CHICAGO -AP- Mike Montgomery is creating all sorts of intriguing questions for theChicago Cubs.Montgomery pitched six-hit ball into the eighth inning and helped himself at the plate, leading the Cubs to a 6-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday night.Montgomery struck out four and walked none in his second start since he was inserted into the rotation after Jon Lesterwas placed on the 10-day disabled list. The left-hander was pulled after Jordy Mercer snapped his 17 1/3-inning scoreless streak with a leadoff homer in the eighth. 
"When he gets better counts and he's putting the ball on the ground, he's tough," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said, "and I think it begins with the better counts. He did a nice job getting ahead."With Lester nearing a return, Montgomery (5-6) could be headed back to the bullpen. The Cubs also could decide to move slowly with Lester and give Montgomery another start, or Maddon and company could go with a six-man rotation to provide more rest for their pitchers.Montgomery also is up to a career-high 109 1/3 innings, which could factor into the Cubs' plans. For now, he said he is moving forward as if he is going to start again."That's going to be kind of my routine, and if it changes, it changes and I'll be able to adjust from there," he said.Carl Edwards Jr. got three outs beforeWade Davis finished the six-hitter as Chicago moved 2 1/2 games ahead of idle Milwaukee for the top spot in the NL Central.Trevor Williams (5-7) hung in there with Montgomery, pitching five innings of two-run ball, but Pittsburgh lost for the 11th time in its last 16 games. Mercer went 3 for 3, David Freese had two hits andAndrew McCutchen singled for the Pirates."Montgomery threw a hell of a game," Williams said. "It's one of those nights that you tip your cap to him."Chicago was clinging to a 1-0 lead when Montgomery beat out an infield chopper over Williams' head for a leadoff single in the fifth. He advanced to third on Tommy La Stella's one-out single and scored when Anthony Rizzo's bases-loaded drive pushed McCutchen all the way back to the wall in center for a leaping catch.The Cubs added three more in the seventh on Alex Avila's bases-loaded infield single and errors on second baseman Sean Rodriguez and catcherChris Stewart. Rodriguez threw wide of first while trying to retire Avila, and Stewart threw the ball into center field to bring home another run."We weren't able to create much offense," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "Trevor pitched a very gritty game, a gutsy game. We put ourselves in a position to be in a closer game and we couldn't get outs when we needed to."QUITE A SHOWCubs shortstop Javier Baez made a pair of nice defensive plays. First, he robbed Jose Osuna of a hit with a terrific diving stop and strong throw in the third. Then he made a diving catch in the fifth and got up to tag Mercer for an unassisted double play.
"When he gets better counts and he's putting the ball on the ground, he's tough," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said, "and I think it begins with the better counts. He did a nice job getting ahead."With Lester nearing a return, Montgomery (5-6) could be headed back to the bullpen. The Cubs also could decide to move slowly with Lester and give Montgomery another start, or Maddon and company could go with a six-man rotation to provide more rest for their pitchers.Montgomery also is up to a career-high 109 1/3 innings, which could factor into the Cubs' plans. For now, he said he is moving forward as if he is going to start again."That's going to be kind of my routine, and if it changes, it changes and I'll be able to adjust from there," he said.Carl Edwards Jr. got three outs beforeWade Davis finished the six-hitter as Chicago moved 2 1/2 games ahead of idle Milwaukee for the top spot in the NL Central.Trevor Williams (5-7) hung in there with Montgomery, pitching five innings of two-run ball, but Pittsburgh lost for the 11th time in its last 16 games. Mercer went 3 for 3, David Freese had two hits andAndrew McCutchen singled for the Pirates."Montgomery threw a hell of a game," Williams said. "It's one of those nights that you tip your cap to him."Chicago was clinging to a 1-0 lead when Montgomery beat out an infield chopper over Williams' head for a leadoff single in the fifth. He advanced to third on Tommy La Stella's one-out single and scored when Anthony Rizzo's bases-loaded drive pushed McCutchen all the way back to the wall in center for a leaping catch.The Cubs added three more in the seventh on Alex Avila's bases-loaded infield single and errors on second baseman Sean Rodriguez and catcherChris Stewart. Rodriguez threw wide of first while trying to retire Avila, and Stewart threw the ball into center field to bring home another run."We weren't able to create much offense," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "Trevor pitched a very gritty game, a gutsy game. We put ourselves in a position to be in a closer game and we couldn't get outs when we needed to."QUITE A SHOWCubs shortstop Javier Baez made a pair of nice defensive plays. First, he robbed Jose Osuna of a hit with a terrific diving stop and strong throw in the third. Then he made a diving catch in the fifth and got up to tag Mercer for an unassisted double play.
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