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Thursday, July 24, 2003

By Robert Dvorchak, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

CINCINNATI -- Reds reliever Kent Mercker had his own rueful observation about the Pirates' spate of deals.

	Matt Stairs gets ready to bang fists with third-base coach John Russell after hitting a ninth-inning home run last night. (David Kohl, AP)

"They should have traded Stairs," Mercker said.

Matt Stairs homered in the ninth inning off Mercker after newcomer Jose Hernandez homered leading off the eighth to tie the score as the Pirates twice rallied for a 6-5 win against the Reds last night.

Less than four months ago, the Pirates opened a season of high hopes and expectations by sweeping the Reds in the inaugural series at their new ballpark. All of that is gone on the trade winds, but they are still unbeaten in Great American Ball Park.

Last night, the Pirates were minus their leadoff hitter, their cleanup hitter, their left-handed setup reliever and their All-Star closer, all gone in deals, with more moves anticipated as they head to an unprecedented 11th consecutive season of futility.

"We don't sit around and say, 'Man, we lost four guys and we're done.' We still have the attitude of let's go out and win, and let's play hard. We're not sitting around pouting because we lost four guys. If anything, guys are pumped up because they have opportunities to play again," Stairs said. "We're not going to give up. We'll never give up. Even on the day we get knocked out officially, we'll still play hard for pride. That's the way you play the game."

	More Pirates Coverage: Pirates players try to stay focused on the field Mired in another losing season, Bucs pass the bucks In small markets, the home team can't afford errors Fans feeling Pirates trade is a betrayal Pirates Report: 7/24/03 ... a word from our columnist Bob Smizik: Pirates broke bond with fans July 24, 1903 The Pirates (54-26) snapped their longest losing streak in two years with a 7-4 victory against the St. Louis Cardinals at Exposition Park. The Pirates, in first place in the National League, had lost three in a row. Third baseman Tommy Leach hit a three-run home run in the first inning for the Pirates, who had 14 hits. Left fielder Otto Krueger went 4 for 4, including two triples, and pitcher Deacon Phillippe went 3 for 3 with a walk and scored three times. Phillippe gave up nine hits and struck out four to raise his record to 15-6. -- By Randy Stoernell

"We're not going to lay down," Manager Lloyd McClendon said. "I understand we have challenges ahead of us. I'm not afraid of adversity. I'll look it right in the eye. It's how you deal with adversity that determines what kind of person you are, what kind of character you have and whether or not you're a winner or a loser. I'll tell you what, my guys will get up. We'll dust off and we'll be ready."

Hernandez, acquired from the Cubs to play third base in place of Aramis Ramirez, has a propensity for striking out and whiffed in his first two appearances. But he connected off reliever Chris Reitsma to even the score and get Jeff Suppan off the hook.

"People are always talking about the strikeouts. I don't care about that stuff. It's another out. The difference is you go back to the dugout instead of having to run to first base," Hernandez said. "I know a lot of people have been talking about the trades. But baseball has to continue. You can't be thinking about who's going to be traded or who's going to stay. We have to play the game."

Brian Boehringer worked the eighth to get the win, and Mike Lincoln notched his third save in three chances. Lincoln ended the game with a strikeout of Aaron Boone.

Suppan, the Pirates' most consistent starting pitcher, went seven innings before he was lifted for a pinch-hitter. Suppan put on a decent show in front of a group of major-league scouts representing teams from Boston to Houston who want to deal with the Pirates. He allowed 10 hits and issued just one intentional walk while throwing 112 pitches.

The Reds bunched four hits together and scored three runs to open their half of the first off Suppan, who had won his past four starts and was making his first career appearance against the Reds.

With D'Angelo Jimenez and Barry Larkin aboard with singles, former Pirates outfielder Jose Guillen doubled to right to score one run and put runners at second and third. Sean Casey then singled to right for two more runs before the Reds made an out.

The Pirates chipped away with two runs in the fourth. Suppan, whose .286 batting average tops the rotation, broke his bat on a single to left with one out and advanced to second on a single by Jason Kendall. Brian Giles brought them both home with a two-out double to right.

Giles has been the subject of trade talk, too, but he denied a report by the team's broadcasters that he had rejected a deal to Seattle and Oakland when Ramirez, Lofton and Sauerbeck were dealt.

The Pirates jumped ahead in the fifth. It all started with a lead-off walk to Stairs, batting cleanup with Ramirez now with the Cubs, and Simon brought him home with a long home run to right field. Simon's homer was his eighth of the season.

The Reds, who lead the major leagues in comeback wins, reclaimed the lead in their half of the fifth when Guillen's second double drove in the tying run and Boone singled him home. But then the Pirates mounted their own charge.

The key for McClendon was Suppan's ability to settle down after the first.

"He's our guy. We think we have a chance to win when he's out there," McClendon said.