[Operation Shutdown]

Week 7:
The Pirates are currently 15-22 and are in fifth place in the NL Central Division. This week they will finish their 7 game home-stand, with a four game series against the Astros, who are currently 19-19. This year the Pirates are 5-11 against central division opponents, and 3-1 against the Astros so far. The Pirates will then travel to Arizona for a three game series against the Diamondbacks. The Diamondbacks this year are 26-12 and the Pirates are 2-1 against them.

The Pirates were offered a trade by the Texas Rangers that would send Benson to the Rangers in exchange for four star prospect SP Joaquin Benoit and 2 star prospect LF Larry Grayson. This trade was really tempting, but seeing as Benoit is already 25, already out of options, and hasn't fared too well in the majors in his three stints so far in the majors, I decided to just hold on to this one for a possibility later on, and rejected the trade for now.

Game 38: Pirates 4 Astros 8 Baseball Cap Day at PNC Park
Josh Fogg managed to pitch 6 scoreless innings before giving up 5 runs, four of which were earned, in the top of the seventh inning while only recording two outs. Beimel then gave up three unearned runs in the top of the eighth to give the Astros a commanding lead. Roy Oswalt pitched six innings giving up just one run off of five hits while walking one and striking out eight. Brian Giles and Jack Wilson hit homeruns for the Pirates while Geoff Blum went yard for the Astros.

Game 39: Pirates 2 Astros 1
Pirates starter Jeff Suppan pitched another gem, as he gave up just one run in eight innings of work. He gave up four hits and walked three baters. Jim Mann pitched a scoreless ninth inning to pick up his third save of the year. Pirates scored just two runs, a double by Lofton which scored Jeff Suppan in the second, and a triple by Jason Kendall that scored Lofton in the fourth inning, off of Astros starter Greg Miller, who pitched 6 1/3 innings and picked up the loss.

Game 40: Pirates 4 Astros 6
D'Amico had an OK game today giving up five runs in 7 innings of work off of 9 hits and no walks and striking out four batters. Wade Miller held off a Pirate rally in the sixth inning, and gave up four runs in six innings, giving up four hits while walking one and striking out 3. Astros relievers Chen and Lidge each pitched scoreless innings, and closer Billy Wagner picked up his ninth save of the year pitching a scoreless ninth inning.

Game 41: Pirates 9 Astros 4
The Pirates offense really came through today pounding out nine runs against a good Astros pitching staff. Starter Peter Munro gave up five of the runs in five innings of work for the loss, while the other four runs came off of reliever Bruce Chen who worked two innings of relief. Craig Wilson hit two homeruns today, a solo shot in teh sixth inning off of Munro and a three run shot off of Chen in the seventh inning. Despite not having a very good outing, Kris Benson got the win, giving up 4 runs in six innings of work. He allowed 11 hits and walked 2 batters while striking out five. Boehringer, Corey, and Sauerbeck each pitched a scoreless inning of relief.

Series Recap: The red hot Pirates (at least comparitively speaking) split the series against the Astros and continue to maintain the fifth place position in the division.

Game 42: Pirates 6 DBacks 8
The first win of the season continues to be quite elusive for starter Kip Wells as he had a poor outing today. Wells gave up eight runs off of nine hits and four walks in just 4 2/3 innings. The Pirates managed to score four runs in seven innings off of the winning pitcher Byung-Hyun Kim. The Pirates attempted to mount a comeback but fell short as they scored only one run in the eighth, and one in the ninth, as Mike Myers held on for his 11th save of the season.

Game 43: Pirates 4 DBacks 7
Pirates starter Josh Fogg got blown away, giving up six runs off of just four hits and 2 walks in 1 2/3 innings. Brian Boehringer gave up the other Diamondback run in 2 innings of relief. Elmer Dessens picked up his sixth win of the year, going six innings and giving up three runs off of 7 hits, while walking 5 and striking out two batters. The other Pirate run came off of reliever Brett Prinz. Mike Myers picked up his 12th save working a scoreless ninth inning.

Game 44: Pirates 2 DBacks 4
Despite getting 9 hits, the Pirate offense was able to score only two runs in today's game. Starter Jeff Suppan had an OK outing giving up three runs, two of which were earned, in six innings. The other run was scored off of reliever Boehringer. John Patterson picked up the win for the Diamondbacks going seven innings and giving up just one run despite giving up 7 hits, while walking three and striking out five batters. The other run was scored off of reliever Koplove. Matt Mantei pitched a scoreless ninth to pick up his second save of the year.

Series Recap: The Diamonbacks made up for the previous series embarrasing the Pirates, by sweeping them quite easily. With the exception of the last game, Pirates starting pitching was pretty pitiful.

Around the league this week:
On Wednesday, Diamondbacks right fielder Danny Bautista hit for the cycle against the Phillies. On Saturday, Astros Lance Berkman broke his wrist while attempting to make a diving catch and he will likely miss the remainder of the season. In the same game against the Phillies, teammate Jeff Bagwell crushed a three run homerun off of reliever Turk Wendell for his 2000th career hit. On Sunday Red's centerfielder Ken Griffey Jr. was drilled in the hand by a fastball thrown by Brewer's Dave Mlicki. The report is that he has a broken hand and will miss at least the next six weeks.