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Notebook: Bucs' defense falls on hard times
After playing nearly flawless defense for much of May, the Pirates committed five errors in the past three games. Three came in the series opener against the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday night when the Pirates also didn't execute a relay play. That was followed by a costly error Tuesday from shortstop Jack Wilson and a missed grounder in the 12th inning by Rob Mackowiak that enabled the winning run to score.
Brian Boehringer , who resides in the St. Louis suburbs, visited this week with several of his former Pirates teammates. The 35-year-old right-hander could be close to returning from right shoulder problems that cut short his 2004 season after two months. Boehringer remains a free agent after nobody signed him in the off-season, but an independent league team has offered him a contract.
Complimentary tickets will be offered to military service personnel and veterans for Pirates home games May 30-June 2 vs. the Florida Marlins and July 4-6 vs. the Philadelphia Phillies. Two tickets can be obtained by provided the proper identification. Discounted tickets will be made available for Sunday home games from June 5 until the end of the season. Up to four tickets can be purchased at half price.
Mackowiak, the hottest hitter in the majors during May, was not in the lineup last night because left-hander Mark Mulder was starting for the Cardinals. Mackowiak has a .412 average in May and was 6 for 13 with two doubles, a home run, three RBI and five runs scored in his previous four starts. Center fielder Tike Redman , who was 13 for 30 in his previous nine games, also did not start against Mulder.
"I'm very disappointed in that," manager Lloyd McClendon said about the overall defense. "I said (before the series) that in order for us to be competitive in this series, we needed to catch the ball and not give them extra outs. We haven't done that so far."
The Pirates began the game Wednesday tied for fourth in the National League in fielding percentage. Their 25 errors also ranked fourth.
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