Cubs-Pirates Preview

Young pitching was supposed to provide hope for the Pittsburgh Pirates this season.

So far, some hot hitting from unlikely sources is leading the way.

The Pirates look to win their home opener for the first time in four years on Monday afternoon when they begin a three-game series against the NL Central rival Chicago Cubs.

Pittsburgh (3-3) didn't score more than seven runs in a game last season until May 13, but has done so twice in the first week of 2008. The Pirates won a wild 12-11 extra-inning game against Atlanta on Monday, then salvaged the final game of a three-game set with Florida on Sunday with a 9-2 victory.

"It was nice to get a couple more runs," said Pirates right fielder Xavier Nady, who hit a two-run homer Sunday. "We believe in each other and we're capable of putting runs up."

Nady sizzled through the season's first week, hitting .385 with three homers and nine RBIs. Along with outfielder Nate McLouth (.429, seven RBIs) and catcher Ryan Doumit (.450), the Pirates' runs are coming from some surprising names.

"For us to be successful, everyone has to contribute," manager John Russell said. "That includes the guys on the bench as well as the starters."

One of Pittsburgh's young starters will get the ball on Monday. Tom Gorzelanny (0-1, 4.50 ERA) gave up three runs in six innings of work Wednesday in Atlanta, getting charged with a 10-2 loss.

The 25-year-old left-hander has pitched well in four career starts against Chicago (3-3), going 2-2 with a 2.60 ERA while enjoying success against two of the Cubs' best hitters. Alfonso Soriano and former Pirate Aramis Ramirez are a combined 3-for-23 (.130) with nine strikeouts against Gorzelanny.

One Cub who has hit Gorzelanny well is first baseman Derrek Lee, who is 5-for-9 with a home run against the left-hander.

Lee broke a 2-all tie with a solo homer in the seventh inning on Sunday in Chicago's series finale against Houston, and Kerry Wood earned his third save in as many opportunities as the Cubs climbed back to .500 with a 3-2 win.

"I feel good. It's only a week in. I'll just try to maintain it," Lee said. "We got a long way to go. You have to go out and have good at-bats every day."

Chicago left-hander Ted Lilly (0-1, 7.71) will take the mound on Monday hoping to turn things around from his start last Wednesday, when he allowed four runs in 4 2-3 innings of an 8-2 loss to Milwaukee.

Lilly was 1-0 with a 3.20 ERA in three starts versus Pittsburgh last season.

The one Pirates hitter who has had a healthy amount of success versus Lilly is catcher Ronnie Paulino, who is 6-for-8 against him with a homer and three RBIs.