Pittsburgh Pirates Vs. New York Mets MLB Live Streaming League Baseball Radio Commentary Station Review Schedule Power Ranking Roster Biography June 2, 2011. It's been more than four decades since the Pittsburgh Pirates have enjoyed this type of success from their starting rotation. With another strong effort, the Pirates could exceed their road win total from all of last year before the official start of summer.
Paul Maholm takes the mound for the surging Pirates on Thursday as they look to take three of four road games from the New York Mets, who expect Reyes back in the lineup after he missed the first three games of this series.
The rotation has allowed two earned runs or fewer in 13 consecutive starts, its longest such streak since a 14-game run Sept. 13-27, 1968 -- the year before major league baseball lowered the pitcher's mound.
"It's never easy," first-year Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "You just can't take for granted what they're doing, because this is the major leagues and any team on any night can go ahead and drop something on you. ... Our guys have been very impressive."
Kevin Correia kept the streak going and became the first eight-game winner in the majors Wednesday by allowing two runs over six innings of Pittsburgh's 9-3 victory. The Pirates, who have won the last two games after a 7-3 loss in Monday's series opener, haven't won three in a row road games versus the Mets since a four-game run bridging 2003 and 2004.
A third straight victory Thursday would give Pittsburgh a 5-2 road trip and 18 wins away from home on the season, one more than its total from 2010.
"That was a target area going in, an area of attention, and our guys have responded very well to it," Hurdle said.
Maholm (2-7, 3.18 ERA) enjoyed his best performance of the season in Saturday's 10-0 rout of the Chicago Cubs, needing only 91 pitches to toss a three-hitter. The left-hander got double the run support he received in his previous five starts combined. He went 0-4 with a 3.41 ERA in five starts during that stretch.
"You go out there and you do everything you can to make sure the team has a chance. And I think I've done that," said Maholm, who is 0-2 with a 10.38 ERA in his last three starts against New York.
Reyes, who is 7 for 19 against Maholm, is expected back in the lineup after missing three games while on the bereavement list following the death of his grandmother.
The shortstop leads the Mets with a .335 average, and had been 14 for 27 with three doubles and two triples in the six games prior to his inactive spell. He's hitting .403 over his last 14 games against the Pirates.
He may need to provide a big boost for New York (25-30), which has compiled a 6.16 staff ERA during its current 3-8 swoon.
"They're big league players. They should be able to do it," manager Terry Collins said. "I told the coaches, 'We've got to do a better job. We've got to take responsibility for this.' I mean, I'm the manager. It comes back on my shoulders. ... Maybe I have to make some adjustments. And by God, they'll be made. I don't know if it comes with finding different players, but something's going to be changed."
Mike Pelfrey (3-4, 5.00) gets the ball for the Mets seeking his first win in four starts. He's 0-1 with a 3.48 ERA in his last three, getting just six total runs of support in those outings.
The right-hander limited Philadelphia to two runs in 7 2/3 innings Saturday, but the bullpen wasted his effort in a 5-2 loss.
Pelfrey has allowed four runs over 15 innings to win his last two starts against the Pirates.
1:10 PM ET, June 2, 2011
Citi Field, New York, NY
Watch them Live Single Link All Actions Live:To do that, they'll need to contend with Jose Reyes.
Thursday, June 2, 2011 PITCHERS
Pittsburgh at NY Mets 1:10 PM Maholm vs Pelfrey
Texas at Cleveland 7:05 PM Bush vs Carrasco
Minnesota at Kansas City 8:10 PM Swarzak vs O'Sullivan
San Francisco at St. Louis 8:15 PM Sanchez vs Lynn
Washington at Arizona 9:40 PM Zimmermann vs Duke
Houston at San Diego 10:05 PM Norris vs Stauffer
Tampa Bay at Seattle 10:10 PM Shields vs Hernandez
Paul Maholm takes the mound for the surging Pirates on Thursday as they look to take three of four road games from the New York Mets, who expect Reyes back in the lineup after he missed the first three games of this series.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011 Score HighLights Schedule Video FeedPittsburgh (26-28) has won eight of its last 13 games, with stellar starting pitching the primary reason.
RESULT WIN LOSS SAVE ATT.
at Washington 2, Philadelphia 1 Lannan (3-5) Oswalt (3-3) Storen (10) 24,495
Texas 3, at Tampa Bay 0 Lewis (5-5) Price (6-5) Feliz (11) 13,725
Chicago White Sox 7, at Boston 4 Floyd (6-5) Albers (1-3) Santos (9) 37,321
Houston 3, at Chicago Cubs 1 Myers (2-4) Davis (0-4) Melancon (4) 31,340
NY Yankees 4, at Oakland 2 Burnett (6-3) Gonzalez (5-3) Rivera (14) 25,469
Baltimore 2, at Seattle 1 Johnson (4-1) Wright (1-2) Gregg (9) 18,036
at Kansas City 2, LA Angels 0 Collins (3-2) Downs (3-2) 12,022
at Detroit 4, Minnesota 2 Porcello (5-3) Baker (2-4) Valverde (14) 24,363
Cleveland 13, at Toronto 9 Tomlin (7-2) Drabek (3-4) 15,397
at Atlanta 4, San Diego 3 Hanson (6-4) Richard (2-6) Kimbrel (16) 21,452
at Cincinnati 4, Milwaukee 3 Masset (1-3) Loe (2-5) Cordero (10) 22,213
Pittsburgh 9, at NY Mets 3 Correia (8-4) Capuano (3-6) 25,234
at Arizona 6, Florida 5 Putz (1-1) Hensley (0-2) 16,169
San Francisco 7, at St. Louis 5 Romo (3-0) Franklin (1-4) Wilson (15) 35,775
Colorado 3, at LA Dodgers 0 Jimenez (1-5) Garland (1-5) 36,975
The rotation has allowed two earned runs or fewer in 13 consecutive starts, its longest such streak since a 14-game run Sept. 13-27, 1968 -- the year before major league baseball lowered the pitcher's mound.
"It's never easy," first-year Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "You just can't take for granted what they're doing, because this is the major leagues and any team on any night can go ahead and drop something on you. ... Our guys have been very impressive."
Kevin Correia kept the streak going and became the first eight-game winner in the majors Wednesday by allowing two runs over six innings of Pittsburgh's 9-3 victory. The Pirates, who have won the last two games after a 7-3 loss in Monday's series opener, haven't won three in a row road games versus the Mets since a four-game run bridging 2003 and 2004.
A third straight victory Thursday would give Pittsburgh a 5-2 road trip and 18 wins away from home on the season, one more than its total from 2010.
"That was a target area going in, an area of attention, and our guys have responded very well to it," Hurdle said.
Maholm (2-7, 3.18 ERA) enjoyed his best performance of the season in Saturday's 10-0 rout of the Chicago Cubs, needing only 91 pitches to toss a three-hitter. The left-hander got double the run support he received in his previous five starts combined. He went 0-4 with a 3.41 ERA in five starts during that stretch.
"You go out there and you do everything you can to make sure the team has a chance. And I think I've done that," said Maholm, who is 0-2 with a 10.38 ERA in his last three starts against New York.
Reyes, who is 7 for 19 against Maholm, is expected back in the lineup after missing three games while on the bereavement list following the death of his grandmother.
The shortstop leads the Mets with a .335 average, and had been 14 for 27 with three doubles and two triples in the six games prior to his inactive spell. He's hitting .403 over his last 14 games against the Pirates.
He may need to provide a big boost for New York (25-30), which has compiled a 6.16 staff ERA during its current 3-8 swoon.
"They're big league players. They should be able to do it," manager Terry Collins said. "I told the coaches, 'We've got to do a better job. We've got to take responsibility for this.' I mean, I'm the manager. It comes back on my shoulders. ... Maybe I have to make some adjustments. And by God, they'll be made. I don't know if it comes with finding different players, but something's going to be changed."
Mike Pelfrey (3-4, 5.00) gets the ball for the Mets seeking his first win in four starts. He's 0-1 with a 3.48 ERA in his last three, getting just six total runs of support in those outings.
The right-hander limited Philadelphia to two runs in 7 2/3 innings Saturday, but the bullpen wasted his effort in a 5-2 loss.
Pelfrey has allowed four runs over 15 innings to win his last two starts against the Pirates.
