Keep the Beer Flowing

The Pirates continued a remarkable recent run of games Thursday with a two-run rally in the bottom of the ninth against the Brewers that brought home a 4-3 win and a sweep of the four-game series. It was the team's first series sweep in nearly two years.

Dwelling on that sobering fact tempers the present celebration, so the Buccin' Ear will leave it alone. For now, at least, there is no time like the present for the Pirates, who are 6-1 on the current homestand. They left their hittin' shoes in their lockers yesterday for the first time in a while, but Paul Maholm balanced the power gap by pitching his best game of the season, seven efficient innings (87 pitches), and leaving with the score tied 2-2. After the Brewers took the lead in the eighth, the stage was set for the ninth inning dramatics.

That inning illustrated the turn in fortunes the Pirates are presently experiencing. Jeromy Burnitz, continuing his hitting revival, hit a double with one out. Pinch runner Jose Hernandez was advanced to third by Freddie Sanchez. Jose Castillo then appeared to win the game with a home run. After a bit of a rhubarb, the ball was ruled to have hit the top of the wall, Castillo returned to second (denied his sixth home run in six games), and the game was only tied.

Thus, instead of a win, the Pirates had light-hitting Ryan Doumit coming to the plate. In recent games, this kind of situation meant an inning-ending pop-up, followed by yet another crushing loss in extra innings. Not this time. The struggling Doumit singled home Castillo with the win.

So, for one more sun-splashed day in Mudville, there is joy. There is now the prospect of one more romantic weekend at PNC, against the Padres, and then the honeymoon is over. The great nemesis, The Road, awaits. Can our heroes continue to reverse their fortunes? Stay tuned.