Pittsburgh Pirates weekly report

The Pirates came out ahead in their three-game series with the Milwaukee Brewers, winning the rubber game 8-7 on Wednesday. The Bucs collected nine extra-base hits, five home runs and four doubles. While Ryan Doumit had two of the homers, Brandon Moss' shot won it in the bottom of the ninth. Paul Maholm started and Matt Capps (2-5) got the win in relief.

On Thursday, the Pirates opened a four-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks and lost 11-4. A four-run fifth inning was the only scoring for the Bucs as Charlie Morton gave up four runs and the bullpen melted down, surrendering five runs in the seventh inning. Evan Meek (1-1) took the loss, pitching just 2/3 of an inning, giving up two hits, two earned runs and striking out one. Morton only lasted 4 2/3 innings, giving up seven hits, four earned runs, walking two and striking out three.

The Pirates came back at the Diamondbacks on Friday and came away with a 10-3 win. Garrett Jones, Brandon Moss and Ramon Vazquez each drove in two runs. Jones hit his 10^th homer in just his 19^th big-league game in the fifth, one of two four-run frames. Zach Duke (9-9) evened his record with 6 1/3 innings, giving up 10 hits, three earned runs, one homer, walking one and striking out four.

On Saturday, the Pirates' bats tried but failed to execute as they lost 7-0 to the Diamondbacks. The Bucs left 15 runners on base and lost two more on the basepaths. Garrett Jones continued his surge with two hits, raising his average to .350 since being called up. Ross Ohlendorf (8-8) took the loss. He pitched six innings, giving up six hits, three runs, two earned runs, one home run, walking two and striking out two.

The Pirates on Sunday again forgot how to score runs, falling 9-0 to conclude the series with the Diamondbacks. This time, the Pirates managed just five hits. Virgil Vazquez (1-5) took the loss, lasting just three innings and giving up six hits, four earned runs, one home run, walking two and striking out three.

On Monday, the Pirates opened a three-game set against the San Francisco Giants with a 4-2 loss. Down 4-0 after two, the Bucs managed two runs in the top of the sixth, but it couldn't overcome the Giants' pitcher Tim Lincecum's dominating outing. Paul Maholm (6-5) took the loss, pitching six innings, giving up eight hits, four earned runs, walking one and striking out three.

The Pirates' skid was extended to four games Tuesday with the 3-2 loss to the Giants. The Bucs jumped out to an early 1-0 lead, but Charlie Morton (2-3) gave up two runs over six innings for the hard-luck loss. Morton pitched six innings, giving up six hits, two earned runs, a home run, walking three and striking out five.