Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals mlb live streaming major league baseball video feed radio commentary highlights online ESPN 360 gamecast 4/5, 2011 The Pittsburgh Pirates are off to a surprising start. The fact that they've been led by a starting rotation that was the worst in the majors last season makes it all the sweeter.
James McDonald will try to continue that success when he takes the mound Tuesday night as the Pirates continue their three-game series at the St. Louis Cardinals.
After opening the season by taking two of three road games from the Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh (3-1) defeated St. Louis 4-3 on Monday.
The Pirates went 31-48 against NL Central rivals last year, including 10-30 on the road. They finished 17-64 away from home overall.
8:15 PM ET, April 5, 2011
Busch Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri
Gameday Matchup
Pittsburgh St. Louis
W-L 3 - 1 1 - 3
Night 1-0 0-1
Grass 3-1 1-3
Current Streak W2 L1
Last 10 3-1 1-3
Pitching Matchup
Pittsburgh St. Louis
James McDonald
0-0, 0.00 ERA
Kyle McClellan
0-0, 0.00 ERA
WATCH Pittsburgh Pirates vs St. Louis Cardinals LIVE NOW
Injury Report
Pittsburgh
* Andrew McCutchen CF - Apr 3: Day-To-Day
St. Louis
* Matt Holliday LF - Apr 5: Day-to-Day
The Pittsburgh Pirates are off to a surprising start. The fact that they've been led by a starting rotation that was the worst in the majors last season makes it all the sweeter.
James McDonald will try to continue that success when he takes the mound Tuesday night as the Pirates continue their three-game series at the St. Louis Cardinals.
After opening the season by taking two of three road games from the Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh (3-1) defeated St. Louis 4-3 on Monday.
The Pirates went 31-48 against NL Central rivals last year, including 10-30 on the road. They finished 17-64 away from home overall.
"It's great to get off to a start like this on the road, especially with the teams in our division," center fielder Andrew McCutchen said. "To be able to do this is showing that we're growing as a team and we're getting better."
Charlie Morton limited the Cardinals to one run and three hits in six innings Monday, lowering the ERA of Pittsburgh's rotation to 2.55 -- less than half last season's major league-worst 5.28 mark.
McCutchen supported Morton with a two-run homer one day after he was scratched due to a stiff neck.
St. Louis slugger Albert Pujols had another rough game, going 0 for 3 with a walk and a run scored. The perennial Triple Crown candidate is 2 for 16 with one homer on the season.
The Cardinals (1-3) are off to their worst start since 2007, when they also opened 1/3 en route to a 78-84 finish.
They'll aim for better success against McDonald (4-6, 4.02 ERA), who went 4-5 with a 3.52 ERA in 11 starts last season after the Pirates acquired him from Los Angeles prior to the July 31 trade deadline.
"It gives you confidence," McDonald told the Pirates' official website. "But you've still got to remember that I've got a long way to go, a lot of things that I can do to get better."
After making four relief appearances against the Cardinals in 2009, McDonald made his first career start against them last year, giving up one run while striking out seven in six innings of a 4-1 win Sept. 29.
St. Louis will counter with Kyle McClellan (1-4, 2.27), making his first career start after 202 relief appearances over three seasons.
The right-hander went 4-0 with a 0.78 ERA in spring training, claiming the rotation spot that became available when Adam Wainwright suffered a season-ending elbow injury.
"I'm excited to get the first one, get it going," McClellan said. "I've been anxious, but I feel like I've done all the work I need in between. When I'm out there, I'm going to be ready to go."
McClellan has made 20 career relief appearances against the Pirates, giving up six runs and 14 hits in 23 2/3 innings.
James McDonald will try to continue that success when he takes the mound Tuesday night as the Pirates continue their three-game series at the St. Louis Cardinals.
After opening the season by taking two of three road games from the Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh (3-1) defeated St. Louis 4-3 on Monday.
The Pirates went 31-48 against NL Central rivals last year, including 10-30 on the road. They finished 17-64 away from home overall.
8:15 PM ET, April 5, 2011
Busch Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri
Pittsburgh St. Louis
W-L 3 - 1 1 - 3
Night 1-0 0-1
Grass 3-1 1-3
Current Streak W2 L1
Last 10 3-1 1-3
Pitching Matchup
Pittsburgh St. Louis
James McDonald
0-0, 0.00 ERA
Kyle McClellan
0-0, 0.00 ERA
WATCH Pittsburgh Pirates vs St. Louis Cardinals LIVE NOW
Injury Report
Pittsburgh
* Andrew McCutchen CF - Apr 3: Day-To-Day
St. Louis
* Matt Holliday LF - Apr 5: Day-to-Day
The Pittsburgh Pirates are off to a surprising start. The fact that they've been led by a starting rotation that was the worst in the majors last season makes it all the sweeter.
James McDonald will try to continue that success when he takes the mound Tuesday night as the Pirates continue their three-game series at the St. Louis Cardinals.
After opening the season by taking two of three road games from the Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh (3-1) defeated St. Louis 4-3 on Monday.
The Pirates went 31-48 against NL Central rivals last year, including 10-30 on the road. They finished 17-64 away from home overall.
"It's great to get off to a start like this on the road, especially with the teams in our division," center fielder Andrew McCutchen said. "To be able to do this is showing that we're growing as a team and we're getting better."
Charlie Morton limited the Cardinals to one run and three hits in six innings Monday, lowering the ERA of Pittsburgh's rotation to 2.55 -- less than half last season's major league-worst 5.28 mark.
McCutchen supported Morton with a two-run homer one day after he was scratched due to a stiff neck.
St. Louis slugger Albert Pujols had another rough game, going 0 for 3 with a walk and a run scored. The perennial Triple Crown candidate is 2 for 16 with one homer on the season.
The Cardinals (1-3) are off to their worst start since 2007, when they also opened 1/3 en route to a 78-84 finish.
They'll aim for better success against McDonald (4-6, 4.02 ERA), who went 4-5 with a 3.52 ERA in 11 starts last season after the Pirates acquired him from Los Angeles prior to the July 31 trade deadline.
"It gives you confidence," McDonald told the Pirates' official website. "But you've still got to remember that I've got a long way to go, a lot of things that I can do to get better."
After making four relief appearances against the Cardinals in 2009, McDonald made his first career start against them last year, giving up one run while striking out seven in six innings of a 4-1 win Sept. 29.
St. Louis will counter with Kyle McClellan (1-4, 2.27), making his first career start after 202 relief appearances over three seasons.
The right-hander went 4-0 with a 0.78 ERA in spring training, claiming the rotation spot that became available when Adam Wainwright suffered a season-ending elbow injury.
"I'm excited to get the first one, get it going," McClellan said. "I've been anxious, but I feel like I've done all the work I need in between. When I'm out there, I'm going to be ready to go."
McClellan has made 20 career relief appearances against the Pirates, giving up six runs and 14 hits in 23 2/3 innings.
