Notes

RHP Kevin Correia (11-8, 4.38 ERA) tries to earn a series split for the Bucs tonight against RHP Derek Lowe (6-8, 4.49 ERA). It won't be easy; Lowe is 10-0 lifetime against the Pirates. The game starts at 7:10 PM and will be shown on Root Sports.

The lineup: Xavier Paul LF, Garrett Jones RF, Andrew McCutchen CF, Neil Walker 2B, Pedro Alvarez 3B, Lyle Overbay 1B, Ronny Cedeno SS, Mike McKenry C, Kevin Correia P.

McCutch and Walker flipped positions in the lineup. 

• According to Elias Sports Bureau, Bucs pitchers have 37 Ks in last 3 games, the most in 3 consecutive games in the team's 125 year history.  Those three games covered 36+ innings, so maybe that's a record that deserves an asterisk.
• Dejan Kovacevic of the Tribune Review says that the Bucs asked about OF Carlos Quentin, but so far he's being way overpriced.
• Jayson Stark of ESPN wrote that "...Pirates said their No. 1 focus is on finding a 'professional hitter.' They seem to have backed off on Carlos Pena. They are said to be lukewarm about Josh Willingham. And B.J. Upton doesn't fit that definition. So one name other clubs say Pittsburgh has its eyes on is the Twins' Jason Kubel."
• Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated tweets that the Bucs are one of the teams interested in Jamey Carroll, LAD infielder.
• Starling Marte's benching at Altoona last night was because he didn't slide to break up a DP, according to Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com.
• Matt Eddy of Baseball America reported that the Bucs released their one-time second baseman of the future Shelby Ford.