Pirates snap 10 game losing streak

Perhaps it was not all bad that I wasn't watching the Pirates as closely over the last few days as I missed the losing streak continue as the Brewers came to town and swept the Bucs yet again.
Without getting into the losses,allow me to say this and move on.
Ugh!

And for the record,I would not have complained if C.C. Sabathia had been given an error,but I would have scored the controversial Andy LaRoche hit just that.
LaRoche was two thirds of the way down the line when Sabathia gets to the ball.
Close,but a hit.

The Pirates snapped the streak with a 3-2 win over the Reds in Cincinatti that saw the scoring end after the third for both teams.
Brandon Moss (6) and Andy LaRoche (5) each took Aaron Harang out of the park on consecutive at bats to give the Bucs a 2-1 lead in the second.
The Reds tied the game in the third,but Nate McLouth's grounder that scored Ian Snell in the third proved to be the game winner.
Snell settled down after allowing a run in the first and second to earn the win (6-10) with only one earned run of the two.
Four Bucco bullpenners shut the Reds out for the final three innings and Matt Capps added save number 18.
The series continues tonight at 7:10 as Ross Ohlendorf makes his Pirate opener against Edinson Volquez.
Good luck with that.

Pitching Matchup
Pittsburgh:Ross Ohlendorf (1-1 6.53 ERA) at Cincinnati:Edinson Volquez (16-5 3.04 ERA) 7:10

Bullpen Notes

Ohlendorf joins the Pirate rotation for the rest of the season as the sixth man.
No,the Pirates are not attempting to remake the Fish that saved Pittsburgh,but are going to a six man rotation in an attempt to keep innings down for the starters in a season that is going nowhere.
Nice to see that someone learned from Jim Tracy abusing Paul Maholm and Tom Gorzelanny late last season in meaningless games.

The Pirates recalled 9 other players from Indianapolis along with Ohlendorf.
Four other pitchers were added to the bullpen along with five position players as all four have appeared with the Pirates at various points of the season.
Romulo Sanchez,Marino Salas,T.J. Beam and Craig Hansen all return.
Ronny Paulino was added to the roster along with the newest member of the organization,Robinzon Diaz.
Brian Bixler,Luis Cruz and Steve Pearce round out the additions.
Bixler and Cruz will add depth to an ailing middle infield situation.

The Pirates announced six of their seven representives to the Arizona Fall League and all five have signed cards for us with two being blog favorites.
Jared Hughes and Mike Crotta were among those assigned to the Scottsdale Scorpions with catcher Steve Lerud,second baseman Shelby Ford and fellow hurlers Jimmy Barthmaier and Jeff Sues.
The Pirates have an outfield spot reserved,but have not announced it yet.
Here is hoping that it goes to Jamie Romak,who was smashing the ball for AA Altoona after his promotion.

Cory VanAllen also is headed to AZ as a member of the Peoria Saguaros after an excellent season with Potomac and Harrisburg.
Other favorites from the past in the league include Marlins first baseman Logan Morrison and two Brewer prospects in Alexander Periard and Angel Salome..

And finally thanks to Scott Boras for dragging this Pedro Alvarez affair out and causing Alvarez to basically lose a year of development.
Thanks,Jerk.

Photo Credits
Moss:David Kohl-AP Photo
Hughes,Crotta and some fan-Ryan Heimberger