One Bad Inning...

For awhile there, it looked like the Bucs and Giants were ready for another pitching duel between two teams that throw better than they hit. Going into the sixth, it was 1-0 Pirates, thanks to a second inning Brandon Moss long ball.

But the wheels came off for Zach Duke in the sixth. The first four batters doubled off him, the first pair on well-placed rather than well struck balls and the next two the tradition way, one high off the Clemente wall and the other drilled up the right field line. The first trio of two-baggers were hit on three consecutive pitches.

Two sac flies later, it was 4-1 G-Men. In 32 innings against Pittsburgh pitching this series, today's sixth was the only frame the Giants mustered any earned runs.

It would be be plenty for Matt Cain, who finished his day after seven innings, giving up a run on five hits with eight Ks and a walk while winning his eleventh game of the season. But his bullpen made it exciting after his exit.

Sergio Romo let the first two runners aboard in the eighth, and Jeremy Affeldt came on. After a bounce-out advanced them, Ryan Doumit rolled a two-run single up the middle. But Adam LaRoche, with a green light on a 3-0 pitch, bounced into an inning-ending 4-6-3 DP.

That was the last hurrah, as Brian Williams came on in the ninth to close out the 4-3 San Francisco win. Now the Brew Crew comes to town. The matchups are provided here, from MLB.com.