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Pittsburgh Pirates Team Report - September 8 ===
(My Sportsbook) - The Pittsburgh Pirates will try to win consecutive games for the first time since August 24-25 tonight, when they finish up a three- game set versus the Milwaukee Brewers at PNC Park.
Pittsburgh registered a 2-0 victory over the Brewers on Tuesday night. Dave Williams threw 6 1/3 shutout innings to lead the Pirates to the win. Williams (1-1) allowed just two hits and a walk while striking out five, and reversed a disturbing trend by recent Pittsburgh starters.
Since August 30, Pirates starting pitchers were 0-4 with a 9.20 ERA until Williams' victory on Tuesday night, his first since April 17, 2002.
Jose Mesa worked around a single in the ninth for his 37th save.
Rookie outfielder Jason Bay hit his 22nd homer for Pittsburgh, which snapped a five-game losing streak. Bay is now one homer shy of tying the Pirates rookie record for homers, set by Johnny Rizzo and Ralph Kiner. Jose Castillo added two hits in the contest.
Jason Kendall went 1-for-4 in the win. The hit gives Kendall 1,380 in his career (all with Pittsburgh), passing Gus Suhr and moving into sole possession of 16th place on the all-time franchise hits list.
Prior to the game, Pittsburgh recalled outfielder Tony Alvarez, infielder Freddy Sanchez, catcher J.R. House and pitcher Mark Corey from Triple-A Nashville and recalled outfielder J.J. Davis from his rehab assignment with Nashville.
Taking the ball for Pittsburgh tonight will be 23-year-old lefthander Oliver Perez. The Mexican hurler has dropped consecutive starts, including an ugly defeat to Houston last Friday. Perez was touched for seven hits and seven runs over 5 2/3 innings, while surrendering four home runs. The lefty struck out seven and walked three in the contest.
Perez has made two career appearances against Milwaukee, posting a 1-0 mark with a 4.50 ERA.
The Pirates lead the season series, 12-6, over the Brewers. Versus Milwaukee, the Pirates are 6-2 at home this year. The Brewers are 11-26 lifetime at PNC Park.
