Milwaukee @ Pittsburgh preview
PNC Park
Last Meeting ( Jul 20, 2010 ) Milwaukee 9, Pittsburgh 11
The last decade for the Pittsburgh Pirates has been little more than smoke and rubble. Rising from the ashes, though, are a core of position players that could finally lead the franchise out of the wilderness.
Never was that more apparent than Tuesday, when Neil Walker, Pedro Alvarez and Jose Tabata all played key roles in Pittsburgh’s 11-9 win over the Milwaukee Brewers.
Walker had five hits, Alvarez homered twice and Tabata drove in a pair of runs. All three were either high draft picks or acquired in trades and, combined with budding star Andrew McCutchen, give Pirate fans a reason to get excited.
Walker was drafted 11th overall in 2004. Alvarez was picked second overall two years ago. Tabata was one of the New York Yankees’ top prospects when he was dealt to Pittsburgh as part of the Xavier Nady deal a few years ago.
The Pirates are still the worst team in the National League and a long ways from contention, but combining the above core with players like outfielder Lastings Milledge and first baseman Garrett Jones at least provides promise for a better future.
Now if Pittsburgh can only fix the pitching. Rookie Brad Lincoln was blasted for seven runs Monday in 2 1-3 innings as the Pirates had to hold on after building a 9-0 first-inning lead.
Today’s starter, Zach Duke, has lost his last five starts and hasn’t won since May 18. He hasn’t pitched into the seventh inning since May 23.
Milwaukee will counter with Randy Wolf, who stood by and watched his teammates pound out a 20-0 win the last time he faced the Pirates. That was on April 22 and marked the worst loss in the 124-year history of the Pirates franchise.
The Brewers came back the next day and hung a 17-3 loss on Pittsburgh in a season series that has been fairly exciting, considering neither team is in the pennant chase.
Milwaukee starters have struggled lately and will receive a boost on Thursday when ace Yovani Gallardo is activated off the disabled list.
Manager Ken Macha has elected to stick with Manny Parra in the Brewers’ rotation, even though Parra has a 10.69 ERA in his last three starts, which means Chris Capuano will return to a relief role.
Capuano pitched well in a sport start against the Pirates on Monday, earning his first win in more than three years. But he will resume his role as a long reliever in case Gallardo can’t pitch extended innings right away.
The Brewers could use an injection of good pitching after ranking 14th in the National League with a 4.83 ERA. Only two teams are lower – and one of them is the Pirates.