PITTSBURGH _ The start of Friday night's game between the Cubs and Pirates at PNC Park was delayed by rain for 1 hour, 47 minutes.
But neither Kyle Schwarber nor the Cubs defense showed any rust, as they combined to help left-hander Cole Hamels earn a 1-0 victory over the Pirates.
Schwarber smacked a solo home run off Trevor Williams in the second inning, and the Cubs earned their second consecutive 1-0 victory at PNC Park.
Hamels was the beneficiary of five of the seven double plays turned by the Cubs.
Hamels, acquired from the Rangers in a four-player trade on July 27, has a 2.87 career ERA against the National League Central _ his best against any division. Hamels limited the Pirates to five hits in seven innings while lowering his ERA to 0.72 in four starts since joining the Cubs.
The Pirates mounted a threat in the eighth as Colin Moran hit a single off reliever Brandon Kintzler with one out. But Jorge De La Rosa induced pinch-hitter Adam Frazier to line out to second.
Javier Baez, who moved from third in the eighth, caught the ball and threw quickly to first base to nail pinch-runner Kevin Newman for the final out of the inning.
Steve Cishek, pitching in his third consecutive game, allowed a hit to Corey Dickerson and threw a wild pitch to start the ninth before striking out Starling Marte.
Jesse Chavez walked Gregory Polanco but induced David Freese to ground into a double play to end the game.
