May 22, 2003 4 min read

PITTSBURGH (AP) – Big crowd. Baserunning that created scoring, rather than preventing it. Excellent starting pitching. In one night, the Pittsburgh Pirates got everything they’ve lacked all season. Kenny Lofton’s aggressive style led to Pittsburgh’s first two runs against Kerry Wood and Jeff D’Amico made another strong start, leading the Pirates past the Chicago Cubs 5-2 Wednesday night.

Jack Wilson and Brian Giles homered in a span of five pitches in the sixth as Wood (4-2) failed for the fourth straight start to win his 50th career game. Wood allowed a season-high five runs in 5 1-3 innings.

The Cubs, the NL Central leaders, lost their third straight since winning six of seven.

“They were more aggressive than we were,” manager Dusty Baker said. “They took it to us. It seemed like they were a step ahead of us. We were a split-second slower all night.”

Pittsburgh’s Kevin Young was booed loudly before he walked as a pinch-hitter in the eighth. During a weekend road trip, Young said the Pirates’ lukewarm fan support was one reason why they play so poorly at home.

That wasn’t a problem as the Pirates won for only the seventh time in 23 home games before a crowd of 35,086, lured by a bobblehead doll giveaway honoring longtime broadcaster Bob Prince.

“To me, all that (Young’s comments) is a dead issue,” manager Lloyd McClendon said. “It’s funny, but winning always seems to solve a lot of those problems.”

D’Amico (4-4), cast off by the Mets after last season, shut out the Cubs until Alex Gonzalez’s two-out double to right-center in the eighth.

D’Amico gave up seven hits and two runs in 7 1-3 innings – the seventh time in eight starts he has allowed two or fewer earned runs. He struck out four and walked none.

“I feel I’ve thrown well and given my team a chance to win all but one time out,” D’Amico said. “That’s what you want to do as a starting pitcher.”

McClendon said D’Amico, a non-roster pitcher in spring training, “has to be the best fifth starter in the league right now. I can’t imagine another No. 5 guy pitching this well.”

D’Amico didn’t allow a run in seven innings in his previous start, a 3-2 victory over Houston a week ago Wednesday.

The right-hander has a 39-38 career record, but is 6-0 with a 1.43 career ERA against the Cubs in six starts. The six victories are the most against any opponent.

“I’ve got to see them again in five days (in Chicago), so I’m not saying anything about that,” D’Amico said.

Mike Williams pitched the ninth inning for his 13th save in 15 opportunities, the second in a row he’s pitched out of a bases-loaded, none-out jam. The Cubs loaded the bases with the help of second baseman Abraham Nunez’s two errors, but pinch-hitter Tom Goodwin struck out and pinch-hitter Eric Karros grounded into a double play.

Wood had beaten the Pirates three straight times, but quickly fell behind 1-0 in the first as Lofton walked, stole second and scored on Aramis Ramirez’s two-out single to center. Ramirez previously was 4-for-39 (.103) with runners in scoring position.

Lofton singled to start the third, running his NL-leading hitting streak to 19 games, and moved to third on Wilson’s single. A batter later, Ramirez popped up to second baseman Mark Grudzielanek in short right field. Lofton came down the line casually, retreated to third then broke quickly to the plate and scored almost before Grudzielanek could react.

“It’s a chance you’ve got to take,” said Lofton, who can recall making the same play two other times in his career. “You can’t worry about getting caught. You have to follow your instincts. As soon as he goes back on his heels, you’ve got to go as hard as you can.”

Baker’s reaction? “You won’t see Mark Grudzielanek do that again,” he said.

Ramirez officially was credited with a sacrifice fly, even though his popup traveled only about 100 feet.

The Pirates, winning their fourth in six games since dropping 10 of 11, chased Wood in a three-run seventh started by the Wilson and Giles homers – the third of the season for both. Nunez added an RBI single off reliever Todd Wellemeyer.

Notes: Pirates RF Matt Stairs (inflamed right hand) was a late lineup scratch. … Corey Patterson’s 11-game hitting streak ended with an 0-for-4 night. … Lofton is 31-for-76 (.408) during a hitting streak that has raised his average from .205 to .299. … The Cubs are 7-3 when Wood starts. … Chicago is 5-4 during a 13-game, four-city road trip that winds up with three games this weekend in Houston.