Pittsburgh Pirates (61-97) at Chicago Cubs (82-76), 8:05 p.m.

Sports Network | October 1, 2009

(Sports Network) - The Pirates had two opportunities on Wednesday to snap their seven-game losing streak to the Cubs. Thanks to a doubleheader sweep, they are now in position to win their first series from Chicago this year.

Pittsburgh wraps up its four-game series with Chicago tonight at Wrigley Field.

The Pirates had lost nine of 11 to the Cubs prior to this series and then lost Tuesday's opener. However, they picked up a win with pitching in the first game of Wednesday's twinbill, as Charlie Morton tossed a four-hitter to record his first-career shutout, a 4-0 victory.

The nightcap saw Pittsburgh break out its bats. Ryan Doumit went 4-for-4 with three runs scored and four RBI, missing the cycle by a triple, while Brandon Moss drove in a pair of runs in an 8-2 triumph.

"You want to try to finish strong, not only as a team but as an individual as well," said Doumit after the Pirates won for the fifth time in seven games. "I can't remember a time we won at Wrigley Field let alone two games in one day."

It was Pittsburgh's first doubleheader sweep at Wrigley Field since June 20, 1983.

Mike Fontenot and Ryan Theriot both knocked in a run for the Cubs, who have dropped three of four overall. Carlos Zambrano took the loss after surrendering four runs on six hits in six innings.

"Everybody expects more out of him [Zambrano], including himself," said Cubs manager Lou Piniella. "So chalk this up as a season where he wasn't at his best."

Paul Maholm takes the ball for the Pirates in tonight's finale. He is 8-9 with a 4.44 earned run average this year, but is just 1-2 over his last six starts. The left-hander got a no-decision against the Dodgers on Saturday, allowing three runs on seven hits and three walks over seven innings of an 8-4 setback.

Maholm, 27, is 4-1 in nine career starts versus the Cubs despite a 7.06 ERA.

The Cubs will give 24-year-old Jeff Samardzija his third MLB start tonight. His last one came on September 23, a loss to the Brewers in which he gave up three runs on five hits over five innings of work.

It was a better outing than Samardzija's first-career start, as he was tagged for seven runs over just 3 1/3 innings of a loss to the Phillies on August 12.

The right-hander has also made 18 relief outings this year and is 1-3 with a 7.53 ERA. He has yet to allow a run to the Pirates in his career, throwing 4 2/3 scoreless innings over four outings.