Blown. Bucs LOSE

	R	H	E	LOB
	2	6	0	7
	3	9	1	8

Another game that started off positively, but went nowhere fast. Garrett Jones had an early 2-run homer, but the Astros came back in the 7th. No more run support came for Paul Maholm, who went 6.2 IP with 9 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 Ks, and 1 HR. On a lot of teams this would be a great outing, but for the Pirates he would have needed to allow 1 run or less, and even then he probably would have gotten a no decision. Chris Resop was pretty good in his 1.1 innings of relief though.

Jeff Clement got the start at 1B for some reason and went 2 for 4, the only multi-hit player. Other than Garrett Jones's home run in the 1st, Cutch also had a triple, his 5th of the season. Pedro had an especially tough day at the plate, going 0 for 4, all of them strikeouts. Paul Maholm got a hit, raising his average to .106.

The Race For Last™

Baltimore: Lost 7-3.
Arizona: Won 9-2.
Seattle: Won 9-3.
Cleveland: Lost 9-3.
Kansas City: Lost 8-3.

The current standings:

Team	W	L
Pittsburgh	39	77
Baltimore	41	76
Seattle	46	71
Arizona	47	71
Cleveland	48	69
Kansas City	48	69

Eyes on the prize, Bucco fans.

Bullpen Breakdown. Bucs LOSE

	R	H	E	LOB
	9	16	0	7
	4	7	0	4

Jeff Karstens really kept the Pirates in this game for 5 innings, but the Pirates' bullpen post-deadline, sans Hanrahan and Meek, is young, inexperienced, and all-around terrible.

The score was 3-1 through 6 innings, when a combination of Sean Gallagher, Wil Ledezma, and Steven Jackson allowed 5 hits, 6 runs, and 1 homer, sinking the Buccos' slim hopes of pulling this one out. Ledezma allowed 3 runs in 0.1 IP, bringing his ERA back up to 18.00. In 5.0 IP, Jeff Karstens allowed 9 H, 3 ER, 2 BB and no HRs while striking out 2.

On the offensive side, the Bucs might have been able to squeak out a win if the bullpen had held. But as it is, they only scored 4 runs, not nearly enough for this game. All 4 runs came by way of the long ball which if nothing else made it nice to watch for the 20,420, minus some out-of-towners, on hand to witness it. Andrew McCutchen got things started in the very first at bat, lifting one deep toward the Left Field Loonies. That would be the only time the Pirates had the lead, as the Reds tied it up the very next inning. In the 7th inning, Jeff Clement smacked one to right with Cedeno on 2nd base. That being the only time in the game the Pirates had runners in scoring position, they went 1 for 1 with RISP on the day. Clement got back over the batting average hump with that hit, and his average is now a breathtaking .205. Pedro had the only multi-hit game, going 2 for 3 with a walk, and hit a fairly meaningless but still sweet 412 footer to right center in the 9th.

The Race For Last™

The Pirates lost, so they inch one step closer to that #1 pick. The other teams on the watch list:

Baltimore: Won 9-7.
Arizona: Lost 7-2.
Seattle: Lost 11-6.
Cleveland: Won 9-1.
Kansas City: Lost 4-3.

The current standings:

Team	W	L	GB
Baltimore	34	73	--
Pittsburgh	37	70	3
Arizona	40	68	4.5
Seattle	40	67	6
Cleveland	46	62	10.5
Kansas City	46	62	10.5

Eyes on the prize, Bucco fans.

Blowout. Bucs LOSE

	R	H	E	LOB
	1	8	2	7
	11	15	1	11

I don't know which is more painful to watch: the Pirates losing 1-0 in extra innings, or being spanked 11-1. Especially when it appears that our bullpen is falling apart at the seams.

Dan McCutchen pitched a pretty poor game, but managed to escape with 5.2 IP, 6 H, 4 R / 3 ER, 1 K, and 1 HR. He allowed 6 walks though, which is pretty terrible. Still not sure how exactly he is better than Brad Lincoln. Sean Gallagher and Wil Ledezma were awful in relief, Ledezma alone giving up 5 runs in just 0.1 IP, raising his ERA to a ludicrous 27.00.

The Pirates' bats were silent again for the most part, but Andrew McCutchen and Jose Tabata had pretty nice days. McCutchen went 2 for 4 with a double, and Jose Tabata went 3 for 4, raising his hitting streak to 11 games. Jeff Clement hit a home run as a pinch-hitter to score the Buccos' only run.

The Bucs will try to avoid the sweep in a Sunday afternoon game.

Canyon, Part II. Bucs SWEPT

	R	H	E	LOB
	2	4	0	3
	5	12	0	12

Like all weekend afternoon games, didn't get to watch this game.  And looking at the stats, I'm pretty glad I didn't.  This game was a travesty.  The Bucs got 4-hit by an 0-7 pitcher.  Their only scoring play was a 2- run homer by Jeff Clement.  In the past 5 games (all losses) Andrew McCutchen has only 3 hits, and no more than one per game.  It's time to stop the bleeding, and fast.  Time to call up Alvarez and Tabata.  Give Brad Lincoln a shot too.  He can't be worse than Charlie Morton has been, even if he's not completely ready yet.  Have to do something before the season's completely out of reach before the halfway point.

Cueto. Bucs LOSE

	R	H	E	LOB
	2	8	1	9
	8	12	0	8

Johnny Cueto.  He's apparently the Bronson Arroyo of 2010 for the Reds against the Pirates.  It wasn't until he was relieved in the 7th that the Pirates were able to score a run, an Aki Iwamura RBI single.

Charlie Morton.  Despite all the talk about his great "stuff" (and I hate that term), he has only been able to grind out a win in one game out of ten.  Granted, he hasn't had much help from the Pirate bats, but in seven out of his ten appearances he has given up 5 or more runs.  Everyone has bad days.  A few outings where he gives up a lot of runs would be okay at this point in the season, but not 70% of the time.  His ERA went up again after this game to 9.35.  On a good team he would have been gone long before now.  It's time to send him down to Indy or try and trade him (probably not a lot of offers at this point, but he might be worth a low draft pick from a bad team like Houston or Baltimore.  Someone probably still thinks his "stuff" will get him somewhere), and give Brad Lincoln a try in the big leagues.  If he doesn't work out right away, there's always Karstens to pick up a few games.

UPDATE: Morton has apparently been placed on the DL, and Steven Jackson has been called up from the St. Louis Rams.

The Pirates bats were quiet as usual, even though they did pick up 8 hits.  Clement and Cedeno combined for 5 of those hits, going 3 for 4 and 2 for 4 with a walk respectively.  As mentioned previously, Aki got a hit as a pinch hitter and extended his streak to 5 games.  I think he was really having problems with an injury which was hampering his ability to hit and field effectively.  Maybe now that he is apparently healthy we can start to see more of the Aki that was part of the Rays AL Championship team in 2008.  The only Bucco RBIs came from him and Cedeno.

Overall this series was a bust, as the Reds are really surging lately and the Pirates, well, they never seem to surge.  It's not going to get any better in Atlanta I fear, but the Cubs series after that seems promising.

We're going streaking. Bucs WIN

	R	H	E	LOB
	4	6	0	5
	3	9	0	8

7 wins in a row vs. the Cubs.  Bucs jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the 1st.  Cutch continued his hitting streak against the Cubs; it's now at 5 games dating back to last year.  Jeff Clement hit his 4th homer of the year in the 9th.  Maholm pitched a good game, only allowing 2 runs.  More bullpen dominance, apart from Dotel letting in one in the bottom of the 9th on a triple.  He got the job done in the end though.  Maholm gets the W.

GAME.

WOOOOOO. Bucs WIN

	R	H	E	LOB
	7	14	0	9
	3	8	0	9

I have been a Jeff Karstens fan since the almost no-hitter in 2008.  He had some bad outings in 2009, but when he was moved to reliever later in the year, he did pretty well.  I have no idea why he was not on the roster since the beginning of the season.  He has been pretty much all over the map in Indianapolis, granted.  He has pitched anywhere from a 2-hit 0.00 ERA in 4 IP to a 6-run, 15.00 ERA nightmare over 3 innings in AAA.  I still believe he should have a spot on this Pirates roster.  If not a starter, than in relief.  If Ross Ohlendorf does not start next week, give Jeff a try.  Or maybe you could give Charlie Morton some work in AAA.  Maybe give the bullpen some rest and let Karstens pitch a few innings.  Whatever it takes.  Jeff has the talent to pitch in the majors.

There is no doubt that tonight he was our savior.  He held a Brewers offense that has been absolutely explosive against Pirates pitchers to only 2 runs over his 6.6 IP.  He is the first decent start against the Brewers since Paul Maholm allowed 1 run in 7.6 IP to cap a sweep of the Brew Crew in Pittsburgh in late August of 2009.  Maholm, coincidentally, will start tomorrow afternoon.

One player I have not mentioned often enough is Andy LaRoche, who went 4 for 5 today.  He has been absolutely amazing so far with a .400 batting average, albeit in fewer games due to injury.  In players with 40 or more at bats this season, he ranks 3rd. Unfortunately, due to injury, he is not eligible for the batting crown at this point.  His OPS is a team-best .959, not counting Ross Ohlendorf's 2 walks in his only at-bats.  It's funny, but I always considered Andy to be the lesser LaRoche when his brother was on the team.  Boy was I wrong on that count.  Keep up the good work, young man.

The Brewers took a 3-2 lead into the top of the 9th, thanks to a tie-breaking home run by Prince Fielder off Javier Lopez.  So Trevor Hoffman comes in, looking for his 14 bazillionth save.  What he didn't count on, however, was Ronny Cedeno homering.  Or Andy LaRoche singling.  Or Lastings Milledge doubling.  Garret Jones gets intentionally walked.  No problem.  Ryan Doumit decides to roll some salami.

7-3.

D.J. Carrasco strikes out the first two.  Then Lloyd Braun grounds out to short.  He just liked ringing that bell.

THE STREAK IS OVER.

GAME.

---

Miscellaneous shit

Three Buccos went 3 for 5 or better: Andy LaRoche, Ryan Doumit, and Jeff Clement.

Trevor Hoffman is 42 years old.  He certainly looked like it tonight.

The Bucs look to begin a new streak and take the series win tomorrow at 1:10 pm.  Paul Maholm will get the start against former reliever Chris Narveson.

As unbelievable as it sounds, the Pirates are only 5 games behind 1st place St. Louis right now.  A win tomorrow could push them as high as 3rd place in the surprisingly even NL Central.  There's a slight glimmer of hope for the Bucs.  Do it.

Defense. Bucs LOSE

	R	H	E	LOB
	3	4	1	3
	4	7	1	3

Short recap as I'm busy with finals prep at the moment.  Bucs' rally in the 7th fell short and they lose their first close game of the season.  Paul Maholm was pretty much excellent, but the defense behind him was suspect.  If Milledge had started in LF and not Church, and if Bobby Crosby or Andy LaRoche had been at 3rd instead of Delwyn Young (who is NOT a 3B any way you try to spin it), I'm fairly certain this is a W for the Pirates.  Garrett Jones got his 4th HR of the year, scoring 2 runs, and Jeff Clement hit his 2nd HR of the year, a solo shot.

Looks like Chris Jakubauskas will be the starter on Saturday.

GAME.

Over the Hump. Bucs WIN

	R	H	E	LOB
	6	9	2	6
	3	5	1	4

Great to get a win after those two ugly losses.  Don't have much to say about this game as it wasn't on TV and there's only so much you can glean from a boxscore.

The Duke got the start today instead of Daniel McCutchen, who will start tomorrow.  With his two wins, he's now the leader in the NL.  He had a very solid start today, pitching 6 scoreless innings until giving 2 up in the 7th.  56 of his 99 pitches were strikes.

Bucs got their runs from people other than the usual scorers today.  Homers came from Iwamura and Clement.  Pretty rare.  RBIs also came from Milledge and Cedeno.  Andy LaRoche had a decent outing, going 2 for 4 and scoring a run.

Haren for the Diamondbacks as expected had a lot of Strikeouts (Doumit struck out every time he was at bat), but still gave up 6 over 6.6 innings.  Very encouraging for the Pirates to steal that many from a strong starter like him.

Bucs' record improves to 3-2 and sole possession of 2nd place in the NL Central.  St. Louis has the best record in the division at 4-1.

Hope the Bucs can pull out the series win tomorrow.

GAME.

A Horse with No Name. Bucs LOSE

	R	H	E	LOB
	1	8	1	7
	9	14	0	6

At first this game seemed like it might be a pitching duel.  Charlie Morton looked decent in the first 2, striking out 5.  But then the 3rd happened.

Diamondbacks score 2, and maybe there's still a little hope.  But then Chris Young hits a Grand Slam. No coming back after that.  Morton is pulled in the middle of the 4th after allowing two more runs, and his ERA is now 21.60.

I don't know what it is about this team that always give the Pirates problems.  They're like the Brewers of the NL West.  The last time the Bucs had a decent series against this team was in early June of 2008, where they tied a 4-game series 2-2 on a Luis Rivas RBI.

Anyway, Clement drives in Milledge in the 6th to break the shutout bid, but there really wasn't much thought about a rally.  Arizona's relievers get the job done, allowing just 2 hits over 3 innings.

And so the Pirates find themselves in the same situation as last year.  2-2.  .500.  Will it last?  Maybe (probably) not, but now is the turning point.  Last year's Bucs were able to sustain .500 ball until May 4, when an 8-game losing streak pretty much killed it.  Just have to see what happens, of course.

GAME.