Pirates acquire Cesar Itzuris

July 19, 2007


PIRATES ACQUIRE CESAR IZTURIS

The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired infielder Cesar Izturis and cash
considerations from the Chicago Cubs on Thursday in exchange for a
player to be named. Izturis hit .246 with 11 doubles and eight RBI in
65 games with the Cubs this season while making 60 appearances
(48 starts) at shortstop. Izturis, 27, was a Gold Glove winner in 2004
and an All-Star in 2005 while with the Dodgers.

Bucs Lose 6th Straight Game;5-3 to the Rockies.

The Pirates lost again Wednesday afternoon 5-3 to the Rockies. Jeff Francis(10-5) got the win for the Rockies, he pitched 7 innings giving up 2 runs on 6 hits. Ian Snell(7-7) pitched decent for the Bucs but gave up two big two-run home runs to Brad Hawpe(17) in the 4th and Todd Helton(9) in the 6th. The Pirates couldnt get anything going really at the plate. Freddy Sanchez was 2 for 4 with a solo homer(4). Adam LaRoche also had a solo homer(14) and 2 RBI's(54). The Pirates are now 40-54 and its safe to say we will have to wait until next year.(AS usual)

Pirates lose 6-2 to Rockies.

Five games since the all-star break, five losses. This time the Colorado Rockies knocked around Shane Youman(2-1) early. He went 5 innings giving up 5 runs(4 earned) on 8 hits. Former Pirate Josh Fogg(5-6) pitched a great game for the Rockies going 7 innings and giving up 2 runs on 5 hits. Nate McClouth(2) got a homer off Fogg. The Bucs are now 40-53

Pirates lose 4th Straight

The Colorado Rockies crushed John Van BenSchoten(0-4) for 9 runs after three innings that turned out to unsurmountable, the Bucs losing 10-8. They scored some runs but couldnt quite comeback. Ryan Doumit was 2 for 5 with 2 RBI's(27). Matt Holiday was 1 for 3 with 3 RBI's(73). BenSchoten was only credited for 2 innings as he got no outs in the 3rd innings. He gave up 9 earned runs on 6 hits, 2 BB's and he hit two guys. He is now 0-4 with a 8.17 ERA. The Pirates are now 40-52 and 12 games back.

Bucs swept by Braves

All the good work the Pirates did in the week before the All-Star break is going for nought. The Atlanta Braves finished the sweep of the Pirates 5-1 in Atlanta. Freddy Sanchez(3) hit a solo home run in the first inning for the Pirates only run. The Bucs only managed 4 hits off of the Braves pitching staff led by Buddy Carlyle(4-2) who went 8 innings giving up a run on the 4 hits. Paul Maholm(5-12) got the loss going 6 innings allowing 3 runs(2 earned) on 8 hits. Salomon Torres came back to the bullpen today and pitched one inning allowing one run. Jose Bautista was placed on the 15-day DL. The Pirates are now 40-51.

Pirates lose Heartbreaker 5-4 to Braves

After an hour and twelve minute rain delay in Atlanta, the Braves won the second game of the series on a walk-off RBI single by Jeff Francouer off of Shawn Chacon(4-2). Another good Pirate starter got hit hard by the Braves, Tom Gorzelannyn got the start and Andruw Jones(17) got a two run homer off him in a 3 run 1st, he did ended up calming down, giving up 4 earned runs(3.24) on 6 hits over 6 innings for a no-decision. If not a 4 run inning by the Pirates in the 7th inning right before the rain delay Gorzo probably would have got the loss, but Ryan Doumit(7) hit a 3-run homer to tie the game at 4-4, then the long rain delay. Shawn Chacon got in trouble in both the 8th and 9th innings loading the bases both times. He was able to get out of the inning in the 8th but couldn't get it done in the 9th. The Bucs are now 40-50.

Pirates Scalped by Braves 9-1

The Pirates went into the break a little hot and came out of it ice cold. The Braves handed the Pirates a 9-1 loss in Atlanta Friday night. Ian Snell(7-6) got the loss. He went 5+ innings(He faced 4 batters in the 6th) giving up 7 runs, 4 earned on 8 hits. Brian McCann was the star at the plate for the Braves. He was 3 for 4 with 4 RBI's(53) and two home runs(11). He hit a 3-run homer in the first, then Andruw Jones(16) and McCann went back to back with homers in the 6th. Tim Hudson(9-5) pitched great for the Braves, going 7 innings and allowing no runs. The Pirates broke up the shutout in the 9th on a Ronny Paulino RBI double. The Pirates fell to 40-49 but the good news is Milwaukee(49-40) lost 10-6 to the Colorado Rockies. The Bucs are 9 games back.