"The Pirates dropped their fourth in a row Monday night, but don't blame the new guy.

First baseman Derrek Lee homered twice in his Pirates' debut, including a towering drive in the eighth inning to pull the club to within one run and prompt a standing ovation from the crowd of 22,248.

"He made a pretty good first impression on a lot of people here," manager Clint Hurdle said. "We will see how it plays out. Talk about getting out of the blocks good. Couldn't ask for much more out of Mr. Lee tonight."

The sparkling debut wasn't enough, as the Cubs escaped with a 5-3 win over the slumping Pirates at PNC Park.

Lee, who becomes the club's first baseman after Lyle Overbay was designated for assignment yesterday, went 2 for 4 and drove in all three Pirates runs. Acquired from the Orioles on Saturday, Lee became the first Pirates player to homer twice in his debut since Shawon Dunston in 1997.

"It felt good to have a reception like that," said Lee, who played most of his career with the Cubs. "It was a nice crowd. Everything was a good night except the wrong team came out on top."

Left fielder Ryan Ludwick joined Lee in the heart of the batting order, as the energized Pirates began a seven-game homestand with a new-look lineup.

Ludwick, who hit fifth and started in left field, went 0 for 3 with a walk in his first game since being acquired from the Padres.

Lee homered off former teammate Carlos Zambrano (8-6) in his second at-bat to tie the game at 1-all.

Lee added a two-run shot off Kerry Wood in the eighth inning to pull the Pirates to within 4-3. But Wood retired the next three batters, the Cubs scored a run in the top of the ninth to make it 5-3, and Carlos Marmol pitched the ninth for his 21st save."