Same Ol - Bucs Go Down 3-1

The first couple of innings were rough against Buc righty Charlie Morton, but he survived pretty well. Kirk Nieuwenhuis singled with one away in the opening frame, went to second on a wild pitch and scored with two outs on a Lucas Duda ground single to right. The Bucs went quietly in their half against Jon Niese.

In the second, Ike Davis and Ronnie Cedeno began things with back-to-back singles. Rob Johnson banged one to short and the Pirates got a force out when The Kid had a hitch in his turn. Niese bunted Johnson to second, but Mike Baxter left the ducks on the pond. Casey McGehee walked with one out and Yamaico Navarro legged out a roller an out later, but nothing further developed.

Nieuwenhuis led off the third with a bunt single, but was erased on a 6-4-3 DP. The Pirates, as is becoming mind-numbingly common, went down 1-2-3. In the fourth, both teams were retied in order. The fifth saw the Mets pad their lead.

Johnson singled into right and Niese advanced him with a bunt. Baxter singled him to third, where a Nieuwenhuis sac fly plated Johnson. David Wright ripped a two-out two-bagger to right to push Baxter home, and it was 3-0 NY. For Pittsburgh, Barmes singled with two out, but Clint Hurdle sent Morton to the dish, where he bounced out to short.

Morton put down NY in order in the sixth, and Josh Harrison opened the Bucco half with a double. After an out, Cutch singled into left and Pittsburgh was on the board. Good thing, too, as Walker banged into a DP to end the frame. The Mets went 1-2-3 in the seventh, as did Pittsburgh. At least Barajas and Navarro banged a couple of deep flies to center; even noisy outs are noteworthy anymore.

Morton went seven, and gave up three runs on eight hits with a K. Jason Grilli took the ball in the eighth. Welcome back; he K'ed the side. Barmes singled to start the Bucs; two outs later, Gorkys Hernandez drew a 3-2 walk. That was it for Niese; Bobby Parnell climbed the hill to duel Cutch. Parnell had Gorkys dead to rights as he led off first, but Met 1B Davis forgot to catch the pick-off toss and both runners moved up 90'. No prob for Parnell; he busted a 98 MPH heater under the hands of Cutch to get him on a check swing.

Brad Lincoln got the call for the ninth, and put the Mets down where they stood. Frank Francisco came on for NY, looking to close out the Bucs for the second straight time. Walker was caught looking at a curve. Garrett Jones took the bat from McGehee, and flew out to center. Barajas followed with a swinging whiff and the Bucs went down to the Mets again today by a 3-1 tally.

Pretty much the same ol'. Can't hit, and there's not much more tale to be told.

The team is off tomorrow, then AJ Burnett will host the Cubs' Ryan Dempster.

• Jason Grilli has fanned at least one batter in each of his 18 appearances, with 30 K in 17 IP.
• Josh Harrison extended his hitting streak to nine games; Rod Barajas' ended at eight.