[Operation Shutdown]

Week 12
The Pirates take a short break from interleague play and travel to Milwaukee for a four game series against the Brewers who are 28-40 and whom the Pirates are 6-1 against this season. The Brewers have a pitching staff full of pitchers not living up to their potential, with AJ Burnett (4-9 5.72), Ismael Valdes (6-6 3.76), and former Pirates Oliver Perez (2-9 6.13). The Brewers have a decent offense with Andrea Lemmons (0.300 16 38) and Kelly Grams (0.283 15 50) leading the way, though slugger Sexson (0.198 12 27) has really been struggling this season.

Game 70: Pirates 3 Brewers 2
Bullington had himself another nice start, scattering seven hits and giving up just two runs in eight innings for the win. Neugebauer also pitched well, giving up just two runs in 6 2/3 innings, but did not get a decision. In the top of the ninth the Pirates scored the winning run the old fashioned way, by getting out. Jack Wilson led off the inning with a double and was then moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Nady. He then scored on a sac fly by Yurendell DeCaster. Mann then came into the bottom of the ninth and struck out the side, getting Sexson and Gish to strike out looking and Dubois to strike out swinging, and earn his 17th save. Quevedo was charged with the loss.

Game 71: Pirates 0 Brewers 3
Burnett pitched a decent game giving up just four hits in seven innings, though unfortunately one of those hits was a three run homerun by Richie Sexson. Perez schooled his old teammates pitching 8 1/3 scoreless innings, while giving up just four hits for the win. Adams picked up the last two outs in the game for the save.

Game 72: Pirates 6 Brewers 7
Lopez had his second straight poor outing, giving up five runs in four innings for the loss. Steitz pitched well for the Brew Crew, giving up just two runs in seven innings for the win. The Pirates tried to mount a comeback in the ninth trailing 7-3. DeCasters led off the inning with a single and Butler followed with a two run homerun off of Nance to bring the game to 7-5. Strickland then came into the game and gave up a single to Hill, a walk to Nady and then another single Craig Wilson that scored Hill. JJ Davis then grounded out to the catcher for the first out of the inning, moving the runners to second and third. Henson was then intentionally walked to load the bases and the strategy paid off, as Strickland got Jack Wilson to ground into a game ending 6-4-3 double play. Strickland got his first save of the season.

Game 73: Pirates 4 Brewers 5
VanBenSchoten gave up three runs in 5 1/3 innings and Burnett gave up four runs in 6 2/3 innings and neither starter got the decision. The Brewers tied the game in the bottom of the seventh with an unearned run off of Jimenez. Then in the ninth, Mann led the inning off by hitting Dubois with a pitch. He then got Alba to strike out and Batista to ground out to the catcher, but moving Dubois to second. Machado came through with a clutch single to score Dubois from second and win the game for the Brewers. Adams picked up the win and Mann earned the loss.

Series Recap: This is really starting to get beyond frustrating, I mean losing three of four to the Brewers?? WTF?? Anyway, the Pirates slipped to third place now in the central.

The Pirates now return home and return to interleague play with a three game series against cross-state line rivals the Cleveland Indians who are 44-29 and in first place in the AL Central. The Indians have combined an average pitching staff with Jose Contreras (7-3 3.40), Dennis Stark (7-4 3.73), and rookie Derrick Van Dusen (6-7 5.52) along with an explosive lineup consisting of IRod (0.268 8 30), Ryan Church (0.268 16 58), Travis Hafner (0.327 24 59), Jack Cust (0.270 16 49), and Brandon Phillips (0.319 11 56) to become one of the better teams in the majors.

Game 74: Pirates 2 Indians 5 Fireworks Night at PNC Park
Williams pitched a great game giving up no runs and just two hits in 6 1/3 innings, but because of a rain delay he was forced to leave the game early and did not get a decision. Contreras also did fairly well giving up just two runs in seven innings and he picked up the win. The Pirate bullpen lost the game with Jimenez giving up two runs in the seventh inning, while recording just one out, and Vogelsong gave up three runs in the eighth inning while recording just two outs. Vogelsong was charged with the loss. Escobar pitched a scoreless ninth for the save.

Game 75: Pirates 9 Indians 11
Bullington had a pretty poor outing, giving up six runs in 5 2/3 innings for the loss. VanDusen pitched pretty well giving up three runs in 5 2/3 innings for the win. The Pirates were able to come within one run after scoring two runs in the seventh to bring the score to 6-5. The Indians then just exploded in the top of the eight, scoring five runs, three off of Vogelsong and two off of White to regain a commanding lead. The Pirates answered back partially by scoring four runs off of Escobar, but Cressend came in for one out, and De los Santos got another out as well as pitched a scoreless ninth inning to hold on for the win and pick up the save.

Game 76: Pirates 1 Indians 6
Burnett had a decent game giving up three runs in seven innings but he still got the loss. Sabathia performed brilliantly, and despite walking six batters, he gave up just two hits and no runs in eight innings for the win. The Pirate bullpen didn't even give a chance for the offense to play catchup, as Mike Williams gave up three more runs in 1 1/3 innings of work.

Series Recap: The Pirates losing streak now reaches six games. The Pirates are no longer looking toward trying to get first place, but are just looking to finish above 0.500, as they are now even with a record of 38-38.

Around the league, on Tuesday the White Sox learned that they will be without Bartolo Colon for the next four weeks as he is out with a strained bicep tendon. Also on Tuesday, Cleveland's ace Jeremy Guthrie tore his bicep muscle and will miss the next 4-5 weeks.