Miller Park has been a house of horror for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Since the start of the 2007 season, the Pirates have gone just 4-38 at Miller Park. Those four wins came on back-to-back games on May 3-4 of 2007, April 27 in 2008 and one last season on September 26. Their last winning series in Milwaukee was when they took two-of-three July 24-26, 2006.
“We haven’t done well traditionally, so for me, that’s what I hold onto,” Pirates Manager Clint Hurdle said on facing the Brewers. They come into the series at .500 (25-25). “That’s why I cant wait to get there. It’s time we did well. You need to be persistent when you’re trying to push through something that’s as big as we’re trying to push through here historically. You’ve got to be persistent. You can’t back down and you can’t back away. You can’t look sideways. You look it right in the face and get after it. You go with what you’ve got. You do the best you can with what you’ve got with where you are. We’re looking forward to it.”
The Brewers enter game action at 23-28.
- First baseman Matt Hague has hit safely in all six of his games since being promoted from Triple-A Indianapolis last Friday. He recorded the game-winning RBI for the second time in five games with a two-run double to right-center field off Johnny Cueto Wednesday night. His other game-winning RBI came in walkoff fashion last Saturday night after getting hit by a pitch by Chicago’s Rafael Dolis with the bases loaded in the ninth inning.
“That’s a big swing of the bat for us and shows some growth for a young man. That was a thing of beauty,” Hurdle said after the 2-1 win.
- The Bucs finished the month of May with a 15-13 record, the most wins in the month since also posting a 15-13 record in 2008 (also their last winning May).
Andrew McCutchen ranked fourth among N.L. players in slugging percentage (.709), ninth in batting average (.360) and tied for fourth in homers (8) during the month.
Right-hander James McDonald went 3-1 in his five starts in May and posted the second-lowest ERA (1.54) in the Majors behind San Francisco’s Ryan Vogelsong (1.51).
Joel Hanrahan tied for second with nine saves (SF’s Santiago Casilla led with 10).
- Right-hander Kevin Correia will make his 10th start of the season tonight for the Pirates. He allowed two runs over 6.0 innings his last trip to the mound, but has posted a 5.70 ERA during the month of May.
- Jeff Karstens (right shoulder inflammation) was scheduled to make his third rehab start last night for Triple-A Indy. The game was delayed over two hours due to rain, so he will pitch tonight. Karstens will go five innings or 80 pitches.
