By ALAN ROBINSON
AP Sports Writer

PITTSBURGH(AP) -- The Pittsburgh Pirates' not-so-magic number is
zero, or the number of winning teams they've had during a
record-setting run of futility over 17 forgettable seasons.

The Chicago Cubs assured the Pirates of an unwanted place in
baseball's record book, getting two homers from Derrek Lee and
an effective start from Ted Lilly while beating the last-place
Pirates 4-2 on Monday.

By losing their 10th in 11 games, the Pirates are guaranteed of
finishing below .500, just as they have every season since 1993.
The 17 consecutive losing seasons represent the longest streak
for any team in the four major North American pro team sports,
and only the Phillies (1933-48) have also had as many as 16 in a
row.

The Vancouver Canucks (NHL, 1976-91) and Kansas City/Sacramento
Kings (NBA, 1983-98) had 15 consecutive losing seasons each and
the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers had a 14-year streak (1983-96).

"We can't ignore it and say it didn't happen," said manager John
Russell, whose team was dismantled by the trading of five
everyday players since opening day. "We're not accepting it.
We're making moves to make sure we build a championship team,
and we want that to happen as soon as possible."

The present-day Pirates (54-82) are a mix of prospects and
lower-paid players, and most were oblivious to the significance
of the loss. Rookie starting pitcher Daniel McCutchen (0-1)
didn't realize his first career loss would be the Pirates'
1,501st since the streak began, the season after former Pirates
star Barry Bonds left to sign with the Giants.

In the opposing dugout, the Cubs' Lou Piniella remembered
managing in Cincinnati against Bonds-led Pirates teams that
averaged 96 wins from 1990-92.

"There isn't any team that wants to lose," said Piniella, whose
own team hasn't won the World Series since 1908. "Some are a
little more fortunate, some have more money to spend, some of
them draft better players. But I'm sure this organization in the
near future will start winning with more regularity. It would be
great for the National League and the fans here, they've had a
lot of history here and success in the past to draw on."

No recent success, for sure. The Pirates have been in a
rebuilding mode under three owners, four general managers and
six managers since the streak began, but no team finished better
than four games under .500.

Fittingly, the song "Money for Nothing" was played during one
inning break, which befits a team that has spent about a half
billion dollars on salaries since 1993 yet has fielded only one
team that went into September with an opportunity to win a
division title.

Given that the Pirates' top talent is mostly in the minor
leagues, it's conceivable the streak won't end in the next year
or two.

"Setting a major league mark for losing hurts and it hits
particularly hard for us because everyone in this organization
is extraordinarily proud to be a part of a franchise that has
such a long and rich history of winning," team president Frank
Coonelly said.

A franchise that won five World Series from 1909-79 and sent 13
players to the Hall of Fame did not publicly mention the dubious
record, and there were few eyewitnesses - 14,673 - on a drizzly
Labor Day. The loss was the Pirates' 24th in their last 30 games
against the Cubs, one of the majors' most disappointing teams
this season.

Except against the Pirates, who are 2-7 against the Cubs.

Lee hit his 30th homer into the center field shrubbery with two
out in the first, then hit his 31st into the front row of the
left-field bleachers two innings later after Ryan Theriot's
two-out single. It was Lee's second multiple-homer game in three
days and the 22nd of his career.

"It's been a good few days," Lee said. "I definitely have been
feeling good at the plate. It seems when I get a pitch, it's
been going out of the ballpark."

McCutchen (0-1) has allowed three homers since being promoted to
the majors on Aug. 31, each on a first pitch.

Lilly (11-8) needed 86 pitches over six innings to win for the
first time in his last six road starts, with the left-hander and
relievers John Grabow, Angel Guzman and Carlos Marmol combining
on a two-hitter. Lilly gave up both hits, struck out seven and
walked one.

Marmol pitched the ninth for his 10th save in 14 opportunities.

Andy LaRoche hit his eighth homer in the third and Brandon Moss
doubled in a run in the fifth, but they couldn't prevent the
Pirates from being mathematically eliminated in the NL Central
race.

NOTES: Chicago recalled right-hander Jeff Stevens from Triple-A
Iowa for the fourth time this season. He has a 7.36 ERA in six
games. ... Chicago won for only the fourth time in its last 13
road games. ... The Orioles are one loss away from a 12th
consecutive losing season.