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Pirates seek first road series win in nearly two months

Jul 2, 2008 - 1:26 PM Pittsburgh (39-44) at Cincinnati (39-46) 7:10 pm EDT

CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- The Pittsburgh Pirates entered this series with a flawless record in games they led after seven innings. While that perfection has went by the wayside, their chances at winning a rare road series are still there.

The Pirates attempt to claim their first road series in almost two months on Wednesday when they conclude their three-game set against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park.

Pittsburgh entered this series 29-0 when leading after seven innings but saw its perfect run in such games come to an end in Monday's series-opening 4-3 loss to the Reds when Ken Griffey Jr. hit a walk-off solo homer.

Then, on Tuesday, the Pirates blew two leads after the seventh but held on to a win when Jack Wilson tripled home a run during their two-run 11th in a 6-5 extra-inning triumph. That victory put the team in position to claim its first road series win since taking two of three in St. Louis from May 13-15.

To do so, Pittsburgh will turn to John Van Benschoten (1-2, 8.31 ERA), who is making just his second start of the season.

However, the righthander, who last started on May 12, appeared in relief his last time out, tossing one scoreless inning and collecting his second career win in Pittsburgh's 13-inning, 4-3 victory over Tampa Bay. The victory was his first since September 10, 2004.

Cincinnati will counter with Daryl Thompson (0-1, 3.60), who is making his third career start. The righthander surrendered four runs and eight hits over five innings in Friday's 6-0 loss in Cleveland.