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PITTSBURGH -- The National League MVP doesnt play favourites when it comes to hot streaks. Neither do the Pittsburgh Pirates, who rode Andrew McCutchen to another win Wednesday. McCutchen homered and reached base four times and the Pirates beat the Chicago Cubs 4-2 at rainy PNC Park on Wednesday night. McCutchen is batting .462 during a seven-game hitting streak and has 12 extra-base hits during 10 June games. "I dont compare (career-best stretches)," McCutchen said. "Im not big on that. Im just seeing the ball hitting the ball. Im in a spurt where Im feeling really good right now." So are the Pirates, who have taken two of the first three games of the series with their NL Central rivals. Pittsburghs Brandon Cumpton (2-2) pitched five effective innings, and the offence pounded Cubs starter Jason Hammel (6-4) for 11 hits in five innings, snapping his streaks of 14 1-3 innings without allowing a run and 52 innings without allowing a homer when McCutchen hit his 10th in the first. McCutchen also had a single and walked twice. "Hes hot," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "When he gets his pitch, hes not missing." Luis Valbuena likewise continued his recent strong hitting with three hits for last-place Chicago, which has lost three of four after a season-best five-game winning streak. The games first pitch was delayed 1 hour, 38 minutes because of a severe thunderstorm that began sweeping through downtown Pittsburgh about an hour before the scheduled start time. Rain fell again during the sixth inning. McCutchens fly ball landed more than a row into the left-field seats -- but it almost became an extra-long out when leftfielder Chris Coghlan leaped into the stands. He landed in the seats and said he had a read on the ball but that a fan outmanoeuvred him for it. "Best non-catch effort Ive ever seen," Cubs manager Rick Renteria said. "I would have went there and shook his hand myself if he caught that ball," McCutchen said. The Pirates Gregory Polanco went 1 for 5 with an RBI groundout a day after his much-hyped major league debut Tuesday. Making his sixth start of the season and fourth since being given a regular rotation spot, Cumpton allowed two runs on five hits and two walks with five strikeouts. On his final pitch, he struck out Nate Schierholtz swinging with the bases loaded. "Its something I need to work on, getting through the fifth and sixth innings," Cumpton said. "It was a good experience, a real confidence booster for me." Justin Wilson, Tony Watson, Mark Melancon and Jason Grilli followed with a hitless inning each. Grilli earned his 10th save of the season during what was his 400th career appearance. Hammel had won two previous starts against the Pirates this season and entered Wednesday with the second-best WHIP in the majors (0.88). He allowed 14 baserunners Wednesday. "It was rough," Hammel said with a laugh. "A lot of hits given up. Up in the zone. Obviously could have been better strikes thrown, but I battled through. It could have been a lot worse - 11 hits through five innings? Its amazing they only put up four." Hammel was spared a worse line by some poor baserunning by Pittsburgh, which hit into two peculiar double plays and had another runner thrown out at third during the seventh inning after Hammel was out of the game. The Pirates Starling Marte had two hits - including an RBI single in the fifth inning - but also was thrown out on the basepaths for the third time in two games when he was picked off third following a Travis Snider pop-up behind home plate in the fifth. The Cubs briefly tied the game at 2 in the second when John Bakers single drove in Valbuena and Nate Schierholtz scored on a groundout. Notes: Before the game, the Pirates places LHP Francisco Liriano on the disabled list because of a strained left oblique that caused him to leave his start Tuesday in the fourth inning. . The Cubs on Wednesday announced they signed their first-round draft pick, Indiana University catcher/outfielder Kyle Schwarber. Schwarber, the No. 4 overall selection, will report to the organizations short-season Class A affiliate in Boise, Idaho. . Pirates 2B Josh Harrison was removed from the game for a pinch hitter during the third inning because of discomfort in his left ankle. . A fireworks display - from the nearby annual Pittsburgh arts festival - rumbled PNC Park for several minutes during the fourth inning. . Pittsburghs Thursday scheduled starter, RHP Edionson Volquez, is 5-0 in his career against the Cubs. Chicagos probable starter, RHP Jeff Samardzija, has a 1.90 ERA in 71 career innings against the Pirates, including seven shutout innings on opening day at PNC Park. Cheap NBA Jerseys . Louis Cardinals, the team will be celebrating the 25th anniversary of the opening of the SkyDome. Jays legends Jimmy Key and Ernie Whitt, members of playoff and World Series-winning teams of the past, will be on hand for the festivities to look back at what was the beginning of the Jays halcyon years. Cheap Jerseys . Torres tells Spanish daily AS "in football you never know where you will be inside one month. Im going to work hard, thats all you can do with this last part of the season so important. https://www.cheapnfljerseysjustwholesale...college-jerseys. Green-Ellis was Cincinnatis leading rusher each of the last two seasons. His role was reduced last year when Giovani Bernard was added to the backfield. Green-Ellis ran for 756 yards and a career-low 3. Authentic NFL Jerseys . Off-Season Game Plan examines a team facing some challenging times as GM Bryan Murray tries to put together a roster for next season. Perhaps the first challenge facing Murray is that its expected he will be moving out Jason Spezza, a premier point producer who is about to enter the final year of his contract. Cheap MLB Jerseys . The former central defender calmly nodded it down and quietly went about celebrating a win with his staff. For a man who has had a lot on his shoulders this season, it was an appropriate moment. MINNEAPOLIS -- Yu Darvish showed up to the ballpark on Wednesday with his stiff neck feeling much better, and the Texas Rangers were able to breathe a sigh of relief knowing their Japanese ace wont have to join a long list of teammates on the disabled list. Darvish was scratched from his start on Tuesday night because of that neck discomfort, but Rangers manager Ron Washington said before a game against the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday that the right-hander will start at Washington on Sunday. Darvish had an MRI on Tuesday that showed there was nothing to be concerned about and he was able to get through a workout at Target Field on Wednesday with no issues. Washington chose to just skip Darvishs turn in the rotation rather than bump him back a day or two to make sure that Darvish is as close to 100 per cent as possible before he returns to the mound. "One thing about Yu Darvish, if he wont be 100 per cent, hell let us know," Washington said. Darvish is 4-2 with a 2.35 ERA, the fourth-best in the league and has 71 strikeouts in 61 1-3 innings. Darvish didnt pitch for three weeks in spring training because oof a stiff neck, a condition that pushed back his first start of this season to April 6.dddddddddddd Washington said he wasnt sure what caused the neck pain this time, but he wasnt concerned about it becoming a nagging injury. "Yu Darvish is a different animal," Washington said. "He just doesnt want to have any reason why he doesnt feel well. So if he doesnt feel right ... wed much rather know hes OK. We dont want him worrying about it. So well hold him back until Sunday." Outfielder Daniel Robertson is also ready to go after a scary collision last week with Alex Rios and suffering an injury to the bone around his left eye. Robertson has been outfitted with a clear mask -- much like the ones NBA players wear when they break their noses -- that he will wear in the outfield to protect himself from further injury. He will have to wear the mask for four to six weeks and will use a modified batting helmet that protects the area when hes at the plate. "Its weird wearing it. Its frustrating wearing it," Robertson said. "But for the most part, there is no limitation." ' ' '