Your Pittsburgh Pirates are back on the field at PNC park this evening in the second game of this three game series against the Miami Marlins. The Buccos were down early last night, but managed to grind out a win behind a 5 inning performance from Korea, and long ball contributions from HR'dro and P(H)RNW. They have their eyes on the prize tonight as a win means another series win and even more momentum as we roar into the dog days of 2012.

Today's matchup has two wily old vets on the mound. The Carlos 'I hate you, I hate Derek Lee, I hate Pinella, I hate everyone' Zambrano is up for the Marlins. The Pirates send out AJ 'Born Again' Burnett.

Zambrano has had a season of ups, but mostly downs. He is 5-7 with a 4.22 ERA on a Marlins team that, prior to the season, was projected to do big things in the NL East. He's given up at least 3 runs in each of his last seven starts. His road splits, however, aren't horrible. When he gets out of that bright green monstrosity they call a ball park in Miami he is 3-3 with a 3.06 ERA. He hasn't faced our boys yet this season, but he has a career 8-1 record in PNC park. Granted, that record has come against teams much less talented than the one he'll face today.

AJ Burnett wasn't horrible in his only start of the second half, but don't ask people who base pitcher performance off of wins and losses. In 7 innings in Milwaukee he gave up 4 earned, striking out 7. Not his greatest start, but had he received the offensive support this team has become accustomed to, he probably would have gotten a ND at worst. He's 10-3 this season with a 3.78 ERA. His record in PNC...a perfect one...6-0 with a 2.10 ERA.

In transactional news - Evan Meek has been recalled and Juan Cruz placed on the 15 day DL with shoulder inflammation, retroactive to 7/18.

Win the game, win the series.

Lineups

The Marlins

Coming soon.

The Pirates

Presley LF
Walker 2B
Cutch CF
Jones RF
McGehee 1B
Alvarez 3B
Barajas C
Barmes SS
Burnett P

Let's go, Bucs!

Marlins

Reyes 6
Bonifacio 8
Lee 3
Morrison 7
Ruggiano 9
Dobbs 5
Infante 4
Buck 2
Zambrano 1

The "BIG Z" going against the "Z", something has to give. And Buck against the Bucs.

I am leaning toward an 6-1 Buco victory tonight.

this thread has my blessing... spreads a coat of jelly on it in the shape of a 'z'

c

I just read in the recap of last nights game something that I stared at in disbelief for almost 30 minutes.....well, okay maybe 4 or 5 seconds.

With the storied hitters the Pirates have had in the history of the game, with Pedro Alvarez's HR Friday, it marked the first time in franchise history the team had two 20 HR guys at the 92 game mark.

I mean, when you consider teams with Clemente, Stargell, Robertson......Stargell, Parker, Zisk.....Bonds and Bonilla.....hard to imagine none of those teams accomplished this. Those teams also had some other guys with pop in their bats also...Oliver and Hebner; Robinson; Van Slyke.

I read the same thing and couldn't believe it. That's some kind of history. It's not like this team has the history of the expos or anything, they've been around for a while and have had some great sluggers call Forbes/Three Rivers home. I totally forgot to throw it in the intro.

Also, the Bucs are leading the league in scoring for the second straight month as of the end of the day yesterday. They have 85 runs in July, Detroit has 83.

Please, let us not see Meek at all this game.

Ok, to see what he's got would be ok, with a 7 or 8 run lead only.

If Meek is healthy, I hope he does pitch.

I hope Meek comes back to his 2010 form.

I hope Meek has just made the 6th inning on almost automatic, just like it's that way from the 7th on.

I hope Meek does well if for no other reason than I'm getting pretty sick of posters who have nothing but doom and gloom in their posts for a team that's now 12 games over .500.

Instead of posting the gloom, find a few of your buddies. Wait. Wait some more. When the other shoe falls that you all know is going to happen, come back and gloat then.

It will be healthier for you. And if the shoe never falls, you can wait till next year.

Yeah, my thoughts exactly. Ease him back in by mopping up the ninth with a 7 run lead :)

Amen.

The lace on the first shoe gets loose and people start crying collapse. Really kills the vibe of the GDT's when everybody else is reveling in how well this team is doing.

Jelly Roll's hands might have a little too much Jelly on them. He lost the handle on that one big time.

I can understand what you're trying to say Surg. But at the same time, I don't think it's realistic to expect us all to hold hands and sing Kum-Bah-Yah. No matter how well the Pirates are playing.

Some will never be satisfied. that's just the way of the world, my friend.

Kum-Bah-Yah my friend Kum-Bay-Yah. Everybody now.

Sometimes always wanting more isn't a character flaw, you know.