Game 119 : Pirates @ Brewers : 08.14.11 : Live Game Thread!

[Kipper]

[Kipper]

Reserved

[Palmetto Steel]

For those outside the viewing area... This game is the "free game" of the day on MLB.com... You'll have to create an account (free) with a password, but it literally takes just a few seconds. It's worth the trouble to do it, because it's usually great quality... Here's the link if anyone is interested....

http://mlb.mlb.com/shared/flash/medi...Grid&team=mlb&

[Steelreign]

Figures it's free and I am stuck at work......they'll win today since I can't watch it.

[Palmetto Steel]

Figures it's free and I am stuck at work......they'll win today since I can't watch it.

LoL!....

(Not that you're at work, but that it's free when you can't watch... Sounds like my kind of luck)

[Palmetto Steel]

Pirates-Brewers Preview
STATS LLC

The Pittsburgh Pirates' recent rough stretch has severely lessened their chances of climbing back into the NL Central race. Facing baseball's best home team hasn't helped matters.

The Milwaukee Brewers go for their 12th straight victory over the Pirates and a three-game sweep when the teams finish their series Sunday.

Milwaukee (69-51) improved to 33-2 in its last 35 home meetings with Pittsburgh after a 1-0 victory Saturday. The Brewers are a major league-best 43-15 at home and have outscored the Pirates 40-13 while winning all seven games in the overall season series.

Pittsburgh (56-62) has dropped 13 of 15 overall -- a swoon which has dropped the Pirates from 1 1/2 games out of first place to their current 12-game deficit behind division-leading Milwaukee.

The Pirates' three hits Saturday were their fewest since May 22, when they had two in a 2-0 loss to Detroit.

"Hitting is contagious, not hitting is contagious," manager Clint Hurdle said. "We seem to be on the other side of that right now."

Despite their recent struggles, the Pirates can match last season's win total with another victory. However, Pittsburgh hasn't beaten the Brewers since July 21, 2010, and Sunday's scheduled starter Charlie Morton (9-6, 3.56 ERA) has never defeated Milwaukee.

The right-hander is 0-4 with a 8.31 lifetime ERA versus the Brewers, and has allowed 14 runs over 4 1/3 innings in his last two outings against them.

Morton, though, has been solid overall recently. He extended his scoreless streak to 17 innings after allowing six hits in eight innings of Monday's 5-0 victory over San Francisco, ending Pittsburgh's 10-game losing streak.

Morton is also 6-2 with a 3.29 ERA and two complete games in 10 road starts, and he'll be facing a Milwaukee team which Saturday failed to score at least two runs for the first time since July 24.

Still, the Brewers won for the 15th time in 17 games with the help of Yuniesky Betancourt's second-inning homer. Closer John Axford survived Xavier Paul's leadoff triple in the ninth to earn his 34th save. Milwaukee relievers have a 1.56 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 34 2/3 innings during the 11-game winning streak against Pittsburgh.

Ryan Braun extending his home hitting streak against the Pirates to 14 games on Saturday and his hitting .438 in his last nine versus Pittsburgh overall. He's 5 for 9 with a homer off Morton, and will look to provide some offensive support for starter Shaun Marcum (10-3, 3.62), who has struggled of late.

Marcum hasn't lost since June 29 and is 3-0 in his last seven starts, but his ERA in that span is a lofty 4.71. He's allowed nine runs and 15 hits in 12 innings over his last two outings, not earning a decision in either. The eight hits Marcum allowed Tuesday against St. Louis were his most since giving up nine May 10 versus San Diego.

The right-hander's only career start against Pittsburgh came April 13, when he allowed four hits over seven scoreless innings of a 6-0 road victory.

[Palmetto Steel]

Charlie Morton 9-6, 3.56 ERA Last appearance: 8/08 at SF 8.0 IP, 0 ER Dec = Win

Shaun Marcum 10-3, 3.62 ERA Last appearance: 8/09 at STL 6.0 IP, 3 ER Dec = ND

[Palmetto Steel]

1.	X. Paul, RF	F. Lopez, 3B
2.	G. Jones, 1B	N. Morgan, CF
3.	A. McCutchen, CF	R. Braun, LF
4.	N. Walker, 2B	P. Fielder, 1B
5.	R. Ludwick, LF	M. Kotsay, RF
6.	P. Alvarez, 3B	Y. Betancourt, SS
7.	R. Cedeno, SS	C. Counsell, 2B
8.	M. McKenry, C	J. Lucroy, C
9.	C. Morton, P	S. Marcum, P

[Palmetto Steel]

Injury Report

Chase D'Arnaud 3B - Aug 13: 15-Day DL Derrek Lee 1B - Aug 13: 15-Day DL Jose Tabata LF - Aug 12: 15-Day DL Alex Presley LF - Aug 12: 15-Day DL Kevin Hart SP - Aug 10: 60-Day DL

[Palmetto Steel]

Regular Season Series

Tue 4/12	Postponed/Delayed
Wed 4/13	MIL 6, @PIT 0
Thu 4/14	MIL 4, @PIT 1
Fri 5/13	@MIL 5, PIT 2
Sat 5/14	@MIL 8, PIT 2
Sun 5/15	@MIL 9, PIT 6
Fri 8/12	@MIL 7, PIT 2
Sat 8/13	@MIL 1, PIT 0

[Palmetto Steel]

The Reds are already losing... Have I said lately that I hate the people in Cincinnati?...

[Palmetto Steel]

"Play Ball!"...

[Palmetto Steel]

X Paul to lead it off.... Out... Don't know how.... My feed is lagging big-time... Doubt I'll tollerate it today...

[Kipper]

With Jones on 2nd after a double, Cutch sends one over ******bag Braun's ehad for an rbi double

1-0 Pirates

Walker grounds out to 2nd, moves Cutch to 3B

Runner on 3rd.

2 Outs

Top of 1

[Palmetto Steel]

nice to see an early lead.... Let's keep it!