[Operation Shutdown]

I've uploaded all player and league files to the website, up until the All-Star break.

Week 16
This is all-star week and the American League won the game 4-2, scoring two runs in the top of the ninth inning to win the game. Sidney Ponson, Dave Williams, and Mark Kotsay represented the Pirates on the national league squad. Kotsay was the only Pirate to actually participate in the game, as the starting centerfielder, he went 1-4 as the leadoff hitter, striking out once.

This week the Pirates travel to Atlanta for a three game series against the Braves, who are 60-35, and whom the Pirates swept in three games last week. The Braves have perhaps the best starting rotation in the majors with Matt Wright (4-3 3.86), Adam Wainwright (14-2 1.40), Horacio Ramirez (7-3 4.21), Wes Littleton (4-5 4.20), and Adam Eaton (10-5 2.84). The offense is a good mix of power and average, with Wilson Betemit as the leader of the offense, hitting 0.375 with 11 HRs and 55 RBIs.

Game 97: Pirates 3 Braves 2
Both starters pitched fabulous games, but neither got a decision in the game, as this one took ten innings to decide. Benson gave up a lead-off homerun in the bottom of the first to Rafeal Furcal, but then proceeded to pitch seven scoreless innings, giving up a total of just five hits and one walk while striking out nine batters. Matt Wright had pitched seven scoreless innings, but then with one out in the eighth, Darnell McDonald reached base on an error, and ended up at second base as the throw ended up in the stands. Then Kotsay hit a fly ball to deep right field and McDonald tagged to go to third, but the throw by the rightfielder went past the third baseman and McDonald was able to score. Wright pitched a total of eight innings, giving up the one unearned run off of four hits and one walk while striking out 7. Then in extra innings in the top of the tenth, with one on and two outs, Jack Wilson hit a pinch hit homerun off of Vazcaino to give the Pirates the lead. The Braves answered back with a run of their own, when Betemit tripled and then scored on LaRoche's ground out to first base. Corey gave up just the one run however, and got the save. Mann picked up the win and Vizcaino got the loss.

Game 98: Pirates 4 Braves 5
Greinke didn't have a great outing, giving up five runs in four innings for the loss. Wainwright pitched fairly well, giving up just three runs in seven innings, for the NL leading 15th win of the season. All of the Pirates runs were scored from solo homeruns by Hill, Nady, Davis, and McDougall. Vizcaino pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his 25th save of the season.

Game 99: Pirates 9 Braves 2
VanBenSchoten pitched real well, going the distance in the game and giving up just two runs off of five hits and two walks while striking out 8 batters. VanHekken at some point in time got placed into the Braves starting rotation and gave up five runs in five innings for the loss. Xavier Nady set a career high for RBIs in a game, with 5 RBIs, while going 3-5 including a three run homerun.

Series Recap: The Pirates seemed to have the Braves number this season, winning five out of six games. That may be important as it's quite possible that the Pirates may face the Braves in the playoffs, if they can make it.

Around the league, on Thursday Padres' hitters had no chance against Colorado's Dennis Stark, as he threw a 2 hit shutout to help the Rockies defeat the Padres 7-0. On Saturday, Arizona fans received extremely bad news when they learned that 25 year old rookie Mike Schultz would never again get a chance to start in the major leagues as he suffered a career ending injury when he tore a ligament in his elbow. Also on Saturday, Mets' catcher Mike Piazza collected his 2000th career hit when he singled off of Orlando Hernandez in the second inning.