Pittsburgh Pirates weekly report

On Wednesday, the Pirates missed a chance to salvage their series with the Los Angeles Dodgers but ended up losing 3-1 and being swept. Kevin Hart (4-7) turned in his best start since joining the Bucs, but a two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth, his only mistake, was pivotal. Jason Haramillo singled home the lone Pirate run in the top of the second, but that was it for the Bucs' scoring. The Dodgers added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth. Hart pitched six innings, giving up seven hits, two earned runs, one homer, walking two and striking out five.

On Friday, the Pirates opened a four-game set with the San Diego Padres and came away winners with a 5-1 victory. Brandon Ross's two-run triple to center field in the bottom of the first sparked the Bucs' offense, and Charlie Morton (4-8) started out rocky but settled down. Morton pitched seven innings, giving up six hits, one earned run, walking one and striking out four.

The Pirates on Saturday lost a close one, 2-1 to the Padres. Ross Ohlendorf had a strong outing and left with the game tied 1-1, but the bullpen couldn't keep the Bucs in the game. An RBI groundout by Ryan Dournit was the only run for the Pirates. Phil Dumatriat (0-2) took the loss, pitching a third of an inning and giving up one earned run and walking two.

Sunday was another tough day for the Pirates against the Padres as they fell 4-0. Paul Maholm (8-9) pitched well but shaky defense cost him a run and the offense couldn't support him. The Pirates tried to rally in the last of the ninth with a walk and a hit, but Padres' closer Heath Bell closed the door. Maholm pitched six innings, giving up nine hits, three runs (two of them earned), walking three and striking out three.

The Pirates on Monday had a shot at evening the four-game series with the Padres, but the instead fell 11-6 in 11 innings. The Bucs went 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position and were down 6-2 going into the bottom if the eighth. They closed the gap with three runs in the eighth and tied it in the ninth, but the Padres plated five in the top of the 11^th off Jeff Karstens (3-5) to lose it. Karstens pitched a third of an inning, giving up three hits, five earned runs and walking two.

On Tuesday, the Pirates lost the opener to the Cincinnati Reds 10-4 as Zach Duke (10-15) lost his 15^th game of the season. The Reds had nine hits off Duke and scored five times in the fifth inning. Andrew McCutchen had two RBIs with a leadoff homer and a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the eighth. Duke pitched six innings, giving up nine hits, five earned runs, walking one and striking out two.