Pittsburgh Pirates weekly report

The Pirates opened the week Wednesday with a 10-6 win over the Indians to end the Bucs' five-game losing streak. Zach Duke (8-5) held the Indians in check and collected an RBI to help the Pirates' 14-hit attack. Jason Jaramillo's two-run homer highlighted a six-run fourth inning and Adam LaRoche had a big night with a homer and three RBIs. T?he Indians tried to come back with five runs (only two earned due to LaRoche's two errors) in the top of the ninth inning against Stephen Jackson, but Sean Burnett closed the door.

Matt Capps (1-3) gains his first victory of the season on Thursday as the Pirates took the rubber game of the series, 3-2 over the Indians. Andrew McCutchen's ninth-inning walk-off single won it for the Bucs. The Pirates plated runs with difficulty, but a sacrifice fly by Freddy Sanchez in the sixth and McCutchen's RBI walk in the seventh kept the Bucs close enough. Capps pitched an inning and struck out one to get into the win column.

The Pirates on Friday gave the Kansas City Royals a 5-3 loss in Virgil Vasquez's Pirate debut and first major league win. Nyjer Morgan, Jason Jaramillo and Jack Wilson each homered, marking the first time this season that a team has hit three homers in PNC Park. Vazquez pitched six innings, giving up four hits, two earned runs, walking two and striking out seven. Matt Capps pitched an inning for notch his 17^th save.

On Saturday, the Bucs fell behind early 2-0 to the Royals but brought out their bats in the fourth inning and ended up on the right side of a 6-2 game. Delwyn Young's three-run homer in the fourth put the Pirates ahead, and Paul Maholm (5-4) and the bullpen kept the Royals in check. Young had two hits and four RBIs, and Maholm threw seven innings, giving up five hits and two earned runs, walking one and striking out two.

The Pirates' attempt at a sweep fell short Sunday as the Royals took the final game 3-2. Adam LaRoche had three of the Bucs' seven hits and he scored on an RBI triple by his brother Andy before a rain delay stopped play in the seventh inning. Andy LaRoche scored on a groundout when play resumed but that was it for the Pirates. Charlie Morton (0-1) was solid for five innings, but he took the loss.

The Pirates opened a three-game series against the Chicago Cubs on Monday on a down note, falling 3-1. Nyjer Morgan had three hits and the Bucs had nine oveall but they could only muster a sole run. Losing pitcher Zach Duke (8-6) threw a decent game, staying in for seven innings, giving up seven hits, three earned runs, walking one and striking out three.

On Tuesday, the Bucs avenged Monday's loss with a 3-0 shutout of the Cubs. Freddy Sanchez carried the offense with three hits, two RBIs and a run scored. On the mound, Ross Ohlendorf (7-6) ruled the game, pitching seven innings, giving up four hits and striking out eight before handing the game over to the bullpen. Matt Capps closed the game and notched his 18^th save of the season.