Final
Pitching leading to slump of Pirates
Jul 21, 2008 - 2:18 PM Pittsburgh (44-54) at Houston (46-52) 8:05 pm EDTHOUSTON (Ticker) -- The Pittsburgh Pirates have routinely fallen victim to their dismal pitching staff this season but hope to rebound against an equally inept opponent.
The Pirates try to snap a five-game losing streak on Monday when they open a series against the Houston Astros and starter Runelvys Hernandez.
Pittsburgh ranks last in the majors with a 5.33 ERA and has allowed 39 runs over its recent slide. The Pirates had used an offense which ranks sixth in the National League with 469 runs to overcome their pitching issues but have scored just 15 runs over their last five games.
"This isn't like us," first baseman Adam LaRoche said. "Scoring runs and getting guys on hasn't really been a problem all year - especially not in four straight games (since returning from the All-Star break)."
Pittsburgh has a good chance to bounce back against Astros' starter Hernandez (0-3, 10.29 ERA), who was recalled from Class AAA Round Rock on Saturday after staff ace Roy Oswalt was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left hip.
Hernandez's last stint in the majors ended when he allowed 10 runs and 13 hits in four innings en route to a 10-7 loss to the Pirates on July 7.
Spending all of 2007 in the minor leagues, Hernandez has not won in the majors since September 12, 2006 when he was a member of the Kansas City Royals.
John Van Benschoten (1-2, 9.77) takes the mound for Pittsburgh on Monday looking to earn his first win as a starter since 2004. The Pirates No. 1 pick in the 2001 draft, Van Benschoten is 2-12 with an 8.96 ERA in 24 career games and owns the highest ERA of any pitcher in major league history with at least 17 starts.
- NL
FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
PITTSBURGH 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 7 9 18 1
HOUSTON 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 3 10 0 (FINAL)
BATTERIES: PIT - JOHN VAN BENSCHOTEN, SEAN BURNETT (6TH), JOHN GRABOW (6TH),
TYLER YATES (8TH), DENNY BAUTISTA (9TH) AND RYAN DOUMIT
HOU - RUNELVYS HERNANDEZ, GEOFF GEARY (6TH
Jul 21 11:48 PM - NL
AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
THREE-RUN INSIDE-THE-PARK HOME RUN BY FREDDY SANCHEZ (6) TO
DEEP RIGHT WITH 2 OUT IN THE 9TH OFF TIM BYRDAK SCORED JASON MICHAELS
AND JACK WILSON.
CURRENT SCORE: PITTSBURGH 9, HOUSTON 3
DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: R DOUMIT (.323, 0-FOR-5)
Pirates 9, Astros 3 Top 9, 0 OutsJul 21 11:34 PM - NL
AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY JACK WILSON SCORED JOSE BAUTISTA.
SITUATION: 4 RUNS IN, J WILSON ON FIRST, J MICHAELS ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: PITTSBURGH 6
HOUSTON 3 TOP, 9TH
DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: N MCLOUTH (.281, 3-FOR-5)
Pirates 6, Astros 3 Top 9, 0 OutsJul 21 11:29 PM - NL
AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
TWO-RUN HOME RUN BY ADAM LAROCHE (12) TO LEFT WITH 1 OUT IN
THE 9TH OFF JOSE VALVERDE SCORED XAVIER NADY.
CURRENT SCORE: PITTSBURGH 5, HOUSTON 3
DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: J BAUTISTA (.250, 1-FOR-4)
Pirates 5, Astros 3 Top 9, 0 OutsJul 21 11:22 PM - NL
AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY JASON BAY (20) TO LEFT WITH 1 OUT IN THE
9TH OFF JOSE VALVERDE.
CURRENT SCORE: PITTSBURGH 3, HOUSTON 3
DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: X NADY (.325, 2-FOR-4)
Pirates 3, Astros 3 Top 9, 0 OutsJul 21 11:20 PM - NL
AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY CARLOS LEE SCORED MICHAEL BOURN.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, C LEE ON FIRST, L BERKMAN ON THIRD, 0 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: PITTSBURGH 2
HOUSTON 3 BOTTOM, 5TH
DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: M TEJADA (.281, 0-FOR-2)
Pirates 2, Astros 3 Bot 5, 0 OutsJul 21 9:42 PM - NL
AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY FREDDY SANCHEZ SCORED NATE MCLOUTH.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, F SANCHEZ ON FIRST, 0 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: PITTSBURGH 2
HOUSTON 2 TOP, 5TH
DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: R DOUMIT (.327, 0-FOR-2)
Pirates 2, Astros 2 Top 5, 0 OutsJul 21 9:28 PM - NL
AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY BRAD AUSMUS SCORED HUNTER PENCE.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, B AUSMUS ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: PITTSBURGH 1
HOUSTON 2 BOTTOM, 4TH
DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: R HERNANDEZ (.333, 0-FOR-1)
Pirates 1, Astros 2 Bot 4, 0 OutsJul 21 9:20 PM - NL
AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY CARLOS LEE SCORED KAZ MATSUI.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, C LEE ON FIRST, L BERKMAN ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: PITTSBURGH 1
HOUSTON 1 BOTTOM, 3RD
DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: M TEJADA (.281, 0-FOR-1)
Pirates 1, Astros 1 Bot 3, 0 OutsJul 21 9:04 PM - NL
AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY JASON BAY SCORED FREDDY SANCHEZ.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, J BAY ON FIRST, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: PITTSBURGH 1
HOUSTON 0 TOP, 3RD
DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: X NADY (.322, 0-FOR-1)
Pirates 1, Astros 0 Top 3, 0 OutsJul 21 8:50 PM
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