It is the prototypical scenario in which a manager ends up getting fired.

Contract about to expire.

Team getting pummeled.

Peter Diana, Post-Gazette Pirates starting pitcher Josh Fogg covers his head with a towel in the dugout yesterday after he gave up seven runs and nine hits in 6 2/3 innings against the Houston Astros. Click photo for larger image. Related coverage Collier: Effort there, but wins aren't Wigginton working to remain positive, patient in Class AAA Pirates Notebook: Duffy impresses McClendon Scouting Report: Colorado Rockies

Fans booing at the home field with each boot, blunder and whiff.

And it is all chaotically morphing into stark reality for Lloyd McClendon and his Pirates, who were blanked, 8-0, yesterday by the Houston Astros before 19,769 at PNC Park to conclude their worst series in three years.

The Astros took all four games by a combined score of 34-8. That was the most runs allowed by the Pirates in being swept in a four-game set since Aug. 12-15, 2002, when the St. Louis Cardinals outscored them, 37-19.

Afterward, McClendon briefly addressed his players with the latest of his many keep-your-chin-up speeches. And he appeared no less upbeat in facing the media a few minutes later, twice cracking the joke, "It's going to be OK, guys," when waiting for the next question.

Given his fiery personality, it would seem he is a walking explosive waiting to be detonated. But a few of the Pirates' players confirmed he has had no blowups during this miserable 1-8 stretch in which they have been outscored, 64-16, and outhit, 116-56.

McClendon even managed a small smile when asked by a reporter if he is simmering underneath.

"Me?" he said. "I'm about the calmest person that you'll ever meet."

He also shrugged off what would appear to be an increasingly tenuous job status. The Pirates have an option to renew his contract for 2006, but general manager Dave Littlefield has not come close to indicating if it will be exercised. Finishing the year in a free fall surely will not help.

"It's a tough game. That's just the way it is," McClendon said when asked if that added to his pressure. "Hell, I've been getting fired for five years. And you know what? One day, I will be fired. In this job and, if I'm lucky enough, I'll be fired two or three times. That's the nature of this business. You can't worry about those things. If I start worrying about those things, then I'm not concentrating on doing my job."

He told the players he is prepared to absorb the public criticism for their performance of late.

"Like I told them, concentrate on baseball. I'll take the heat. Everybody can blame it on me. I can handle it. And I'll get these guys ready to play the next game."

Several players expressed strong support for McClendon after his latest speech.

Peter Diana, Post-Gazette Houston starter Andy Pettitte worked seven strong innings against the Pirates yesterday at PNC Park. He allowed just five hits in the Astros' 8-0 victory Click photo for larger image.

"This just shows the type of guy he is," outfielder Rob Mackowiak said. "When we were doing well, he put it all on us. Now ... this has got to be a tough situation for him. I take some of the blame. I'm sure there are other guys in here who would say the same thing."

He paused.

"We've really struggled. We suck, basically. And it's frustrating as can be. Guys are losing it. We're at the height of frustration."

"We're the ones on the field. Not Mac," catcher Humberto Cota said. "He's not the one out there striking out or throwing balls or walking guys. We're doing that. We've got to get it together. And, trust me, we want to. We want to work hard and play better. That's the best message we can send that we're not giving up on our manager. He's not giving up on us, and we're not giving up on him."

"As a player, you want to succeed and everyone has a great time and the manager keeps his job," outfielder Matt Lawton said. "But it's not that easy sometimes. For us, as a team, as a family, we've just got to battle for nine innings to get out of this. ... This isn't too fun, man. Not for anyone."

Pirates starter Josh Fogg allowed a solo home run by Lance Berkman in the first inning, then cruised through the next four.

After two outs in the sixth, Orlando Palmeiro doubled, Berkman walked and Morgan Ensberg lined an RBI single. Mike Lamb drove his first pitch over the Clemente Wall in right for a three-run home run and a 5-0 lead.

Fogg's record fell to 4-6 -- he has not won since June 1 -- after giving up seven runs and nine hits in 6 2/3 innings. He has allowed 19 home runs, fifth-most in the National League.

"We had a whale of a ballgame going," McClendon said. "For some reason, Josh just seemed to elevate some balls. Four pitches later, it's 5-0."

The Pirates' hitters stayed true to form in being shut out for the seventh time, getting nine hits but leaving the bases loaded three times.

The offense hardly has been the lone culprit in the 10-25 nosedive since the team achieved .500 June 11. The starting pitchers have gone 6-19 in that span with a 6.23 earned run average.

It could get uglier, too. Tonight, the Pirates open a four-game set at home against the Colorado Rockies, the worst team in the league.