Peter Diana, Post-Gazette photos Jack Wilson, left, and Freddy Sanchez: Another tough night at the ballpark.

By Dejan Kovacevic
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette The Pirates' day began with a highly unusual development, a meeting of seven team leaders and Jim Tracy in the manager's office at PNC Park.

It ended with a 6-2 loss to the Colorado Rockies last night that was ... well, very much the usual.

	Colorado's Garrett Atkins slides under pitcher Shane Youman at home to score on a wild pitch. Click photo for larger image. Today Game: Pirates (RHP Ian Snell 7-6, 3.11) vs. Colorado Rockies (LHP Jeff Francis 9-5, 4.15), 12:35 p.m., PNC Park. Radio: WPGB-FM (104.7). Key matchup: Put bluntly, Jason Bay owns Francis. He is 7 for 9 with two home runs, a double, five RBIs and two walks. Of note: Snell has has given up five of his season total of 12 home runs in his past three starts. That includes a three-run shot in the first inning of the past two starts. More coverage: Moskos aims to prove Pirates right Pirates Notebook: Youman hurt by hanging slider Pirates Q&A with Dejan Kovacevic Bob Smizik: Desperation on rise again after meeting

And what looms next, now that this losing streak has matched a season-high five, the record is a season-low 13 under .500, and last place is only 1 1/2 games away, hardly has the feel of anything terribly different than the decade and a half of losing that came before.

So, the question that looms largest, particularly after a manic Monday that included pitching coach Jim Colborn and shortstop Jack Wilson exchanging heated words in the dugout, might be this:

How will they keep it together?

"Oh, we'll do it," first baseman Adam LaRoche said after going 0 for 4 and hearing some boos from the crowd of 21,604. "This team ... it's just too good of a group of guys."

But all that losing ...

"We'll do it," LaRoche repeated. "We'll be back for the next one."

"It's frustrating, no question," left fielder Jason Bay said after another 0-for-3 that continued his average's free fall to .247. "We were talking before the game about how important it was to get that momentum we had going into the All-Star break."

The Pirates went 9-4 in that span.

"We're in a lull," Bay continued. "And ... sadly enough, we've been here before. It's just kind of repetitive. It's like beating your head against a wall."

LaRoche and Bay were two of the seven players Tracy summoned for a 40-minute meeting. The others: Xavier Nady, Freddy Sanchez, Shawn Chacon, Salomon Torres and Wilson. And Tracy's purpose, according to some in the room, was to solidify the leadership of a team that has no central focus in that category, as well as to ensure his philosophies were being heard in the clubhouse.

His timing could not have been a coincidence, coming less than 24 hours after the Colborn-Wilson incident in the dugout and some other jawing -- Sanchez was engaged in animated discussions with LaRoche and pitcher John Van Benschoten -- caught by television cameras during that 10-8 loss to the Rockies.

Colborn and Wilson argued after Wilson dropped a popup while back-tracking into left-center, a ball that Bay or center fielder Nate McLouth might have had much more easily.

General manager Dave Littlefield said he had no worries about the matter because of trust in Tracy.

"Jim Tracy's an experienced, accomplished guy, and I'm very confident and comfortable that he can handle any situation that takes place, on the field, in the dugout or in the clubhouse," Littlefield said.

Tracy was asked if he had addressed it.

"It's done," he replied. "It's over."

A reporter then asked if Tracy had ever seen a pitching coach criticize a position player.

"Have you?" Tracy came back.

When the reporter answered that he had not, Tracy continued, "Well, first of all, you weren't there to know what was being said, and I'm not going to elaborate on it because I don't know what goes on in your house, either. Things moved down to the other end of the dugout, and there were a couple things said that didn't even necessarily have to do with the situation we're talking about."

That was a reference to Wilson's error.

"So, one thing leads to another, and voices get raised," Tracy said. "Move on. I saw the two of them talking today, as a matter of fact."

Colborn and Wilson also were caught by the cameras embracing in the dugout early in the game last night. Wilson later said there was "no problem" between the two.

Tracy was asked if one of the outfielders should have called off Wilson.

"I'm not going to get into it," Tracy said. "From where I'm sitting, do I have a definite idea as to what the distance was between those players? That's not something for me to second-guess two or three of my players. We did the best we could to try to catch the ball. We move on."

Coincidence or not, immediately after Tracy's meeting with the players, all players and coaches took the field for a drill one rarely sees beyond spring training: They fielded bunts in various directions and situations. Confusion between pitcher Paul Maholm and third baseman Jose Castillo on that type of play Sunday in Atlanta handed the Braves a run.

It remains to be seen if the meeting has any resonating effect, but those involved called it productive.

"We talked some things out, and it was great to get it out," LaRoche said.

"The way things are going, tensions mount a little bit, and that can be good or bad," Bay said. "You know that guys care, so that's good. But no one likes to lose, and that can get you to a boiling point sometimes. When you're stuck with the same 35 guys, the coaches and everybody, all year, not everyone's going to see eye to eye. But it's like a family. We talked. Everyone's on the same page."

Shane Youman took his first loss in three starts since being recalled from Class AAA Indianapolis, giving up five runs in as many innings and exiting with a 5-2 deficit.

The Pirates got their two runs off Colorado's Josh Fogg, producing seven quiet innings in his first start in Pittsburgh as an opponent, on a Ryan Doumit single in the first and McLouth's solo home run over the Clemente Wall in the third.