Chicago, IL (Best E Casino) - Reed Johnson hit the go-ahead, two-run homer and Alfonso Soriano followed with a solo shot in the eighth, as the Chicago Cubs rallied for an 8-5 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates, in the finale of a three-game set from Wrigley Field.

Geovany Soto was 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored while Soriano's home run was one of three hits on the day. Johnson's pinch-hit two-run homer was the difference maker for Chicago, which has won seven of eight overall.

Chad Gaudin (8-4) picked up the win despite allowing a game-tying two-run homer in the eighth.

Andy LaRoche and Brandon Moss both hit their first home runs as members of the Pirates following the blockbuster three-way trade with the Dodgers and Red Sox that netted both players along with Craig Hansen and Bryan Morris. Hansen (1-4), however, was dealt the loss and was charged with the decisive earned run in tossing 1 2/3 innings. Ryan Doumit added two hits with an RBI and a run scored for the Pirates, who have now dropped three of their last four.

"We gave up three two-strike, home runs today and two were on 0-2 counts," Pirates manager John Russell said. "We've got to make better pitches in that situation."

Hansen, who pitched the seventh, continued in the eighth with two quick ground outs before walking Soto. Hansen exited in favor of Sean Burnett, who promptly handed the lead back to Chicago by allowing back-to-back home runs to pinch- hitter Johnson and Soriano.

"You're going to have people that can do the job coming off the bench, and Reed's certainly done it and we've got a few others," Cubs manager Lou Pinella explained of using Johnson as a pinch-hitter in swapping out original pinch- hitter Daryle Ward following a pitching change. "It gives us some favorable matchups. At least we can counter some moves that the other manager makes."

Carlos Marmol came on for the ninth and set the Bucs down in order to earn his sixth save of the season.

Cubs starter Carlos Zambrano went five innings, allowing two runs - one earned - on three hits and a walk in the no-decision and was ultimately let down by the bullpen. Pirates starter Ian Snell halted a six-start winless drought on Monday but responded with a lackluster effort, giving up four runs on seven hits and three walks over just four frames in the no-decision.

"When you face the team close to you in the (divisional) race, you have to be fresh," Zambrano explained in reference to his shortened outing in preparation for the upcoming St. Louis series.

Nate McLouth worked a two-out walk in the first and hustled around to score on a Doumit single to shallow left that Soriano allowed to skip by him.

Moss led off the second by golfing a home run to dead center, giving the Bucs a 2-0 lead.

Chicago evened the score in the home half. Mark DeRosa led off with a single to center and Jim Edmonds drew a walk before Soto took an RBI single to right and Zambrano grounded into a run-scoring double play.

The Cubs then surged ahead in the fourth. Edmonds doubled to left and Soto followed with an RBI two-bagger to right. Zambrano made it three in a row by ripping an RBI double into the right field corner, putting the Cubs up by two.

Upon entering in the fifth, T.J. Beam immediately grooved a fastball to Aramis Ramirez who deposited the pitch into the left field seats, extending the Cubs lead to three runs.

Pittsburgh stormed back with a three-run eighth to knot the game at 5-5. Neal Cotts replaced Jeff Samardzija with one out and gave up a double to Doug Mientkiewicz, who moved to third on a wild pitch. McLouth popped out to third but Doumit plated a run with an RBI single to right. Cotts exited in favor of Gaudin, who allowed a game-tying, two-run shot to left from LaRoche.

Game Notes

Chicago leads the season series 10-4 and have taken 10 of the last 14 against the Bucs at Wrigley... Pittsburgh second baseman Freddy Sanchez was out of the lineup for the sixth straight game due to lower back spasms but did pinch-hit in the ninth...Soriano stretched his hitting streak to eight games with a single in the second...The Cubs are now 2-1 after starting a nine-game homestand Friday. Chicago is a National League-best 41-15 at home this season...The Pirates are now 1-2 on their current 10-game, four-city road trip. The Bucs are a mere 19-34 on the road this season...Zambrano kept a perfect home mark intact with the no-decision and hasn't lost at Wrigley since September of last year.