Boxscore

Reds manager Dusty Baker proved himself right today when, yet again, the base paths were too clogged up for the Reds to score. The Reds left nine runners on base as they lost 1-9 to the Pirates. It was the Pirates’ first series sweep of the year.

Tom Gorzelanny started for the Pirates. He allowed one run (earned) on four hits and four walks through six and a third innings. Ryan Freel knocked in Paul Bako to score the run for the Reds.

Johnny Cueto started for the Reds. Though he allowed five runs (earned) on five hits and a walk in his six innings of work, his ERA remains under 4 at 3.72. Todd Coffey allowed the rest of the Pirates’ runs, giving up four on three hits and a walk in one inning. RBIs for the Buccos went to Luis Rivas, Jason Bay, Ryan Doumit, and Xavier Nady.

The loss brings the Reds’ record to 6-7 and their losing streak to three. After a day off, they take on the Cubs in Chicago on Tuesday.

The win brings the Pirates’ record to 6-6 and their winning streak to three. Tomorrow they travel to LA to take on the Dodgers. Zach Duke starts against Hiroki Kuroda at 10:10pm EDT.

I ran away to the big city today. My friend from Pittsburgh met me there, and we went to see Monty Python’s Spamalot. Why Spamalot? Well…one of us is a Monty Python fan, and one of us has a wicked crush on Clay Aiken (who is currently playing Brave Sir Robin). I will also add that the one of us who has a crush on Clay Aiken is not the one of us who has a crush on Bubba Crosby…

Anyway, we did what women do on a girls’ night out. We swapped baseball news. She had just heard via her local media that Craig Wilson signed a minor league deal with the Pirates.
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Boxscore

Wow, 12 innings! It took 12 whole innings for the Cubs (4-3) to finally defeat the Pirates (3-4). And that was thanks to Pittsburgh having one remaining reliever in the pen, Rule V draftee Evan Meek (0-1).

I don’t know which makes me more concerned about the Cubs, the way they won, the fact that Jon Lieber (1-0) isn’t in the rotation while Dumpster and Marquis de Suck are, or the fact the Ted Lilly blew chunks today. Regardless, it goes down as a W for Chicago, but I think this team has serious question marks.

The two face each other again when Ryan Dempster faces Zach Duke at 6:05pm EDT.

Boxscore

The Pirates (3-3) brought their record back to .500 with a win against Florida (3-3).

Xavier Nady and Nate McLouth both drove in a pair of runs, Nady’s off of his 3rd home run in 6 games. Trade him while his value’s up!

Ian Snell (1-0) and the bullpen were no slouch for once. Snell dominated with 10 strikeouts in 6 innings, and Phil Dumatrait, formerly of the Reds, pitched a scoreless 9th. It must be easier to close out those games when you have a 7-run lead.

The Pirates return home to host the Cubs today at 1:35pm EDT as Tom Gorzelanny (0-1) faces Ted Lilly (0-1).

Boxscore

In what had to have been the ugliest opening series in all of baseball, the Pirates (2-1) managed to take the series from the Braves (1-2).

The Pirates won thanks to a good effort from Zach Duke, despite completely incompetent managing of him by the Pirates’ coaching staff (shades of Dusty Baker) and a great bullpen. Tyler Yates (1-0) picked up the win in the Pirates’ second extra-innings affair in three games, with Matt Capps getting his first save. Chris Resop (0-1) was tagged with the loss in between playing right field for a batter.

The Pirates travel to Florida. Matt Morris (0-0) will start against Scott Olsen (0-0) tonight at 7:10pm EDT.