Sports Network | August 8, 2010
(Sports Network) - Pittsburgh southpaw Paul Maholm tries to erase the taste of a July rut when he faces theColorado Rockies in the finale of a four-game series between the teams today at PNC Park.
The Pirates moved ahead in a dramatic game three Saturday night, when Pedro Alvarez hit a three-run homer with two down in the bottom of the 10th inning as Pittsburgh clipped Colorado, 8-7.
The game-clinching homer came after the Rockies tied the score in the ninth on Ian Stewart's three-run homer then forged ahead in the top of the 10th on Todd Helton's long two-run blast.
It made a winner of Sean Gallagher (2-0), who allowed the go-ahead Helton shot.
Chris Snyder hit a three-run homer and Garrett Jones added a solo blast for the Pirates, who have won three of five.
Miguel Olivo and Troy Tulowitzki also knocked in runs for the Rockies, who have dropped three of five.
Huston Street (2-3) took the loss and the blown save, as he was charged with all three runs in the 10th.
Maholm, a 28-year-old Mississippi native, was ripped for 11 hits and eight runs over 5 1/3 innings while losing a 9-3 verdict to the Rockies on July 29 in Denver.
The loss dropped his career record against Colorado to 1-5 in seven starts while upping his earned run average against the Rockies to 6.26 in 41 2/3 innings.
He rebounded well in one start since, allowing nine hits and four runs over six full innings in a 7-6 defeat of Cincinnati in Pittsburgh.
The eighth overall pick in the 2003 draft, Maholm is 5-6 in 11 home starts this season.
For the Rockies, right-hander Esmil Rogers faces the Pirates for the first time in his 15th major-league appearance.
The soon-to-be 25-year-old - his birthday is Saturday - reached the majors and made on appearance with the Rockies last season and has pitched 13 times for the team in 2010.
He's made two starts and come in from the bullpen 11 times while compiling a 4.85 earned run average and allowing 33 hits with 28 strikeouts in 29 2/3 innings.
He allowed four hits and two runs in just two innings of his most-recent appearance, which came July 7 in the Rockies' 8-7 win over St. Louis.
Rogers returned from Triple-A New Orleans to replace starter Aaron Cook, who landed on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained right big toe.
Though the Pirates took two of three in Colorado from July 27-29, the Rockies have still won seven of the last 12 meetings overall.