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PrintMatt Morris has built an impressive career on a wide array of pitches, as well as locations.
Tonight, as he tries to rebuild from a calamitous start to his season, there will be minimal variety.
INDIANAPOLIS (14-9) beat Louisville, 4-1. RHP Ty Taubenheim (2-3, 6.75) allowed one run and three hits in five-plus innings. RHP Jesse Chavez (1.93) pitched a perfect inning of relief. RHP Romulo Sanchez (3.46) pitched three scoreless innings for his first save. CF Andrew McCutchen (.294) hit his fifth home run and went 3 for 4 with two doubles and three RBIs. LF Kevin Thompson (.348) hit his fourth home run and went 1 for 3. 3B Neil Walker (.172) went 1 for 4.
ALTOONA (10-11) lost at Erie, 10-4. LHP Corey Hamman (0-3, 4.61) allowed two runs and four hits in four innings. LHP Dave Davidson (4.40) allowed three runs in 2 1/3 innings of relief. 1B Jason Delaney (.357) went 2 for 3 with a double, a walk and an RBI.
LYNCHBURG (9-12) won at Kinston, 5-0. LHP Tony Watson (1-3, 3.42) pitched five scoreless innings and allowed five hits. He struck out six. RHP Adam Simon (0.00) pitched four scoreless innings of relief and allowed three hits.
HICKORY (11-11) beat Augusta, 9-0. RHP Dionis Rodriguez (1-0, 2.25) pitched five scoreless innings and allowed four hits. He struck out two. LF Erik Huber (.304) went 2 for 5 with a double and an RBI.
"We've tried to pitch certain ways," Pirates pitching coach Jeff Andrews said. "We've tried to pitch to hitters' weaknesses. We've tried everything. We're going into this one with a singular focus, regardless of the results, regardless of the outcome: We're going to approach every hitter as if he's just anyone standing there, and we're going to throw pitches down."
All of them?
"That's it. Every pitch will be down. If they get hit out of the park, the next pitch is going to be down. Every pitch. We're not going to pitch special to anyone, like we tried with Jeremy Hermida and Mike Jacobs and all the other Florida guys. We're going to take one singular thing and see if we can accomplish that."
The Marlins scored eight times off him in four innings Monday, beating the Pirates, 10-4.
From the sound of it, Morris is very much on board with Andrews' plan.
"I'm a sinker-baller," he said. "It's what I've done my whole life. I'm not a high-and-tight or this-and-that, and I know this is what I have to get back to."
There is no indication that this is a make-or-break start for Morris, 0-3 with a 9.15 ERA, but he surely is viewing it with heightened importance after a week in which public calls for his removal from the rotation -- or outright release -- reached a peak.
"There's nothing I can do about that," he said. "It's disappointing for me and my team what happened in that last start, especially with how good I felt going into it. But I just need to focus on getting back to pitching my game."
Whatever is ailing another starter, Tom Gorzelanny, it apparently is not the left shoulder that hindered him early in spring training.
Team officials are adamant that the primary cause for his wildness -- 22 walks in as many innings, including seven Thursday -- is inconsistency with his release point and other mechanical issues. But, given that he also threw some pinpoint strikes two nights ago, it also could be a simple matter of bearing down for each pitch.
The Pirates are hoping -- and that is the key term -- that shortstop Jack Wilson will return for the May 6-8 home series against San Francisco, manager John Russell said.
Wilson is hitting and running in Bradenton, Fla., and remains on pace to begin minor-league action in the middle or late part of next week. The Pirates are on the road during that time, and the Giants series will be the first home action after that.
• Expect Philadelphia slugger Ryan Howard, benched the past two games because of his .176 start, to rejoin the starting lineup tonight.
• Russell had a chance to renew plenty of acquaintances, having managed in the Phillies' system the past two years. "It's kind of fun. I had a great two years there, and there are a lot of guys I know really well."
• He added that, based on his playing days in Philadelphia, he wished the Phillies would appear in Pittsburgh more than once a year: "I wish we could get them in our division. This used to be a great rivalry."
• The Pirates, 1-5 when a left-hander faces them, learned they will face two fine left-handers in the first two games in New York, Johan Santana Monday and old friend Oliver Perez the next night.
