• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Pirates set to sweep Nationals

Jul 1, 2007 - 2:19 PM Washington (32-48) at Pittsburgh (35-45), 1:35 pm EDT

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) - The Pittsburgh Pirates will look for a rare series sweep on Sunday when they host the Washington Nationals in the finale of a three-game series.

The Pirates have not swept a series of any kind since taking three games from the Houston Astros from April 24-26. They are currently mired in their 15th consecutive losing season.

Thousands of fans in the crowd of 26,959 in Pittsburgh left their seats at the end of the third inning on Saturday in a walkout that had been publicized throughout the week in Pittsburgh. Many rallied beforehand across the street from the park outside a bar.

Protesting fans, angered by a perceived lack of financial commitment to the team by principal owner Bob Nutting, wore green shirts. Most did not leave the stadium and only retreated to the concourse to return to their seats for the start of the fifth inning.

Paul Maholm (4-10, 4.80 ERA) will try to make the fans happy on Sunday. The 25-year-old lefthander has made just one start in his career against the Nationals, taking a no decision on July 16, 2006 after allowing three runs in 6 1/3 innings.

Washington will counter with Mike Bacsik (1-5, 5.08). The lefthander has lost his last five decisions, including a loss against the Pirates on June 5 in which he surrendered six runs in 4 1/3 innings.