Pitch By Pitch

After a disappointing home-stand against the Reds and Brewers, the Pirates travel to St. Louis to take on the division leading Cardinals. At 17-10, the Cardinals have one of the best records in baseball, but the Pirates managed a 2-2 split with them in their season-opening series.

Tonight, we’ll see: Zach Duke (3-2, 2.21) @ Mitchell Boggs (1-0, 3.29)

Delwyn Young will be starting in right field.

Post Game Update:
Given the current state of the Pirates’ offense, it tough to win many games. Pirate hitting was too few and far between, and the Pirates lost to the Cardinals 4-2. That’s their 8th loss in 9 games. (I guess I need to be in attendance more often!)

Tonight wasn’t Zach Duke’s best outing, but he still left the game in a manageable condition. Sean Burnett continued to be the strongest member of the Bucs’ bullpen, pitching 2 and 1/3 strong innings.

Albert Pujols was nasty, as always, going 4-4 including a 1st inning homer.

Our offense needs a jump-start.

Delwyn Young... until I can find a picture of him in a Pirates' uniform

Live Updates:

Inning 1

Away
Nyjer Morgan strikes out swinging.
Freddy Sanchez doubles (13) on a ground ball to left fielder Chris Duncan.
Nate McLouth flies out to right fielder Ryan Ludwick.
Adam LaRoche strikes out swinging.

Home
Brian Barden lines out to center fielder Nate McLouth.
Joe Thurston pops out to third baseman Andy LaRoche in foul territory.
Albert Pujols homers (11) on a line drive to left center field.
Ryan Ludwick lines out to third baseman Andy LaRoche.

Inning 2

Away
Delwyn Young singles on a ground ball to left fielder Chris Duncan.
Andy LaRoche walks. Delwyn Young to 2nd.
Ramon Vazquez grounds into a double play, shortstop Khalil Greene to second baseman Joe Thurston to first baseman Albert Pujols. Delwyn Young to 3rd. Andy LaRoche out at 2nd.
Jason Jaramillo walks.
Zach Duke walks. Jason Jaramillo to 2nd.
Nyjer Morgan singles on a ground ball to center fielder Colby Rasmus. Delwyn Young scores. Jason Jaramillo out at home on the throw, center fielder Colby Rasmus to catcher Yadier Molina.

Home
Yadier Molina grounds out, shortstop Ramon Vazquez to first baseman Adam LaRoche.
Chris Duncan grounds out, second baseman Freddy Sanchez to first baseman Adam LaRoche.
Khalil Greene doubles (3) on a fly ball to left fielder Nyjer Morgan.
Mitchell Boggs grounds out, pitcher Zach Duke to first baseman Adam LaRoche.

Inning 3

Away
Freddy Sanchez grounds out, shortstop Khalil Greene to first baseman Albert Pujols.
Nate McLouth grounds out to first baseman Albert Pujols.
Adam LaRoche strikes out swinging.

Home
Colby Rasmus strikes out swinging.
Brian Barden grounds out, second baseman Freddy Sanchez to first baseman Adam LaRoche.
Joe Thurston grounds out, pitcher Zach Duke to first baseman Adam LaRoche.

Inning 4

Away
Delwyn Young walks.
Andy LaRoche singles on a soft line drive to center fielder Colby Rasmus. Delwyn Young to 2nd.
Ramon Vazquez flies out to center fielder Colby Rasmus. Delwyn Young to 3rd.
Jason Jaramillo grounds out softly, catcher Yadier Molina to first baseman Albert Pujols. Andy LaRoche to 2nd.
Zach Duke called out on strikes.

Home
Albert Pujols singles on a soft line drive to left fielder Nyjer Morgan.
Ryan Ludwick walks. Albert Pujols to 2nd.
Yadier Molina lines out to center fielder Nate McLouth. Albert Pujols to 3rd.
Chris Duncan triples (2) on a line drive to center fielder Nate McLouth. Albert Pujols scores. Ryan Ludwick scores.
Khalil Greene out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Nate McLouth. Chris Duncan scores.
Mitchell Boggs grounds out, second baseman Freddy Sanchez to first baseman Adam LaRoche.

Inning 5

Away
Nyjer Morgan walks.
Freddy Sanchez flies out to center fielder Colby Rasmus.
With Nate McLouth batting, Nyjer Morgan steals (7) 2nd base.
Nate McLouth doubles (1) on a line drive to right fielder Ryan Ludwick. Nyjer Morgan scores.
Pitching Change: Trever Miller replaces Mitchell Boggs, batting 8th.
Adam LaRoche flies out to center fielder Colby Rasmus. Nate McLouth to 3rd.
Delwyn Young walks.
Pitching Change: Kyle McClellan replaces Trever Miller, batting 8th.
Andy LaRoche grounds out, pitcher Kyle McClellan to first baseman Albert Pujols.

Home
Colby Rasmus flies out to center fielder Nate McLouth.
Brian Barden grounds out, shortstop Ramon Vazquez to first baseman Adam LaRoche.
Joe Thurston strikes out on a foul tip.

Inning 6

Away
Ramon Vazquez strikes out swinging.
Jason Jaramillo walks.
Zach Duke reaches on a fielding error by shortstop Khalil Greene. Jason Jaramillo to 2nd.
Nyjer Morgan singles on a fly ball to right fielder Ryan Ludwick. Jason Jaramillo to 3rd. Zach Duke to 2nd.
Freddy Sanchez grounds into a double play, third baseman Brian Barden to second baseman Joe Thurston to first baseman Albert Pujols. Nyjer Morgan out at 2nd.

Home
Albert Pujols singles on a ground ball to center fielder Nate McLouth.
Ryan Ludwick singles on a fly ball to right fielder Delwyn Young. Albert Pujols to 2nd.
With Yadier Molina batting, Albert Pujols caught stealing 3rd base, catcher Jason Jaramillo to third baseman Andy LaRoche, Ryan Ludwick to 2nd.
Yadier Molina walks.
Pitching Change: Sean Burnett replaces Zach Duke, batting 9th.
Chris Duncan lines into an unassisted double play, first baseman Adam LaRoche. Yadier Molina doubled off 1st.

Inning 7

Away
Pitching Change: Dennys Reyes replaces Kyle McClellan, batting 8th.
Nate McLouth pops out to second baseman Joe Thurston.
Adam LaRoche strikes out swinging.
Delwyn Young flies out to right fielder Ryan Ludwick.

Home
Khalil Greene called out on strikes.
Offensive Substitution: Pinch-hitter Adam Wainwright replaces Dennys Reyes.
Adam Wainwright flies out to center fielder Nate McLouth.
Colby Rasmus flies out to right fielder Delwyn Young.

Inning 8

Away
Defensive Substitution: Skip Schumaker replaces left fielder Chris Duncan, batting 6th, playing left field.
Pitching Change: Jason Motte replaces Dennys Reyes, batting 8th, replacing Adam Wainwright.
Andy LaRoche grounds out, shortstop Khalil Greene to first baseman Albert Pujols.
Ramon Vazquez flies out to right fielder Ryan Ludwick.
Jason Jaramillo grounds out, second baseman Joe Thurston to first baseman Albert Pujols.

Home
Brian Barden grounds out, second baseman Freddy Sanchez to first baseman Adam LaRoche.
Joe Thurston grounds out, first baseman Adam LaRoche to pitcher Sean Burnett.
Pitching Change: Jesse Chavez replaces Sean Burnett, batting 9th.
Albert Pujols singles on a ground ball to third baseman Andy LaRoche.
Ryan Ludwick strikes out swinging.

Inning 9

Away
Pitching Change: Ryan Franklin replaces Jason Motte, batting 8th.
Offensive Substitution: Pinch-hitter Brandon Moss replaces Jesse Chavez.
Brandon Moss grounds out to first baseman Albert Pujols.
Nyjer Morgan grounds out, second baseman Joe Thurston to first baseman Albert Pujols.
Freddy Sanchez flies out to right fielder Ryan Ludwick.