Chi. Cubs 1, Pittsburgh 0

Matt Garza pitched seven-plus shutout innings and Starlin Castro homered as the Chicago Cubs won their season-high fourth straight game, 1-0 over the host Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday.
 
Pittsburgh (54-55) has lost six straight and fell 6 1/2 games behind first-place Milwaukee in the National League Central.

Garza (5-8) struck out seven and allowed four hits. He gave up a leadoff walk in the eighth before he was lifted for Sean Marshall, who retired the next three hitters.
 
Charlie Morton countered with seven shutout innings for the Pirates, but the Cubs broke through in the eighth against Chris Resop (3-3) on Castro's leadoff blast to left-center field.

Pittsburgh got the tying run into scoring position in the ninth when Derrek Lee was hit by a pitch and moved to second on a sacrifice by Ryan Ludwick, but Carlos Marmol struck out the next two batters for his 22nd save.
 
Morton allowed five hits and struck out seven.
 
Castro finished 3-for-4, while Carlos Peña added a pair of doubles for the Cubs.

Chicago manager Mike Quade and right fielder Tyler Colvin were ejected for arguing balls and strikes in the fifth.

• Pittsburgh will play their next game at home against Chi. Cubs. The Pirates have a W/L % of .455 after a win and .537 after a loss.
• Chi. Cubs will play their next game on the road against Pittsburgh. The Cubs have a W/L % of .311 after a win and .485 after a loss.