Bucs hang on for dear life and sweep Houston

As torrential rain fell outside the covered roof of Minute Maid Park,the bats were hot inside as the Buccos took command of the game from the first pitch,watched the Astros match every shot until the final blow went the way of Pittsburgh as the Pirates took an 8-7 win and a sweep of the three game series.
Ironically in a game that was filled with big plays,the difference maker was a fielders choice by Jason Michaels in the seventh that scored Xavier Nady to make the game 8-6.
When the Astros answered in the bottom of the inning,they could not even the score as they did most of the game and settled for trimming the lead to one.
They would get no closer.
The Pirates staked Ian Snell to a four run lead after their bats in inning one as Ryan Doumit's sac fly was worth a run and Jason Bay smacked number 21 into the seats for two more runs.
Snell himself singled in the innings final run.
But he promptly gave three back to the Astros in the bottom of the inning.
This was the beginning of a trend as Freddy Sanchez doubled home a run in the second,Snell gave the run back.
Doug Mientkiewicz doubled and scored Adam LaRoche (1 of 4 on the day for Mientkewicz) ans Snell allowed Houston a run in return in a bizarre give and take and that was all for Snell.
A truly bad outing for the diminutive righty- 3 innings,5 runs and being KOed early meant more work for the bullpen.
In the only positive for Snell,he did fan six Astros (see,I am not all negative).
T.J Beam then allowed the tying run in the fourth and the game then stabilized until the seventh,where the Pirates used a Mientkiewicz single and the mentioned fielders choice to outweigh the Houston run allowed by Tyler Yates.
Flammable Frankie Osoria fired (pun intended ) two hitless innings and grabbed the deserved win and moved to 4-3,while Damaso Marte closed the show with a scoreless ninth for his 5th save.

The Pirates finally return home for a seven game homestand against the Padres and (gulp) Rockies starting tomorrow.
Rush to the windows for tickets to see Yoslan Herrera and John Van Benschoten now-they are going fast!
Uh,never mind............

Pitching Matchup
San Diego:Clay (he ate crabs on my back porch) Hensley (1-0 0.00 ERA) at Pittsburgh:Yoslan Herrera (0-1 19.50 ERA) 7:05

Bullpen Notes

At least on Friday,you can get Forgotten Superstar Al Oliver's bobblehead!

Frank Coonelly is frustrated about the slow pace of negotiations with Pedro Alvarez.
OK,I can buy that,but how frustrated is he about not getting anything done with Robbie Grossman,Andrew Gagnon.Quinton Miller,Zach Wilson and Wesley Freeman???
That could tell more about the Pirate future than Pedro Alvarez.......

Kelly Pavlik moving up ten pounds for a non-title bout against aging Bernard Hopkins on October 18th in Atlantic City.
I don't see Kelly knocking the iron chinned Hopkins out,but he will be far too busy and should come away with a clear decision.

The Chargers released wide receiver Eric Parker yesterday.
Parker missed all of last season with a foot injury,but he was the Bolts leading receiver in 2006.
Look for the Browns to make a fast move on Parker to add depth at the pass catching position.

Part three of our talk with Wilbur Miller up later today.

Photo Credit
Celebration:Pat Sullivan-AP Photo
Oliver Bobble:Pittsburgh Pirates