lucky 13

It's not often that you score seven runs on three hits, but the Pirates found the magic touch this afternoon. Sit back and wait for a strike was their battle cry in the second inning, and 5 walks, 3 hits and 1 sac fly later, Ollie Perez and Nelson Figueroa had handed their former teammates a lead even they couldn't blow.

After tacking on five more tallies in the sixth - on three doubles, a single, and two Met errors - the only question left was how long Gorzo would go. Five innings was the answer, his balky back giving out after 84 pitches. Hopefully, it's nothing serious; we'll find out in a day or two.

Surprise - Xavier Nady and Nate McLouth led the barrage, both collecting three hits.

It's nice to be the laugher instead of the laughee for a change.

On the Pirate front: Jack Wilson, at long last, is set to begin a minor-league rehab stint Friday at AA Altoona if all continues to go well with his calf. Since he was injured, three different shortstops have taken the field for Pittsburgh - Luis Rivas, Brian Bixler, and the last two games, Chris Gomez.

Wilson's return is tentatively planned for next Tuesday, when the Pirates come home to host the Giants.

A water main break outside of Shea delayed the start of this afternoon's game. The field was too wet to play on Monday and today they couldn't water the infield dust down. Ya just can't win.

The Mets wanted to make up the game as a day-night twinbill today, but MLB nixed the idea. We guess they were concerned about the long trip Pittsburgh had ahead of it on getaway day - to Washington, D.C.! The Bucs will make it up as a one night stand on Monday, August 11th.

McLouth's latest streak, leadoff home runs, ended at two when he failed to launch one in his first at bat today against Perez. He went yard yesterday against Johan Santana, was off Monday, and led off with a four bagger against the Phil's Brett Myers Sunday.

Who do you think got the better of the Ollie Perez - Xavier Nady swap? They were dealt for one another on July 31, 2006 (Roberto Hernadez was traded to NY too, but he wore a Met uni for just two months and left as a free agent.)

Perez has been 18-14 since then (not counting today's outing), with a 4.00 ERA. He's struck out 239 in 241 innings. Nady has hit .290 for the Bucs, with 27 HRs and 118 RBIs during that span, coming up to bat 735 times. Is it better to have a middle of the rotation arm or an everyday bat?