Bucs Put Up Three Spot In Ninth; Top Twins 5-2; B Team Loses

Ah, just like the good ol' days when the Buccos were the Kardiac Kids. Keyed by Andrew Lambo's two-run single in the ninth, the Pirates topped the Twins 5-2 today. The Pirates broke out of their hitting slump for a frame, collecting four of their eight hits in the ninth.

Lyle Overbay homered, and Ronny Cedeno had two hits (although he took himself off the bases by being thrown out at third stealing - twice, and both times with two outs. Curious timing.), and Pedro Ciriaco and Ryan Doumit chipped in with sac-fly RBI. The Bucs bent but didn't fold against the Twin Cities.

Minnesota pounded out out eleven hits, but a 1-for-12 RISP and pair of DPs helped limit the damage. They got both their runs off Rudy Owens; Brian Burres, Sean Gallagher and Chris Leroux were unscored on, as was Fernando Nieve, who put up a goose egg for the win but gave up four hits in his two innings of work.

Carl Pavano pitched four scoreless frames against Pittsburgh; Jeff Manship was the victim of the ninth-inning rally.

In the morning affair held on the Twin's back field, the Bucco's dropped a 4-2 "B" game decision. Andy Marte homered and Steve Pearce made a nice play at third to bail Brad Lincoln out of a bases-juiced jam; Bad Brad went two scoreless innings and saw a couple of the Twins' big boys.

Justin Morneau played in the "B" game, his first of any kind since a July concussion. Delmon Young, returning from turf toe, played too.

-- Scott Olsen threw 30 pitches during live BP; another live performance is scheduled for Thursday. If his leg holds up, he should be ready to go by the weekend.

-- In the "B" game, 2B prospect Brian Friday was hit in the hand by a pitch. The X-Rays were negative and he's day-to-day; we'll wait and see how it turns out. Friday seems to get one nagging injury every season.