Brian Kersey, Associated Press Shortstop Don Kelly can't get to a ground ball hit by the Cubs' Aramis Ramirez in the ninth inning last night at Wrigley Field in Chicago.

By Paul Meyer, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

CHICAGO -- The Pirates' offense -- or is it 0-ffense? -- was so anemic last night that the Chicago Cubs were home free after the second of tough-luck Tom Gorzelanny's 90 pitches.

Alfonso Soriano drove that second pitch -- a hanging changeup -- into the left-field seats for a home run. That was enough to beat the punchless Pirates, 1-0.

Amazing.

Cubs right-hander Jason Marquis, who mowed down the Pirates at PNC Park May 2, gave them a second trimming last night, allowing three hits and no walks.

"Offensively, there's more to this team than anyone has seen so far," Pirates manager Jim Tracy said.

	Brian Kersey, Associated Press Starter Tom Gorzelanny wipes his face after giving up a leadoff home run to the Cubs' Alfonso Soriano in the first inning. Click photo for larger image. Today Game: Pirates (LHP Paul Maholm, 1-5, 5.51) vs. Chicago Cubs (RHP Carlos Zambrano, 3-2, 5.80), 2:20 p.m., Wrigley Field. TV, radio: WGN, WPGB-FM (104.7) Key matchup: Xavier Nady lifetime against Zambrano is 6 for 13 with five doubles. And Jason Bay is 9 for 27 with three home runs and 11 RBIs. Jack Wilson, though, is 8 for 31. Of note: Zambrano has recovered - sort of - from a shaky start. In his first four starts, he allowed 25 hits, including six home runs, 16 walks and 19 earned runs in 22 innings. In his past three starts, he's yielded 18 hits and seven runs in 18 1/3 innings. Related articles Pirates Notebook: Wilson puts fingerprints all over win Tuesday Smizik: Capps' punishment well-deserved Pirates Q&A with Dejan Kovacevic

Marquis might have a tough time accepting that. In his past two starts against them, he has given them seven hits, no walks and a run in 17 innings. Not that he has been the Lone Ranger there.

The Pirates have failed to score more than three runs in 17 of their 32 games. And they have scored in only 10 of their past 74 innings.

Incredible.

"Once again, it boils down to you get three hits, you get two runners to second base, and that's all you're able to do," Tracy said. "We just didn't get enough hits. You can't win if you don't score any runs, and we didn't score any."

The three hits matched the Pirates' season low. They also mustered three against St. Louis April 9 in a 3-0 loss.

"We're just not getting it done offensively," Tracy said.

He paused -- then amended that statement.

"We're not getting it done offensively right now," he said.

That indicates Tracy believes the Pirates will get it done offensively at some point. But when? Their season is crawling toward the quarter pole with no reason to believe the offense is going to improve.

Hard to believe.

"I don't know what else you can do," Tracy said. "They watch film. They go up there with a plan. There's nothing else to talk about offensively."

Sometimes, a slump-ridden team can jump-start itself by hitting-and-running and hoping somebody will flare a ball into the outfield that scores a cheap run.

However ...

"We don't have any [base]runners," Tracy said. "We need to start scoring some runs. That's the bottom line."

Gorzelanny got virtually no support last night in turning in yet another outstanding start.

His one mistake -- which is all any Pirates starter can make these days -- was his second pitch to Soriano.

"He's a very aggressive hitter, especially leading off," Gorzelanny said. "The one thing you don't want to do is give him a pitch to hit. I hung a changeup, and he did what he does."

Gorzelanny, whose earned run average fell to 2.72, had only one other difficult inning. The Cubs loaded the bases with two outs in the fourth, but he retired Jacque Jones on a bouncer to second.

"Marquis pitched very well, but our guy was awfully good, too," Tracy said. "What else can you ask a guy to do? He's pitching with more and more confidence each time out. He's throwing three pitches for strikes with great command. He's a very composed individual.

"He's becoming a very special pitcher -- and will become a very special pitcher in this league."

Marquis, who led the National League with 16 losses for St. Louis last season, is becoming a very effective Cubs starter.

He has won his past five starts, allowing 22 hits and five runs in 36²/₃ innings.

"It's his location," Pirates catcher Ryan Doumit said. "It seems like he has about eight pitches, and he's spotting them all. We're not having bad at-bats against him. He's just locating his pitches. You tip your hat to him and [today's] a new day."

Tracy last night did not start shortstop Jack Wilson, playing Don Kelly instead.

"Just giving him a day off," Tracy said. "He's a high-energy guy who's played virtually every inning this season. And his offensive history suggests he doesn't match up well [against Marquis]."

Wilson is 6 for 36 lifetime against the right-hander.

Only Jason Bay has a positive track record against Marquis. He entered the game 13 for 27 lifetime against Marquis. The rest of the lineup last night? It was a collective 8 for 52 at game time.

That included Kelly, who was a measly 0-1 but who would become kind of a key figure in the event.

Marquis set down the first 16 batters. Given the futility of the lineup other than Bay -- and the fact Gorzelanny is hitless in the major leagues -- a no-hitter was a distinct possibility.

Kelly took care of that by lining a 2-1 pitch into left field in the sixth.

"Donnie Kelly had as consistent at-bats as anybody," Tracy said. "He swung at strikes."

Doumit had a two-out double in the seventh.

Jose Bautista lined a one-out single into right-center field in the eighth. Kelly flied to deep center before Brad Eldred pinch-hit for Gorzelanny, setting up the only real threat for the Pirates.

Albeit a small sample, Eldred was 2 for 3 lifetime against Marquis -- both hits being home runs. Marquis dominated Eldred this time, though, quickly getting ahead 0-2 before setting him down on a popup to second.

The ninth inning was played just because rules mandate it.