Pirates Starling Marte had two hits - including an RBI single in the fifth inning - but also was thrown out on the basepaths for the third time in two games when he was picked off third following a Travis Snider pop-up behind home plate in the fifth. The Cubs briefly tied the game at 2 in the second when John Bakers single drove in Valbuena and Nate Schierholtz scored on a groundout. Notes: Before the game, the Pirates places LHP Francisco Liriano on the disabled list because of a strained left oblique that caused him to leave his start Tuesday in the fourth inning. . The Cubs on Wednesday announced they signed their first-round draft pick, Indiana University catcher/outfielder Kyle Schwarber. Schwarber, the No. 4 overall selection, will report to the organizations short-season Class A affiliate in Boise, Idaho. . Pirates 2B Josh Harrison was removed from the game for a pinch hitter during the third inning because of discomfort in his left ankle. . A fireworks display - from the nearby annual Pittsburgh arts festival - rumbled PNC Park for several minutes during the fourth inning. . Pittsburghs Thursday scheduled starter, RHP Edionson Volquez, is 5-0 in his career against the Cubs. Chicagos probable starter, RHP Jeff Samardzija, has a 1.90 ERA in 71 career innings against the Pirates, including seven shutout innings on opening day at PNC Park. Cheap Rockies Jerseys China . FLIP SAUNDERS (Timberwolves): Im not the least bit surprised that he appointed himself as head coach after his search concluded. Cheap Rockies Jerseys Authentic .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. http://www.cheaprockiesjerseys.com/. -- David Price didnt think he would be in Port Charlotte this spring. Wholesale Rockies Jerseys . “Im not sure well get Melky Cabrera at all,” said Gibbons. The 29-year-old left fielder struggled all season with knee and hamstring problems. Cabrera was first on the disabled list from June 27-July 20 with tendinitis in his left knee. Cheap Rockies Jerseys . Now he can be had by any team willing to pay his salary. According to a report from ESPN, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are shopping the veteran CB and plan on releasing him Wednesday if they cant find a trade partner.Charleston, WV (SportsNetwork.com) - Jonathan Holton scored 14 points, including 11 in the second half, to help No. 22 West Virginia sneak past rival Marshall 69-66 on Sunday. Holton scored eight of his points at the free throw line for the Mountaineers (9-1) while pulling down six rebounds. Jevon Carter also had 14 points and six boards. Juwan Staten led West Virginia with 15 points on 5-of-12 shooting. The Thundering Herd (3-6) lost their sixth straight game despite getting a game-high 18 points from Justin Edmonds, who shot 4-of-6 from 3-point range and added six assists and six rebounds. Marshall outshot West Virginia 50 percent to 38.6 percent, but the Herd lost the turnover battle 24-15 and allowed the Mountaineers to score 33 points off those miscues. These moral victories have to stop. We have to start putting Ws in the column and I think this team will grow to that, Marshall head coach Dan DAntoni said. The Herd held a persistent lead in the second half that ballooned to as much eight with 11:28 remaining, but the Mountaineers 8-0 run allowed them to tie the game at 49-49 with 8:27 left. With under six minutes to go, Gary Brownes five straight points gave the Mountaineers their first lead since early in the second half, and they never trailed the rest of the game. I might not be a great shooter, I might not be a great passer, I might not be a great whatever, but...I mmake winning plays, the senior Browne said.dddddddddddd Since Ive been here freshman year, Ive been making big plays. West Virginia struggled making free throws, shooting just 64.7 percent from the line, but its defense prevented the Herd from retaking the lead. Although Marshall shot 10-of-18 in the second half, it only made two shots from the floor over the final 10 minutes of the game. The game between these in-state rivals started getting chippy at the under eight-minute media timeout of the first half. Staten and Marshalls Cheikh Sane each received technical fouls. After the technicals were called, the Mountaineers went cold from the field, only making two more shots before the half. The second one was key, though, as Carters jumper beat the buzzer to tie the game at 27-27 after the first 20 minutes. WVU shot 0-for-7 from long distance in the first half and was just 36.7 percent overall. Staten led the Mountaineers with eight points, and Edmonds paced all scorers with nine at the half. Game Notes West Virginia improved to 32-11 in the Capital Classic rivalry ... The Mountaineers have made a 3-point shot in 498 consecutive games ... West Virginia outrebounded Marshall 36-26 ... The Mountaineers next take the court on Saturday against N.C. State at Madison Square Garden... The Thundering Herd take on King College on Tuesday. 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