When the pitching shows up the hitting goes away (4-10)

That is what happened on Tuesday night as Jeff Karstens pitched beautifully, but lost because of two homeruns giving up 2 Earned runs and 1 Unearned run for yet another quality start loss for Karstens. Doumit hit a homerun, his first in a long time, and that was all the Pirates could muster. Alvarez got a hit.

The same story is true in today's game. Brad Lincoln threw 7 great innings which saw him strike out more people than got on base. He did not give up a hit until the 4th. He got his ground balls, and that turned into a double play when needed. He did great, but going into the top of the 8th the Pirates had not scored and even squandered a bases loaded opportunity (thans LaRoche). After a Tabata out, LaRoche did manage get on because of an error and McCutchen singled, and then Jones doubled to plate the first run of the game. The next run came thanks to the fact that the Cubs intentionally walked Doumit to get to Alvarez (they brought in a new pitcher to face him too), and then with two outs they managed to walk in the next run. Hardly an offensive masterpiece (both runs were unearned). Hanrahan was deadly in the 8th throwing only one ball, striking out two, and getting a very quick inning. Dotel got the save.

If we could get both going at the same time that would be great. Getting Walker and Pierce back from injuries might help that.