Pirates divide final pair in Houston,Souza dances!

The Pirates split the final duo of games in Houston against the Astros,winning Tuesday 6-3 before falling in a Wednesday afternoon tilt 5-0.
Jack Wilson homered (4) to pace a three RBI day for Paul Maholm (6-4) in the win with Matt Capps earning his 19th save of the season.
Not much to say about the loss as the Pirates only accomplished five hits,all singles.
Pittsburgh is off today before starting a three games series in Philadelphia against the hated Phillies.

Pirate Hooks

1) Perhaps the Astros should look into trading for Jack Wilson.
Wilson has 60 home runs in his career and 10 of them are at Minute Maid Park.
Not sure if it is Astro pitching or if Wilson just sees the ball better there...

2) Paul Maholm showed signs of bouncing back in picking up the win.
Maholm allowed two runs and six hits over six innings.
Maholm has been rumored to be nagged by injury issues that have contributed to a less than strong last month....

3) Charlie Morton,on the other hand, was not able to keep his hot hand going in lasting just four innings.
Morton allowed all five Houston runs and was smacked for ten hits in his short stint on the mound.
One of the knocks of Morton before the deal was his problems with mental toughness in tough outings,this might have been the Pirates first look at that problem.

4) Joel Hanrahan could be the winning pitcher today without being in uniform.
Hanrahan is the pitcher of record in a suspended game between Washington and Houston in the bottom of the 11th.
If the Nationals score a run in the 11th,Hanrahan is the winner...

5) The Pirates sent Steve Pearce and Steven Jackson to Indianapolis after the game.
Donald Veal had to be returned to the roster per the rules that apply to his Rule V status and injury rehab issue.
The Pirates will add another player before tomorrow's game in Philly.

Bonus Rounds

Pearce had struggled,but only 12 at bats?
To me,the only difference between Pearce and Garrett Jones is that John Russell likes Jones...

Jackson had pitched well,but was caught up in the numbers game that has to be played with Donald Veal.
Jackson will be back shortly.

Bullpen Notes

Anyone else notice that the Astros Kaz Matsui looks like the Vietnamese officer that wastes Rambo's girlfriend (and later gets eviscerated by a explosive arrow) in Rambo-First Blood II???

Want to know why the Browns have been so awful since their return to the league?
Read this from No Logo Needed for the Browns all bust team.
It can be nothing but bad news for so many high picks to play for the all bust team...

And finally,this was sent to me from the world's number one Steven Souza fan (that's the truth) over at Bag of Health and Politics.
Check the Suns third baseman hittin' the dance floor with some funky moves and six seconds of Action??


Photo Credits
Wilson;David Phillip-AP Photo
Matsui:Doug Benc-Getty Images