Pittsburgh Pirates

Gomez held the Cubs to just one run on three hits, but his outing ended after just 56 pitches, thanks to a one hour, 47-minute rain delay. The Pirates won, 4-2.

Gomez struck out two batters and walked none, while racking up nine groundball outs and just one fly ball in 3 2/3 innings. Gomez has a 2.75 ERA in 36 innings, and is expected to make his next start Tuesday against the Tigers. 

Grilli induced a fly ball out on the first batter he faced, and then set down the next two on strikes to preserve a 4-2 win. Grilli needed just 14 pitches to end his outing and lower his ERA to 1.25.

Grilli has a league-leading 19 saves in 19 appearances, to go along with his sterling ERA. He has struck out 34 batters and walked just five in 21 2/3 innings. 

McCutchen went 3 for 4 with two runs driven in and one run scored, in a 4-2 win. All three of his hits were singles, but he added a pair of stolen bases, giving him 12 on the season on 13 attempts.

McCutchen has batting .462 over the last six days, raising his batting average from .260 to .291. 

Snider went 1 for 2 with a run scored and four driven in, in a 5-4 win. Snider has two home runs on the season, both of which have come in the last five games. He is batting .278 with a .761 on-base plus slugging percentage. 

Rodriguez allowed three runs in the second inning, on four hits, but otherwise held the Cubs silent all game long.  He ultimately allowed just the three runs on six hits in six innings of work, while striking out five batters and walking none.

He needed just 87 pitches to finish his six innings of work. He exited the game down 3-0, but the Pirates rallied back in the bottom half of the sixth to put him in line for the win. Pittsburgh would hold on for a 5-4 victory, Rodriguez's fifth of the season. He lowered his ERA to 3.40.

Rodriguez is expected to make his next start Sunday, against the Brewers. He had his worst start of the season against the Brewers in April, but bounce back to limit them to one run in seven innings May 15. 

Liriano held the Cubs scoreless over seven innings on 91 pitches, 59 for strikes. He struck out nine, a season-high, and his best total since Sept. 15, 2012. He walked one, a season-low, and allowed two hits.

Liriano pitched out of a jam in the top of the third with bases loaded and no outs. But he retired the next three batters  and it was the only time the Cubs reached second base against Liriano.

He has a 1.00 ERA in 18 innings, with 25 strikeouts and six walks since returning from a broken arm. Liriano will try to keep his strong start going Monday, when he faces the Tigers in Detroit. 

Karstens last pitched Saturday in Altoona, throwing 60 pitches as he recovers from right shoulder inflammation. 

Walker has watched his line slip to .228/.338/.298 during the slump. He'll try to turn things around when the Pirates face the Brewers this weekend.

"It's so much fun to be out there, closing out the game," Melancon said. "It's my favorite thing."

Melancon has been lights-out as a set up man this season, allowing just one run in his last 17 appearances, and the team clearly feels comfortable with him as a possible backup in case Jason Grilli falters.

"I love the fact that Mark's been battle tested," Hurdle said. "He's had some good opportunities, including some that have not worked out well. He's dealt with adversity. Those have become strengths for him. He is in a good place, personally and professionally. He's taking care of today and what opportunities he has today. Who knows what the rest of this season will provide?"

Melancon had 20 saves in 2011 for the Astros, but just one in each of the last two seasons. 

"So far so good," manager Clint Hurdle told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Wednesday. "There were no repercussions from (Tuesday). He didn't feel anything."

McDonald is set to begin his rehab assignment Monday for Double-A Altoona. He has not pitched since April 30 due to a shoulder injury. 

Locke has a 2.73 ERA in nine starts, but his 4.47 FIP indicates that he's been pitching over his head. Locke said the stat hasn't picked up on the fact that he's throwing a two-seam fastball or the adjustment he made with his delivery. Locke believes he's getting more deception after learning from Erik Bedard. 

Nothing in Locke's profile suggests his performance is sustainable. Neither his walk and strikeout rate is elite, and his .224 BABIP will not last. Locke has been extremely homer-prone over his career, but getting that rate down could help his overall numbers. Still, the advanced stats are concerning, despite Locke's insistence. 

Marte reached on an infield single in the first inning and promptly stole second, his 11th steal of the season. He came around to score on a single by Andrew McCutchen, the first of two runs he would score in the first two innings.

He finished 2 for 3 with a walk, two runs scored and a stolen base, as the Pirates won, 4-2. He is hitting .310 on the season.