Pittsburgh Pirates

Oliver Perez tries to stop a personal three-game losing streak this afternoon when the Pittsburgh Pirates play the rubber match of a three-game set against the Arizona Diamondbacks at PNC Park.

 

Perez has been abysmal for Pittsburgh this season, as he is 1-5 with a bloated 7.71 earned run average in seven starts. His latest setback came last Friday against Washington, which battered him for four runs and three hits in four innings. He also walked four and remained winless since picking up his lone victory of the year back on April 18 against St. Louis.

 

The 24-year-old left-hander may have a difficult time getting off the schneid today, as he is just 1-4 lifetime versus the Diamondbacks with a 6.15 ERA in six starts.

 

Arizona will counter with 27-year-old right-hander Juan Cruz, who will be making his third straight start after seven relief appearances to open the year. Cruz is coming off his first win of the year Thursday against the Chicago Cubs, as he allowed four hits over five scoreless frames to improve to 1-0 on the season while lowering his ERA to 2.05.

 

Cruz has faced the Pirates 17 times (four starts) and is 4-2 with a save and a 4.89 ERA.

 

In the middle game of this series on Wednesday, Brandon Webb pitched six solid innings to win his sixth consecutive start and Chad Tracy finished 4- for-4 with two runs scored as Arizona defeated Pittsburgh, 7-4.

 

The sinker-baller Webb (6-0) continued his torrid start to the 2006 season by relying on his best pitch to get him out of jams. He allowed 10 hits and three runs, but induced several key ground outs and struck out six Pirates using his heavy sinker.

 

Shawn Green ended 3-for-4 with three runs batted in, Eric Byrnes went 3-for-6 and Craig Counsell had two hits and scored twice for Arizona, which snapped a brief two-game skid.

 

Nate McLouth had three hits while Jose Castillo recorded three hits and knocked in a pair of runs for the Pirates, who have alternated wins and losses in their last four games.

 

Pittsburgh starter Paul Maholm hung tough for 5 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on 10 hits with four walks and three strikeouts. Damaso Marte (0-2) surrendered one run on two hits with one strikeout and retired just two batters to take the loss.

 

Following today's tilt the Pirates, who have won three of five and four of seven at home, will continue their nine-game homestand with a three-game set against the Florida Marlins.

 

Arizona, meanwhile, will visit St. Louis for three games beginning Friday.