CHICAGO -- Only the complete game and shutout eluded Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher A.J. Burnett in a stadium where he loves to pitch. Burnett pitched into the ninth inning and Pedro Alvarez and Russell Martin homered to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 6-2 win over the Chicago Cubs on Saturday. "You program yourself," Burnett said after coming within two outs of his teams first complete game this season. "You want to finish what you started." Burnett (4-6) gave up four hits and three walks with five strikeouts in 8 1-3 innings to improve to 5-0 in his career at Wrigley Field. He had a shutout until Alfonso Sorianos two-run home run to left with one out in the ninth ended a string of 18 straight scoreless innings by Pirates pitchers. "It was the only ball that hung," Burnett said of the shot by Soriano. "He did with it what youre supposed to do with it. I go back a long way with Sori. ... Ive gotten him a few times, hes gotten me. "But you know, you can bury that pitch right there and Ive buried it." Burnett held the Cubs hitless until Nate Schierholtzs double down the line in right leading off the fifth. He threw 112 pitches and left after Sorianos home run. Burnett did not want to come out after allowing a single to Anthony Rizzo before Sorianos home run, and despite a mound conference, manager Clint Hurdle said he had no intention of removing his starter until 115 pitches or some runs scored. "Youve got to give men an opportunity to do certain things no matter where you are or who it is, and hes earned that opportunity," Hurdle said. "Theres been many games hes given us everything hes had." Burnett threw a one-hitter in his last start at Wrigley Field last July 31. He lost the no-hitter in the eighth inning with two outs in that outing. "Its a good place," Burnett said. "Its a good environment. A day game, too. "You come to Chicago and Wrigley Field, even as a Marlin I enjoyed coming here a long time ago. So its fun to get out and play against these guys on their field in their stadium." Sorianos homer was the 379th of his career, tying him with Orlando Cepeda and Tony Perez for 64th on the all-time list. But it was the Pirates doing almost all the hitting, as they gave Burnett some rare run support: They had scored three runs or less in six of his previous seven starts. "The last couple times we havent given him many runs," Alvarez said. "I dont care how good you are, its always nice to pitch with some runs behind you." The Pirates tagged Cubs starter Jeff Samardzija (3-7) for eight hits, including Alvarezs two-run home run in the fourth, his team-high 13th of the year. The right-hander struck out seven and walked one in six innings. "The splitter was up all day today," Samardzija said. "(They) got a couple of hits off of it. Alvarezs home run was off of it. "They took advantage of (the splitter) up in the zone and they made me pay." Martins homer, a two-run shot in the eighth off reliever Hector Rondon, was the 100th of his career. The Pirates jumped on Samardzija for a run in the second on Garrett Jones double and Alvarezs one-out RBI single. Pittsburgh added a run in the third when Starling Marte ended a streak of 14 hitless at-bats with a single, stole second and came in on Travis Sniders single. Alvarez homered to right field after Martin led off with a walk in the fourth to increase the Pirates lead to 4-0. In the eighth, Martin sent a 3-2 pitch by Rondon into the seats in left for a two-out home run after Andrew McCutchen had drawn a walk. Pittsburgh beat Chicago for the fifth straight time and handed the Cubs their fifth loss in the last six games overall. "Its hard to see those guys play the way they play and we cannot play like that," Soriano said. "Especially, we got shut out yesterday. I dont want it to happen today again. At least he didnt throw a shutout." NOTES: Pittsburgh RHP Jeff Karstens, on the disabled list since March 26 with a shoulder inflammation, had surgery Friday on his right rotator cuff and labrum in Los Angeles. Hell be able to begin a rehab process in 10 to 12 weeks. ... The Pirates placed RHP Jared Hughes on the 15-day disabled list with a throwing shoulder inflammation and recalled OF Alex Presley from Triple-A Indianapolis. Presley had been sent down Monday when Hughes was called up. Hughes has returned to Pittsburgh for more evaluation. ... Cubs pitcher Kyuji Fuikawa, who went on the 60-day DL May 27 with a muscular strain in his right forearm, is expected to have surgery Tuesday after an exam on Monday. ... Cubs SS Starlin Castro, dropped from second to seventh in the order on June 4, continued to struggle. He went 0 for 3 and is mired in a 3-for-34 slump. ... Sundays pitchers: Pittsburgh left-hander Jeff Locke (5-1, 2.45) vs. Chicago right-hander Edwin Jackson (1-8, 6.29). Authentic Custom Mets Jersey .com) - Following a late-game loss to the reigning NBA champs, the Toronto Raptors will look to sustain their recent high-level play as they travel to Indiana to take on the Pacers. Mookie Wilson Jersey Large . -- Josh Sterk scored once and set up two more as the Oshawa Generals edged the visiting Belleville Bulls 3-2 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League action. http://www.custommetsjersey.com/ . Bjorn, who had a 36-hole total of 8-under 134, made a testing six-foot putt to save par on the 16th and a birdie on the 17th before bogeying the final hole after a misjudged approach shot. American Kevin Streelman was in second place after shooting a 69. Custom Mets T-shirts . -- When the Florida Panthers fell behind by two goals in the first period to the top team in the NHL, it appeared they were on their way to yet another loss. Cheap Mets Jerseys . -- New England Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis is retiring after a 16-year career to become the goalie coach for the Los Angeles Galaxy. WASHINGTON -- On a night when Gio Gonzalez earned his 100th career win, the Nationals starter deflected praise to his teammates. There was plenty to go around after Washington beat the Colorado Rockies 8-5 on Friday night.Jayson Werth and Daniel Murphy hit solo homers and drove in two runs each, and Bryce Harper had two extra-base hits as Washington earned its second straight win.Murphys team-leading 25th home run gave the Nationals second baseman 500 career RBI.Thats a special night, too, Gonzalez said. Im just glad I can share the same special night with him and with this organization, with this team.Gonzalez became the fourth player to earn his 100th win in a Nationals uniform joining Livan Hernandez, Jason Marquis and Max Scherzer.Gonzalez (9-9) threw six innings and allowed two runs and four hits with one walk and five strikeouts.Gio he kept his pitch count low, manager Dusty Baker said. Thats the key to his success, not getting runners on base or not walking people and he had a very good game tonight, excellent game.While Gonzalez hit the century mark, Rockies rookie Jeff Hoffman (0-2), remains in search of his first major league win. Hoffmans first two starts have come against the top two teams in the National League in the Cubs and Nationals.I feel really grateful for that opportunity, Hoffman said. I feel like they pulled me up at a good time to test me and to test our team. Next time out, at home, were going to go out there and get another one.Hoffman allowed a homer to the second batter he faced when Werth went deep for the second time in as many days and the 18th time this season.Murphys blast gave the Nationals a 4-2 lead in the fifth.Nationals rookie Trea Turner led off multiple innings with an infield single and his speed caused the Rockies to commit three errors. Turner stole his 16th base and scored two runs.When you can run, you make people rush, Baker said. And if people rush in this game most of the time theyre not themselves and most of the time theyre going to make mistakes. and thats what Trea does.Hoffman ttossed six innings and allowed four runs (three earned) and six hits with four walks and three strikeouts.ddddddddddddI thought there was some positives, Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. He gave up some runs early and really fought to get through six.Putting down that sixth inning I think was a nice step for him. Hes got a good arm. I like what I see from him the second time out here.The Nationals blew the game open with a four-run seventh off reliever Matt Carasiti, highlighted by a two-run triple from Harper.Closer Mark Melancon retired Christhian Adames for the final out. Melancon entered the game shortly after Nick Hundley hit a three-run homer off Shawn Kelley to pull the Rockies within three.TRAINERS ROOMRockies: 2B D.J. LeMahieu participated in the pregame workout, but was held out a third straight game with a wrist injury. Weiss said that barring any issues from the workout, he anticipates LeMahieu returning to the lineup Saturday. LeMahieu entered play Friday second in the National League with a .344 average.Nationals: C Wilson Ramos was given a second straight night off Friday, with backup Jose Lobaton starting in his place. Baker said that Ramos is healthy and will start Saturday. The NLs top-hitting catcher (.312) is 1 for 22 in his last five games.UP NEXTRockies: LHP Jorge De La Rosa (8-7) will look to build off his best start of the season when he takes the mound Saturday against the Nationals. De La Rosa threw a career-high tying eight innings and allowed two runs and four hits with one walk and six strikeouts in an 11-4 win over the Cubs on Aug. 21.Nationals: RHP A.J. Cole (0-1) will make his second start of the season Saturday against Colorado. Cole, was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse last Monday when Stephen Strasburg was paced on the DL. The 24-year-old threw seven innings and allowed four runs and five hits with two walks and eight strikeouts in a 4-3 loss to the Orioles on Aug. 22. ' ' '