Cubs-Pirates Preview

So far, Ryan Dempster's move back to the Chicago Cubs' starting rotation is going according to plan.

Dempster will try to lead the Cubs to a fourth straight win Wednesday when they continue their three-game series with the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park.

Dempster (1-0, 1.50 ERA) made his first start since May 4, 2005 and yielded just two runs and three hits in six innings of Thursday's 6-3 win over Milwaukee -- the Cubs' first victory of the season. Both of the runs, only one of which was earned, came in the first inning.

Dempster, converted from Chicago's closer back to a starter, saved 85 games for the Cubs (4-3) in between starts.

"Absolutely I'm proud of myself," Dempster said. "I dedicated myself as much or more than I probably ever have because I knew I had a big challenge ahead of me."

Kerry Wood, a former ace who has bounced back from arm injuries to become Chicago's new closer, earned his first career save Thursday. Wood went on to convert his next two save opportunities and hasn't yielded a run since allowing three in Chicago's season opener March 31.

Wood got the day off Monday as the Cubs beat the Pirates 10-8 in 12 innings in Pittsburgh's home opener, but will be available for this game.

Dempster went 14-10 with Florida in 2000 and set a career high for wins the following season, going 15-12 for the Marlins. He improved to 52-58 with a 4.97 ERA in 163 career starts with Thursday's victory.

Dempster has struggled against the Pirates, going 3-7 with a 6.04 ERA and nine saves in 11 chances in 37 appearances. He's 3-4 with a 6.14 ERA in 12 starts versus Pittsburgh, but earned his last win as a starter before this season against the Pirates on April 16, 2005.

Dempster is hoping the Cubs can stay hot offensively Wednesday, as Chicago has scored 22 runs during its winning streak. Aramis Ramirez's sacrifice fly pushed home the go-ahead run Monday as the Cubs scored twice in the 12th without getting a hit.

"I'd rather win ugly than lose pretty," manager Lou Piniella said. "Opening day in Pittsburgh, you have to give them credit for coming back. But we pulled one out -- it wasn't pretty, but it's in the win column."

John Russell failed to become the first manager since Larry Shepard in 1968 to win his first home game as Pittsburgh's manager. The Pirates erased a 7-0 deficit, but also committed two costly errors, walked 11 and threw three wild pitches.

Pittsburgh (3-4), which has scored 17 runs over its last two games, has dropped four straight against the Cubs dating to last season.

"When you make a comeback like that, you'd like to push one more across," the Pirates' Nate McLouth said.

Zach Duke (0-0, 3.18 ERA) will try to help Pittsburgh bounce back. He gave up three runs and 10 hits in 5 2-3 innings of the Pirates' 10-inning, 4-3 win over Atlanta on Thursday. Duke, coming off a disappointing 2007 in which he went 3-8 with a 5.53 ERA and missed 2 1/2 months with an elbow injury, threw five shutout innings before running into trouble in the sixth.

Duke is 4-2 with a 2.10 ERA in eight starts against the Cubs, but 0-2 with a 4.18 ERA in the last four. Chicago first baseman Derrek Lee, 12-for-30 (.400) with three homers this season, is 8-for-20 (.400) against Duke.