Pirates pull out opener against Marlins

07/21/2006
MIAMI -- Nate McLouth and the Pirates are finding that even after a key mistake, there's always a chance to right the ship
With the game tied at 3 after a solo home run by McLouth in the eighth, Jeromy Burnitz and Jack Wilson each delivered an RBI hit in the top of the ninth off Marlins reliever Randy Messenger to put the Pirates ahead. Mike Gonzalez then picked up his 16th save, despite a shaky bottom of the ninth, to seal a 5-3 win over the Marlins on Thursday night at Dolphin Stadium.
Burnitz and Wilson's clutch hits capped a three-run comeback by the Pirates over the final two innings. Trailing, 3-2, in the eighth, McLouth hit a blast off Marlins reliever Logan Kensing to tie the score and redeem himself after striking out with the bases loaded in the fifth.
"Shows your growth," McLouth said. "You know, I had that strikeout with the bases loaded, so it kind of atoned for that, tie the game up late. It's kind of nice for myself, but also nice to get the win."
Growth by young players like McLouth is something Pirates manager Jim Tracy said he has seen a lot of in the past seven games. In that time, the Pirates have gone 5-2 and have finally been able to get the big hits that had eluded them so often in the first half of the season.
"We came up with some timely hits, and, obviously, that's something that's haunted us through much of the first half," Tracy said. "We have played I don't know how many games like that this year, and if we continue to understand those little things right there and the execution of them, just our fair share of them, it will help to make a genuine understanding of how great that group of players is capable of being."
The Pirates' comeback ensured that Ian Snell's latest start wouldn't completely go to waste. A home run to Mike Jacobs, along with RBI hits by Dan Uggla and Hanley Ramirez, were the only blemishes on an otherwise solid outing for Snell. The young right-hander allowed three runs on six hits over six innings, with four strikeouts and just one walk, taking his fifth no-decision of the year.
Though he didn't get the victory, it was a bit of revenge for Snell after his last outing against the Marlins. In that disastrous start, Snell gave up seven runs on seven hits over just 1 1/3 innings.
"I held a grudge against them since that game we had against them in Pittsburgh," Snell said. "They're an aggressive young team, just like us. I just didn't fall into the same routine that I fell into last time -- fastball, fastball. I just kept mixing up my pitches and locating my pitches."
Trailing 1-0 following Ramirez's RBI double, the Pirates briefly took the lead when Jason Bay extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a two-run homer in the fourth off Marlins starter Josh Johnson.
In the fifth, the Pirates had a chance to add on to their lead. Jose Bautista and Jose Castillo belted back-to-back singles with one out off Johnson. Then Snell got to first on a sacrifice bunt to load the bases. But McLouth struck out and Wilson grounded out to third to end the inning.
Jacobs tied it again with his homer to lead off the fourth and Uggla stroked an RBI triple in the sixth to give the Marlins a 3-2 lead.
Salomon Torres (3-4) entered with one out in the eighth and struck out Cabrera and Uggla to pick up the win.
The Pirates kept up the offensive surge in the top of the ninth. Bautista walked to open the inning, and Castillo put down a key sacrifice bunt to advance Bautista. Then, on a wild pitch by Messenger, Bautista advanced to third. Following a walk to Ronny Paulino, Burnitz and Wilson tacked on their RBI hits.
Despite the two-run cushion, Gonzalez managed to make things interesting in the bottom of the ninth. After striking out the first two batters he faced, the Pirates closer gave up a walk and a single to Miguel Olivo and Wes Helms, respectively.
"I just hit the wall there, kind of lost my composure a little bit," Gonzalez said. "Got two quick ones and either way I went deeper into counts. That's just one of those things I've got learn -- where after you get two outs, try to get the ground ball instead of trying to strike the guy out."
Gonzalez did get the strikeout, though, on Alfredo Amezaga in the next at-bat to get out of the jam and pick up the save.
Gonzalez credited the All-Star break with giving him and the Pirates a chance to reboot and contributing to the team's strong play so far in the second half.
"At the All-Star break, I went home and I felt like I recharged my batteries, got ready to go," Gonzalez said. "I feel like a lot of these guys thought about what was going on, thought about what they're going to need to do to be successful, and they're doing it."

Source: http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/

Notes: Casey likely for trade

07/19/2006
PITTSBURGH -- Sean Casey was elated to be traded to his hometown Pirates in the offseason. Much less thrilling is the likelihood that his homecoming will be cut short as a trade deadline casualty.
"You're human and there's a human side to this," Casey said. "To say I don't think about it, I would be lying to you."
With Casey indicating on Wednesday that the Pirates still have not contacted him to discuss a contract extension, a trade is appearing more and more likely.
The Pirates are believed to be heavily pursuing Rockies first baseman Ryan Shealy and published reports in San Francisco indicate the Giants, who have a gaping hole at first and are only 3 1/2 games off San Diego's division-leading pace in the National League West, are very interested in Casey.
The talks bother him, sure, but he went through the same situation during his last years in Cincinnati. Casey, who has as much perspective on the game as anyone in baseball, knows full well the nature of the business.
"You're always going to be in trade talks when your team isn't doing well," Casey said. "But that's part of the business, part of the job. I know when I come and show up to play, I'm still playing for the Pirates."
Still, it is clear he is one Pirates veteran in the final year of his contract who would be disappointed by a trade. He hasn't hidden his fondness for the area.
"I really do love it," Casey said. "I like it here in Pittsburgh a lot."
Daylight woes: Some 10 hours after leaving PNC Park after Tuesday's 13-4 loss, a bleary-eyed Jose Bautista was sitting in front of his locker in the clubhouse on Wednesday morning.
A day game after a night game. It's a practice the Pirates will have gone through at home 26 times, as many as any team in baseball, by season's end.
No big deal, but in those games, the Pirates are just 2-11. Under the lights, they're 21-12. What gives?
"It's one of those things you can't explain," Bautista said. "I mean, as soon as you wake up, you have to come to the ballpark, when usually you get to stretch your body out and do whatever, like walk around the mall. But I really don't know."
He then, of course, acknowledged that both teams are in the same boat.
The only explanation for Casey is that it's simply one of baseball's many statistical aberrations.
"Sometimes in baseball, there's really no rhyme or reason to a lot of things," Casey said. "Yeah, the turnaround time is tough, but hey, it's the same for everyone. So it can't really be an excuse."
Steel City tunes in to ASG: The reviews of last week's Midsummer Classic in Pittsburgh were unanimously gleaming. And now that the local television ratings are in, it's apparent most of the Steel City had their eyes on the shimmering North Shore.
Pittsburgh led all metered markets with a 22.9 share, the highest rating produced by the host city in the eight years FOX has been broadcasting the Midsummer Classic. Of all the televisions in use during the All-Star Game's slot, 34 percent of them were tuned to the happenings at PNC Park.
Bucs bits: Actor Tom Hanks, director Ron Howard and comedian Dennis Miller could be seen in the second row behind home plate on Tuesday night at PNC Park, among the 20,086 who witnessed the Pirates' season-worst 13-4 loss. For Hanks' 50th birthday the three friends have been on a personal ballpark tour. ... Ryan Vogelsong was knocked around for six runs over just four innings in his second start at Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday. ... The slumping Jose Castillo was given the day off at second base on Wednesday. Freddy Sanchez moved to second, giving Joe Randa the rare start at third. ... The Pirates and the Yankees appear to be close to a deal involving 41-year-old reliever Roberto Hernandez, the Newark Star-Ledger reported. The only thing that could stall the proceedings, as it has in past days, is the Pirates likely insistence that the Yankees absorb the contract of Jeromy Burnitz, who is still owed roughly $2.5 million this season. Plus, there is a $500,000 payment if he is traded and it would take $700,000 to buy out his contract for next season.

Source: http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/

Bucs polish off Rockies in finale

07/19/2006
PITTSBURGH -- Any progress the Pirates had made in the past week was slipping away fast as the misery of their first half came seeping back in during the ninth inning of Wednesday's 6-5 Pirates victory over the Rockies.
Holding a 6-4 lead heading into the final frame, Mike Gonzalez made things plenty interesting, allowing four of Colorado's first five hitters to reach base and close the gap to one.
Manager Jim Tracy watched as his closer vigorously paced around the mound in the agonizing humidity of the early afternoon.
"It seemed like I was out there forever," Gonzalez would later say.
Two months ago, in this same situation, Tracy would have certainly summoned Roberto Hernandez from the bullpen to finish the deal. But on this day, he never saw Gonzalez's confidence waver.
Even when he worked the count full to Rockies All-Star Matt Holliday and was being booed by the 19,881 at PNC Park, he was outwardly intense, which Tracy knew could have been mistaken for unease. But he saw that Gonzalez was in full control.
"He's not afraid of the inning," Tracy said. "That's what makes him so interesting."
On a 3-2 offering, Gonzalez struck out Holliday with a high fastball. Then with the crowd standing, he followed with another swinging strikeout to Ryan Shealy to nail down his 15th save of the season.
The Pirates are now heading south to Miami with a modicum of confidence, having won consecutive series for just the second time all season.
"It's a great start to the second half of the season," Tracy said.
"[We are] very positive," Sean Casey said. "We're trying to forget about our record and look forward. Let's quit talking about [winning] and do it."
The Pirates battered Rockies ace Jason Jennings for six runs over just six innings, making the 28-year-old right-hander endure his worst outing since April. Over his previous six starts, Jennings had allowed just seven earned runs.
All six of the Bucs' runs came with two outs -- a stark contrast to the Pirates' first half woes in the clutch. On Wednesday, their approaches palpably changed with runners in scoring position.
"It's a huge stride," Tracy said. "It's something that was lacking in the first half of the season. It was very encouraging."
The Bucs' strides started in the fourth inning with Casey's run-scoring single and continued when Joe Randa drove a two-run double to the wall past center fielder Choo Freeman.
Randa, who got a rare start at third and finished 2-for-4, is now hitting .394 in 23 games since being reinstated off the disabled list with a stress fracture in his foot and has seen his trade value soar.
"I feel like I'm healthy and finally able to do some of the things I'm capable of," Randa said. "I'm felling good right now."
Trailing, 4-3, in the sixth, the Pirates were able to pick up a win for starter Zach Duke with another three-run spurt. With two outs and nobody on, the Bucs banged out three straight singles to knot the game at four. Ronny Paulino delivered the decisive blow with a two-run double down the right-field line to put the Bucs ahead for good.
Duke was largely impressive in notching his second consecutive win, despite faltering in a three-run sixth. The 23-year-old lefty allowed four runs on seven hits over six innings.
"I had hitters on the defensive today and that was the key," Duke said.
"Pitching is everything when you're in close games," Randa said. "We got it today."
For Tracy, Wednesday's win offered him another opportunity to look back at what could have been this season. If only they had this pitching and situational hitting before the season unraveled. If only they hadn't gone 10-25 in one-run games. If only.
"We're not going to get them all every time, but if we picked up one here and there the first half of the season, the outcome of it would have been dramatically different," Tracy said.

Source: http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/

Notes: Tracy sees improvement

07/20/2006
MIAMI -- Six games is nothing to get too excited about, but few can deny that the Pirates have looked like a different team since the start of the second half.
The Pirates' improvement has not been lost on manager Jim Tracy, who credits the club's play over the past two series against the Nationals and Rockies, both of which the Bucs won, to the team's growth.
"I think the first thing is maturity," Tracy said. "One of the first things I saw was some things that looked very anxious in game-on-the-line situations. And we ended up playing right into the hands of the opposition in those cases, because we were not stepping back and saying, 'What's the situation?'"
The Pirates made plenty of those mistakes in the first half of the season, but so far they've shown signs of being able to overcome those growing pains. A perfect example is Wednesday's win against the Rockies.
All six of their runs in the victory came in two-out situations. Trailing 4-3 and with two outs in the sixth inning, the Pirates tallied three straight singles to tie the game up. Ronny Paulino then came to bat and hit a two-run double to give the Pirates the lead.
"The way you grow and continue to get better is you walk to that plate and make mistakes and say, 'Hey, you should think about this,'" Tracy said. "But that takes time. And over time I've seen us get much better at it. And it's because we're peforming much better in those situational at-bats."
Wilson on a tear: One of the key players in the Pirates' strong second-half start that Tracy cited as vital to the ballclub is the same one who is manning the infield every game.
"I don't think it's ironic that the way we've performed through our first six ballgames in the second half, Jack Wilson has been in the middle of it," Tracy said. "He has played extremely well since we started the second half, in all phases of the game."
Since the All-Star break, Wilson has gone 11-for-26 (.423), with three doubles, a triple, three RBIs and seven runs scored. The stretch has also raised his average from a season-low .257 to .270.
"He's taken very good at-bats," Tracy said. "Whether they are the at-bats where we need him on base, he's played terrific, absolutely terrific."
One area where Wilson rarely drops off is in the field, where he mans the Pirates' infield from shortstop and leads the club in assists (260).
"Let's face it, he's a centerpiece on the club, and he's a centerpiece in the middle of the field defensively," Tracy said. "And he's doing everything. He's making great plays, and he's making all the routine plays."
Bautista adjusting: Learning a new position is often a difficult undertaking and, at times, one a player isn't too keen on making. Just ask Alfonso Soriano. But Jose Bautista has made a solid transition from the infield to the outfield.
Though he had spent much of his career as a third baseman, the Pirates already have an All-Star at third in Freddy Sanchez, and, therefore, Bautista has spent much of this season as the Pirates' regular center fielder.
Tracy said that considering the small amount of playing time Bautista has had at center field, let alone in the Majors overall, he's performed well.
"With as limited an amount of time as he's played out there, you don't expect perfection," Tracy said. "Overall, are you satisfied with what you're seeing from this guy? Yeah."
Despite having little experience as an outfielder, Bautista has shown himself to be capable out there and able to hold is own.
"He's made some terrific plays in center field, looks very solid in the outfield," Tracy said.
Bautista's addition to the outfield has also given Tracy a chance to utilize another strong bat in the Pirates' lineup. In his first season as an everyday player, Bautista is batting .272 with 11 home runs and 29 RBIs.
"It's given us an opportunity to send him to the plate how many more times?" Tracy said. "He's another very bright spot, in my opinion."

Source: http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/

Notes: Snell feeling more comfortable

03/22/2006
DUNEDIN, Fla. -- Now that Ian Snell has earned a spot in the rotation, he said he's not working on anything specific. Well, maybe just one little thing.
"We've all got different things we need to work on; mine's to get hitters out," said Snell, after his second loss of the spring. "Last year, I didn't have such success with that, so this year I just want to work on that."
It was a simple plan that worked, some times better than others, on Wednesday. Snell allowed a home run on an 0-2 pitch in the first; it was center fielder Vernon Wells' first of the spring. He responded by inducing six straight outs before left fielder Frank Catalanotto doubled in the Blue Jays' second run.
Snell said knowing he has a definite place on the team has helped his confidence, which in turn contributed to him responding well to the few hard hits he allowed Wednesday.
"I actually keep the ball down a lot more now," Snell said, referring to his development. "And I can elevate when I need to, and keep it down. I can actually throw my changeup for strikes, and breaking balls behind in the count."
Snell was solid after Catalanotto as well, holding his ground until the fifth inning, when second baseman Aaron Hill drove a 2-1 pitch over the wall in left. It was the final batter Snell faced, and he finished with two strikeouts and four runs on five hits. Of his 65 pitches, 47 went for strikes.
Snell admits to having rushed his pitches a bit in the past, but said added experience coupled with MAP (Mental And Physical) sessions with the Pirates have helped him immensely when dealing with situations such as Wednesday, when it wasn't all smooth sailing.
"This year, I get the ball, and I take a deep breath, get calm, look around, focus on the mitt and just calm myself down a lot," he said. "In your childhood, you always dreamed of facing these hitters. But then, as they foul off pitches, now you just start worrying about getting them out, bearing down and throwing the right pitch."
Perez glad for honor: In the first time he'd spoken since being named Pittsburgh's Opening Day starter, Oliver Perez played the perfect part, standing proud in his Hines Ward jersey while fielding questions and downplaying manager Jim Tracy's selection.
"I'm happy for that opportunity, and I'm going to try to do my best, obviously," Perez said. "I was a little bit surprised. Not surprised because you want to be on the team, and I knew I was. But I thought there were other guys."
Still, Perez said he wasn't putting too much on the decision.
"When you do that, you put too much pressure on yourself and you don't throw good. Don't think too much, just play baseball, that's what I'm going to do."
Tracy remains mum: Tracy said he wasn't leaning one way or the other in regard to deciding on the rotation's final pitcher, but that the decision will be made soon, as early as Thursday. Tracy announced on Tuesday that right-hander Ryan Vogelsong was out of contention for a starting job, leaving right-handers Brandon Duckworth and Victor Santos to vie for the last opening.
Bay swamped: As the Pirates stretched near the dugout before the game, Toronto fans clamored for space along the fence in left field, eager to toss out encouragement and grab an autograph from All-Star left fielder Jason Bay. A native of Trail, British Columbia who played for Team Canada in the inaugural World Baseball Classic, Bay hung back after batting practice to interact with the crowd.
"It was really nice to see all the snowbirds and Blue Jays fans; it's the whole Canadian aspect," he said. "Canadians are very welcoming people in general, and not a lot of Canadians come through the Major Leagues in general, so they celebrate it."
Bay hit .455 (5-for-11) with a double and three walks in three games for the Canadians, who were eliminated in the first round with a 2-1 record following a 9-1 loss to Mexico. In Wednesday's 7-1 loss to the Toronto, Bay went 0-for-2 with a walk.
Still, it didn't dampen the mood, or keep the crowd from rooting for its native son.
"I don't get home very much any more, so it's a good feeling to see all the [Canadians] around," said Bay, who now lives with his wife in Phoenix. "A lot of people came up to me just to say, 'Hey, I'm from Canada, too,' and it was great."
Quotable: "Baseball's not hockey, I'm not going to lie. But it's still a pretty big deal up there, too." -- Bay, on sports in Canada

Source: http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/

Bucs silenced by Blue Jays

03/22/2006
Blue Jays at the plate: In the first inning, Vernon Wells sent an 0-2 pitch from Pittsburgh's Ian Snell over the left-field wall for a solo home run -- his first shot of Spring Training. Russ Adams singled and stole second in the third inning, then scored on an RBI double by Frank Catalanotto. Adams added an RBI single in the seventh. Bengie Molina had an RBI single in the fourth and Aaron Hill hit his first homer of Spring Training in the fifth.
Pirates at the plate: Ryan Doumit and Jose Bautista each doubled against Toronto -- the only two hits for Pittsburgh. Bautista's hit came in the eighth inning and he later scored when Ray Sadler reached first base on an error by Jason Phillips, who was playing third base for the Jays.
Blue Jays on the mound: In his first start of the spring, Gustavo Chacin allowed one hit in three scoreless innings. Chacin, who missed part of Spring Training while playing for Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic, struck out three and walked three.
Pirates on the mound: Starter Ian Snell threw 65 pitches -- 47 strikes -- in 4 1/3 innings. He struck out two and gave up four runs on five hits, including the homers to Wells and Hill.

Source: http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/

Bucs downed by Reds

03/23/2006
Reds at the plate: Tony Womack's two-run homer capped a four-run fourth inning for the Reds.
Pirates at the plate: Freddy Sanchez's sacrifice fly scored the game's first run in the bottom of the first inning. The Pirates did not bat in the bottom of the ninth because of rain.
Reds on the mound: Left-hander Dave Williams faced his former teammates and handled them well. In a rain-aborted outing, Williams pitched three innings and gave up one run on two hits. He did not return after a 38-minute rain delay following the top of the fourth inning. Veteran Rick White pitched a scoreless fifth for the Reds. And fresh from pitching for Team Korea in the World Baseball Classic, left-hander Jung Keun Bong worked a 1-2-3 sixth.
Pirates on the mound: Left-hander Paul Maholm made his fourth start of Spring Training and had a rocky go of things. The Reds knocked Maholm around in the fourth for four runs. In all, he gave up six runs on six hits.
Grapefruit League records: Pirates 13-10-1; Reds 14-10

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