Watch Pittsburgh Pirates vs Cincinnati Reds mlb live streaming major league baseball online coverage audio video feed radio commentary webcast espn 360 gamecast 4/16/2011. Game Review: The Pittsburgh Pirates matched the major league record for road losses in a 162-game season in 2010.
Pittsburgh tries to extend its best road start in four seasons Saturday when it continues a four-game series with the NL Central-leading Cincinnati Reds.
After going 17-64 last season to match the 1963 New York Mets for the worst road record in baseball's expansion era, the Pirates (6-7) are already 5-2 away from home for their best road start since winning six of eight to begin 2007.
Coming off a 1-5 homestand where they hit .175 and averaged 2.5 runs, Pittsburgh had 14 hits and opened its seven-game trip Friday with a 6-1 win over the Reds (8-5).
1:10 PM ET, April 16, 2011
Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, Ohio
Pitching Matchup
Pittsburgh v Cincinnati
James McDonald
0-0, 5.56 ERA
Last appearance:
4/10 vs COL
6.2 IP, 5 ER
Dec = ND
Mike Leake
1-0, 6.75 ERA
Last appearance:
4/10 at ARI
4.2 IP, 6 ER
Dec = ND
Gameday Lineups
NO. Pittsburgh Cincinnati
1. A. McCutchen, CF D. Stubbs, CF
2. J. Tabata, LF M. Cairo, 2B
3. L. Overbay, 1B J. Votto, 1B
4. N. Walker, 2B J. Gomes, LF
5. P. Alvarez, 3B J. Bruce, RF
6. R. Doumit, C J. Francisco, 3B
7. G. Jones, RF R. Hernandez, C
8. R. Cedeno, SS P. Janish, SS
9. J. McDonald, P M. Leake, P
"At the end of the series at home, we were pressing," said second baseman Neil Walker, who hit a two-run homer to help the Pirates end a season-high four-game skid. "We were thinking we had to win. We relaxed a little bit today."
The Pirates had lost 12 of 15 in Cincinnati.
The club will try to continue their strong play outside Pittsburgh with James McDonald (0-0, 5.56 ERA) going for his second career road win as a starter, and first since April 25, 2009, while with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Since being acquired from the Dodgers on July 31, McDonald is 0-4 with a 4.15 ERA in six road starts.
In his first start at PNC Park this season, the right-hander walked three, surrendered three hits -- including a homer -- and allowed four runs in the first inning of Sunday's 6-5 loss to Colorado. McDonald, though, threw just 65 pitches in his final 5 2/3 innings after needing 38 to escape the first.
"I showed that I'm out there competing," McDonald, 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA in three relief appearances against the Reds, told the Pirates' official website. "I showed my team that I'm not going to give up."
McDonald will face a Reds team that has scored three runs in its last two home games -- both losses -- since averaging 8.6 runs in their first 5-0 home start since 1980.
Cincinnati will try to get back on track with Mike Leake (1-0, 3.86) as he moves up a day in the rotation to replace Edinson Volquez (stiff neck).
Leake, who won his season debut at home against Houston on April 5, was far less effective in his last outing, getting tagged for six runs and 10 hits in just 4 2/3 innings of Sunday's 10-8 loss at Arizona. He was staked to a 5-0 third-inning lead.
"Five runs should be enough. I didn't make it enough," Leake told the Reds' official website.
He went 0-1 with a 1.86 ERA in three starts against Pittsburgh last season.
Pirates left fielder Jose Tabata -- 2 for 3 against Leake -- is batting .444 (12 for 27) on the road after Friday's career-high four-hit effort. Tabata is hitting .238 at home.
Pittsburgh first baseman Lyle Overbay improved his career batting averaging in Cincinnati to .424 with two hits in the opener. He has never faced Leake.
Reds right fielder Jay Bruce, who hit a ninth-inning homer Friday after missing one game with a groin injury, is batting .339 (21 for 62) with five homers and 13 RBIs in 19 home games against Pittsburgh.
PiratesThe club looks far more comfortable away from home in 2011.
(6-7, 5-2 away)
Reds
(8-5, 5-2 home)
Pittsburgh tries to extend its best road start in four seasons Saturday when it continues a four-game series with the NL Central-leading Cincinnati Reds.
After going 17-64 last season to match the 1963 New York Mets for the worst road record in baseball's expansion era, the Pirates (6-7) are already 5-2 away from home for their best road start since winning six of eight to begin 2007.
Coming off a 1-5 homestand where they hit .175 and averaged 2.5 runs, Pittsburgh had 14 hits and opened its seven-game trip Friday with a 6-1 win over the Reds (8-5).
1:10 PM ET, April 16, 2011
Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, Ohio
Pittsburgh v Cincinnati
James McDonald
0-0, 5.56 ERA
Last appearance:
4/10 vs COL
6.2 IP, 5 ER
Dec = ND
Mike Leake
1-0, 6.75 ERA
Last appearance:
4/10 at ARI
4.2 IP, 6 ER
Dec = ND
Gameday Lineups
NO. Pittsburgh Cincinnati
1. A. McCutchen, CF D. Stubbs, CF
2. J. Tabata, LF M. Cairo, 2B
3. L. Overbay, 1B J. Votto, 1B
4. N. Walker, 2B J. Gomes, LF
5. P. Alvarez, 3B J. Bruce, RF
6. R. Doumit, C J. Francisco, 3B
7. G. Jones, RF R. Hernandez, C
8. R. Cedeno, SS P. Janish, SS
9. J. McDonald, P M. Leake, P
"At the end of the series at home, we were pressing," said second baseman Neil Walker, who hit a two-run homer to help the Pirates end a season-high four-game skid. "We were thinking we had to win. We relaxed a little bit today."
The Pirates had lost 12 of 15 in Cincinnati.
The club will try to continue their strong play outside Pittsburgh with James McDonald (0-0, 5.56 ERA) going for his second career road win as a starter, and first since April 25, 2009, while with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Since being acquired from the Dodgers on July 31, McDonald is 0-4 with a 4.15 ERA in six road starts.
In his first start at PNC Park this season, the right-hander walked three, surrendered three hits -- including a homer -- and allowed four runs in the first inning of Sunday's 6-5 loss to Colorado. McDonald, though, threw just 65 pitches in his final 5 2/3 innings after needing 38 to escape the first.
"I showed that I'm out there competing," McDonald, 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA in three relief appearances against the Reds, told the Pirates' official website. "I showed my team that I'm not going to give up."
McDonald will face a Reds team that has scored three runs in its last two home games -- both losses -- since averaging 8.6 runs in their first 5-0 home start since 1980.
Cincinnati will try to get back on track with Mike Leake (1-0, 3.86) as he moves up a day in the rotation to replace Edinson Volquez (stiff neck).
Leake, who won his season debut at home against Houston on April 5, was far less effective in his last outing, getting tagged for six runs and 10 hits in just 4 2/3 innings of Sunday's 10-8 loss at Arizona. He was staked to a 5-0 third-inning lead.
"Five runs should be enough. I didn't make it enough," Leake told the Reds' official website.
He went 0-1 with a 1.86 ERA in three starts against Pittsburgh last season.
Pirates left fielder Jose Tabata -- 2 for 3 against Leake -- is batting .444 (12 for 27) on the road after Friday's career-high four-hit effort. Tabata is hitting .238 at home.
Pittsburgh first baseman Lyle Overbay improved his career batting averaging in Cincinnati to .424 with two hits in the opener. He has never faced Leake.
Reds right fielder Jay Bruce, who hit a ninth-inning homer Friday after missing one game with a groin injury, is batting .339 (21 for 62) with five homers and 13 RBIs in 19 home games against Pittsburgh.
