Pirates' six-error mess mars Alvarez debut

2012-03-29 02:13:09
  • Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez makes a play on ball hit by the White Sox's Jayson Nix Wednesday at PNC Park.
    Peter Diana/Post-Gazette
    Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez makes a play on ball hit by the White Sox's Jayson Nix Wednesday at PNC Park.
  • The Pirates' Pedro Alvarez is congratlated by manager John Russell after he scores the Pirates' only run in the fifth inning.
    Peter Diana/Post-Gazette
    The Pirates' Pedro Alvarez is congratlated by manager John Russell after he scores the Pirates' only run in the fifth inning.
  • The Pirates' Jose Tabata is greeted by Neil Walker after hitting his first major league home run off White Sox pitcher John Danks during the eighth inning.
    Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press
    The Pirates' Jose Tabata is greeted by Neil Walker after hitting his first major league home run off White Sox pitcher John Danks during the eighth inning.
  • The Pirates' Pedro Alvarez and Neil Walker engage in a secret handshake.
    Peter Diana/Post-Gazette
    The Pirates' Pedro Alvarez and Neil Walker engage in a secret handshake.
  • Pirates Pedro Alvarez chats with his dad, Pedro Sr,. during batting practice prior.
    Peter Diana/Post-Gazette
    Pirates Pedro Alvarez chats with his dad, Pedro Sr,. during batting practice prior.
  • The Pirates' Pedro Alvarez makes his way to the field during batting practice.
    Peter Diana/Post-Gazette
    The Pirates' Pedro Alvarez makes his way to the field during batting practice.
  • Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez makes his way to the field at PNC Park Tuesday.
    Peter Diana/Post-Gazette
    Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez makes his way to the field at PNC Park Tuesday.
  • The Pirates' Pedro Alvarez strikes out at his first at bat.
    Peter Diana/Post-Gazette
    The Pirates' Pedro Alvarez strikes out at his first at bat.
  • The Pirates' Pedro Alvarez, right, and Andrew McCutchen get ready to take the field.
    Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press
    The Pirates' Pedro Alvarez, right, and Andrew McCutchen get ready to take the field.
  • Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez can't handle the throw from catcher Ryan Doumit as the White Sox's Juan Pierre steals third in the ninth inning.
    Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press
    Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez can't handle the throw from catcher Ryan Doumit as the White Sox's Juan Pierre steals third in the ninth inning.
  • Pirates pitcher Zach Duke stands on the mound during the three-run fourth inning.
    Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press
    Pirates pitcher Zach Duke stands on the mound during the three-run fourth inning.
  • Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez can''t handle the throw from catcher Ryan Doumit as the White Sox's Juan Pierre steals third in the ninth inning.
    Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press
    Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez can''t handle the throw from catcher Ryan Doumit as the White Sox's Juan Pierre steals third in the ninth inning.
  • Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez waits for the late relay from right field as the White Sox's Alexei Ramirez slides safely into third.
    Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press
    Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez waits for the late relay from right field as the White Sox's Alexei Ramirez slides safely into third.
  • The Pirates' Jose Tabata, right, is greeted in the dugout after hitting his first major league home run off White Sox pitcher John Danks during the eighth inning.
    Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press
    The Pirates' Jose Tabata, right, is greeted in the dugout after hitting his first major league home run off White Sox pitcher John Danks during the eighth inning.
  • The Pirates' Pedro Alvarez, right, and teammate Delwyn Young wait their turn in the batting batting cage.
    Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press
    The Pirates' Pedro Alvarez, right, and teammate Delwyn Young wait their turn in the batting batting cage.
  • Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez dives but can't come up with a double down the line by the White Sox's Jayson Nix in the ninth inning.
    Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press
    Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez dives but can't come up with a double down the line by the White Sox's Jayson Nix in the ninth inning.
  • Pirates catcher Ryan Doumit can''t handle the throw from right field as the White Sox's Juan Pierre scores during the ninth inning.
    Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press
    Pirates catcher Ryan Doumit can''t handle the throw from right field as the White Sox's Juan Pierre scores during the ninth inning.
  • The Pirates' Pedro Alvarez and the White Soxs' Juan Pierre meet during batting practice.
    Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press
    The Pirates' Pedro Alvarez and the White Soxs' Juan Pierre meet during batting practice.
  • The Pirates' Pedro Alvarez fields a grounder by the White Sox's Carlos Quentin during the second inning.
    Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press
    The Pirates' Pedro Alvarez fields a grounder by the White Sox's Carlos Quentin during the second inning.
  • The Pirates' Pedro Alvarez waits in the dugout for an at-bat during the first inning.
    Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press
    The Pirates' Pedro Alvarez waits in the dugout for an at-bat during the first inning.

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By Dejan Kovacevic / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The Pirates' future turned into the present at precisely 7:05 p.m. Wednesday, the first time Pedro Alvarez planted his spikes near third base.

But that present, as gets clearer by the day, could remain painful for a while ...

For the team: Zach Duke's latest dud and the defense's six errors, all in the final three innings and four in a grotesque ninth, brought a 10th consecutive loss, 7-2 to the Chicago White Sox. The double-digit losing streak is just the franchise's third in the past 42 years, the longest since a 10-gamer Aug. 20-31, 2008, and it was wrapped in some of the ugliest baseball PNC Park has seen.

Today

Game: Pirates vs. Chicago White Sox, 7:05 p.m., PNC Park.

TV, radio: FSN Pittsburgh, WPGB-FM (104.7).

Pitching: RHP Ross Ohlendorf (0-4, 4.95) vs. LHP Mark Buehrle (4-6, 4.93).

Key matchup: Buehrle, one of the fastest workers in baseball, tends to put down the Pirates in short order, owning a 3-0 record, 1.80 ERA and just four walks in four meetings.

Of note: Garrett Jones, since joining the Pirates July 1, 2009, has hit 31 home runs, and all but 10 have been solo shots. Only Milwaukee's Prince Fielder (24) and Florida's Dan Uggla (22) have more solo shots in that span.

• The PBC Blog

• Box score

• Statistics

• Standings

• Minor-league report

For the city: The crowd of 15,218 was barely bigger than usual. The team did not divulge game-day ticket sales, describing them only as "well above average." This comes with the asterisk that news of Alvarez's arrival broke late Tuesday night, limiting the publicity, but the low total still reminds that 17-plus years of relentless losing are not easily overcome.

For the main attraction, too: Alvarez, calling his debut "a little nerve-wracking at the start," went 0 for 2 with a swinging strikeout under 92-mph heat from left-hander John Danks, a six-pitch walk that led to a run, and a lineout to left. Defensively, he started a 5-4-3 double play, but he also allowed two doubles past him, each a difficult but makeable play, and was charged with an error for failing to catch a Ryan Doumit throw.

Dejan Kovacevic: dkovacevic@post-gazette.com . Find more at PBC Blog .
First Published June 17, 2010 12:00 am
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