Pirates' record 20-0 loss 'an embarrassment'
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The scoreboard shows the historic final tally as the Brewers go through their post-victory line Thursday at PNC Park. -
Pirates starter Daniel McCutchen is taken out of the game by manager John Russell in the fourth inning. -
Center fielder Andrew McCutchen watches from the Pirates' dugout in the ninth inning. -
The Brewers' George Kottaras trots past Pirates reliever D.J. Carrasco after his leadoff home run in the fifth inning. -
The Brewers' Ryan Braun doubles to right for two runs in the fifth innings, part of a five-RBI day. -
Pirates fans wave foam rubber hands and wear green ball caps as they cheer in the sixth inning. -
The Brewers' Prince Fielder is greeted by Casey McGehee after his solo home run in the second inning.
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The Pittsburgh Baseball Club has played in these parts for 124 years, from coal miners to millionaires, from Honus Wagner to Roberto Clemente to Willie Stargell, from five World Series championships to 17 consecutive losing seasons.
And never, never was there a loss among the franchise's first 18,813 games to rival the one displayed on PNC Park's video scoreboard at 4:04 p.m. Thursday:
Milwaukee Brewers 20, Pirates 0.
Worst loss ever.
Their previous largest margin of defeat was by 18 runs, set twice: The first came nearly a century ago, 18-0 to the Philadelphia Phillies on July 11, 1910; the other was by 19-1 to the Cincinnati Reds on July 14, 1955.
"Today was an embarrassment," reliever Brendan Donnelly said, snapping off each word in an otherwise silent clubhouse. "We should all be embarrassed to have Major League Baseball uniforms on our back today. It was an atrocity. We set a record. We should all be embarrassed about it."
Game: Pirates vs. Houston Astros, 8:05 p.m., Minute Maid Park.
TV, radio: FSN Pittsburgh, WPGB-FM (104.7).
Pitching: LHP Paul Maholm (1-1, 4.58) vs. RHP Roy Oswalt (1-2, 2.37).
Key matchup: The Astros' Hunter Pence is a .320 hitter off Maholm, 8 for 25 with a home run.
Of note: Oswalt, Houston's longtime ace, has pitched well enough to win all three starts -- 17 strikeouts, four walks in 19 innings -- but has received only seven runs of support. In 25 starts vs. the Pirates, he is 13-7 with a 2.62 ERA.
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Some could barely speak.
"I got nothing," right fielder Ryan Church said, declining an interview request while staring into his stall. "I'm embarrassed."
It was only Sunday that the Pirates were 7-5, a game out of first place in the Central Division of the National League and sounding eager to face the opponent that has tormented them more than any other in recent years. Manager John Russell referred to his players as adopting an "us-against-the-world mentality" in terms of proving doubters wrong.
First Published April 23, 2010 12:00 am
