Pirates fall again

From the nothing new department,the Pirates lost to the Astros 5-1 at PNC Park.
Adam LaRoche's 23rd homer of the season produced the only Pirate run.
Ian Snell allowed 2 runs in six innings to get the loss (6-12).

Shawn's Thoughts

1: Ian Snell had good stuff again,but his problem all season was the same as last night.
When you walk almost a batter(5) an inning,it makes it real tough to win games,even if you allow just three hits.
Just too many free passes.

2: Snell was able to keep the game close for six innings until Denny Bautista was pounded in the two innings that he pitched with three more walks!
Cant anyone throw strikes on this team????
Even the best control pitcher of the bunch,Paul Maholm was walking guys in his last start on Monday.

3) Bautista continued a roller coaster September that has seen him allow three or more runs in three of his last six appearances.....

4) Steve Pearce Lives!!!!!!!
Pearce was the starter in right field and went 1 for 4.

5) Jimmy Barthmaier faces the team that waived him last winter tonight.
Tonight's start will be the second of the year for the former Astro and I cannot imagine this start being worse than his first.
Barthmaier allowed 7 runs in less than three innings against Tampa Bay on June 27.

Pitching Matchup

Houston:Brian Moehler (11-7 4.33 ERA) at Pittsburgh:Jimmy Barthmaier (0-1 27.00 ERA) 7:05

Bullpen Notes
The Ohio State Buckeyes return home for a hopefully ego boosting win over the Troy Trojans.
Jim Tressel will keep the snaps at Quarterback 50/50 between Todd Boeckman and Terrelle Pryor after the USC disaster.
This is the Tressel way of slowly changing the guard and it is for the best.
Our prediction: Ohio State 31-10
This set of Trojans is not quite so intimidating.

The CFL Hall of Fame inducted perhaps its best class ever last night in Hamilton as Doug Flutie enters the Hall with two of the best runners to ever play the big field game in Mike Pringle and Michael "Pinball" Clemons.
All three tremendous players and deserving inductees!
Winnipeg defeated Hamilton 25-23 in the game that followed the ceremonies.

The Ashland Arrows fell to 1-4 with a 21-14 road loss to Wooster.

Photo Credits
Snell:AP Photo
Helmets:Helmet Project
Flutie:CP Photo