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Pirates' bats break out of three-game slide, 8-4

Pirates' bats break out of three-game slide, 8-4

John Russell, not exactly the storm-off-the-field-with-first-base type, has kept mostly an even keel through his first two months as the Pirates' manager.

Mention a problem, and he shoots back a proposed solution.

Talk about a losing streak, and he talks about ways to end it.

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And so it played out tonight at PNC Park, hours after Russell spoke calmly of wanting to see better starting pitching, of hoping that his offense would break out, of how his bullpen has been outstanding and even of liking the way his clubhouse was handling its three-game losing streak, that all of the above coalesced into an 8-4 doubling of Milwaukee.

Tom Gorzelanny was serviceable, if unspectacular, in limiting the Brewers to two runs over five-plus innings despite a still-unsightly eight hits and four walks.

Nate McLouth had four of the lineup's 13 hits, including home runs by Jason Bay and Xavier Nady.

And the bullpen did its part, too, capped by Franquelis Osoria's 1-2-3 ninth.

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Gone was the streak, as well as the Brewers' bid for a three-game sweep, as well as the chance of claiming sole possession of last place in the Central Division.

Hardly anything to celebrate, but the Pirates' view, for now, is that it beats the alternative.

"I like where we're at," Russell said beforehand. "Obviously, I'd be happier with some more wins. But I think what we've been through to this point really sets up our season. We've had to deal with our injuries, like Jack Wilson and Ryan Doumit. We've struggled with our starting pitching, too. But we're still right there. If we can piece things together, it will be interesting to see what happens."

He added that he has appreciated what he considers a vibrant, upbeat attitude among the players, even in down times.

"That's why you're starting to hear guys frustrated when they lose. We believe we can win."

Corey Hart homered to open the Milwaukee fourth, but the Pirates countered with four in the bottom half.

McLouth's one-out single was followed by Bay's 11th home run -- fourth in the past seven games -- off a Dave Bush slider into center field. Two-out RBI singles by Raul Chavez and Gorzelanny made it 4-0.

The latter two visibly frustrated Bush, and with good reason: Chavez was making his first major league start in two years, and Gorzelanny had been hitless in 22 at-bats dating to last year.

Gorzelanny helped his cause in another way in the Brewers' next at-bat: With runners at the corners and one out, he fielded a comebacker and, even though he saw the runner from third heading for home, never hesitated in wheeling and executing a 1-6-3 double play.

McLouth opened the bottom of the fifth with a single and a steal. When Bay grounded to third, he waited until the throw across the diamond to try for the extra base. Prince Fielder's low throw skipped into the seats, and it was 5-2.

Nady, the next batter, powered a Bush slider into the center-field seats for his seventh home run, second in as many nights.

The Pirates loaded the bases in the seventh off Milwaukee reliever Zach Jackson, a Seneca Valley High School graduate whose rooting section was easy to pick out of the sparse crowd of 12,887. Adam LaRoche struck out for the second out, but Chris Gomez knifed a single into left for two runs and an 8-3 lead.

First Published: May 23, 2008, 2:00 a.m.

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