CHICAGO – Jason Bay homered and drove in three runs against Carlos Zambrano to help the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Chicago Cubs 6-4.

Bay hit a two-run single in the first and led off the fifth inning with his fifth homer to help the Pirates (15-18) win their first series since they swept the Houston Astros on April 18-20.

Zambrano (3-3) gave up four earned runs and seven hits in six innings. He struck out six and walked two.

Paul Maholm (2-4) went 7 1-3 innings for the Pirates, allowing four runs and seven hits. He struck out four and walked one. He got the win despite allowing three homers, including a two-run drive by pinch-hitter Michael Barrett with one out in the eighth that cut the Cubs’ deficit to 6-4.

Salomon Torres pitched a perfect ninth for his 11th save in 14 chances.

Zambrano needed 35 pitches to get out of the first. He hit Freddy Sanchez with a pitch to start the game and gave up a double to Jose Bautista. Bay then dropped in a hit in front of charging right fielder Matt Murton, who misplayed the bounce to allow another run to score and Bay to reach second. Bay scored on Xavier Nady’s sacrifice fly.

Zambrano has had his problems in the first inning this season. He gave up four runs in the first in his last start but the Cubs still beat the Washington Nationals 6-4. He also gave up four in the first against Atlanta on April 18 when the Cubs lost 8-6.

Zambrano allowed two unearned runs in the third. He issued a two-out walk to Ryan Doumit, who scored on a two-base error by Murton. Adam LaRoche added an RBI single.

Aramis Ramirez led off the second with his seventh homer for the Cubs. Angel Pagan, just called up from Triple-A before the game, homered in the sixth.

Notes: Barrett’s drive was his fifth home run. … The Cubs sent down OF Felix Pie to bring up the switch-hitting Pagan. Pie hit .224 in his first trip to the majors, a span of 18 games. … Soriano walked in the first to extend his streak of reaching base to 26 games to start the season. … Lee extended his hitting streak to 17 games with a single in the fourth. … Cubs first-base coach Matt Sinatro returned to the team after missing two games after feeling ill with shortness of breath.

AP-ES-05-10-07 1647EDT