Ryan Doumit had three hits, including a home run, and two RBIs, and Garrett Jones drove in three runs to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to an 8-5 victory over the Washington Nationals on Friday night. Pittsburgh's three rookie regulars also made contributions as Pedro Alvarez hit a two-run double in the fifth, Jose Tabata had two hits and two RBIs and Neil Walker extended his hitting streak to 10…

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There still might be something for Trevor Hoffman to savor this year. In a season that hasn't gone the way he hoped, baseball's all-time saves leader earned No. 599 Sunday as the Milwaukee Brewers completed a three-game sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates with an 8-4 victory Sunday. "Round numbers are really what baseball looks at," Hoffman said.

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When Pirates second baseman Neil Walker takes the field at PNC Park, he needs only to glance over his shoulder at the 21-foot Roberto Clemente Wall in right field for inspiration. Walker, one of the majors' top rookies, grew up in Pittsburgh hearing countless stories about one of baseball's greatest outfielders and a man whose influence in his native Puerto Rico extends far beyond the…

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Carlos Zambrano and the of the Cubs' offense made Mike Quade's managerial debut at Wrigley Field relatively easy. Carlos Zambrano allowed one unearned run in 5 1-3 innings and hit a two-run homer to lead the Chicago Cubs to a 14-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday night. Aramis Ramirez was 2 for 3 with four RBIs to help Quade win his first game at Wrigley Field as manager.

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Thomas Diamond received a game ball and a beer shower after his first major league win. Diamond relieved injured starter Tom Gorzelanny and was part of a strong effort by the Chicago Cubs' bullpen Wednesday in a 5-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. "It's always nice to get the first. I wish it would have happened a little sooner," Diamond said.

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The Pittsburgh Pirates have struggled almost everywhere this season — except Wrigley Field. Neil Walker and Garrett Jones each hit a long two-run homer, and Pittsburgh beat the Chicago Cubs 14-7 on Tuesday night for a rare road victory. Walker went 4 for 5 with four RBIs and three runs scored for the Pirates, who won for only the fifth time in 43 road games and ended a 14-game losing streak away…

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With slightly more than a month of the season remaining, Pirates right-hander Charlie Morton is threatening to have one of the worst years by any starting pitcher in major league history. Despite spending nearly three months in Triple-A, Morton is 1-10 with a 10.03 ERA in 11 starts for the last-place Pirates.

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Jonathon Niese got a rain-shortened complete-game victory Saturday night. Unless the Mets make a late playoff push, his season might be cut short, too. Niese pitched a five-hitter, David Wright hit a three-run homer and New York beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-1 in a game called in the top of the sixth inning after a rain delay of 1 hour, 6 minutes.

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Pirates president Frank Coonelly told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that the team will have a "meaningful" payroll increase in 2011. "We have the capacity to add to payroll in a meaningful way," Coonelly said. "We'll be evaluating the trade market and free agency and, if we see a player or players we like, we'll be aggressive in pursuing that player." The Pirates' $39 million payroll is the lowest in the major leagues this season.

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Pirates president Frank Coonelly expects the team's payroll to increase next season, but not to the point where the last-place team can afford to sign a premium free agent. The Pirates began the season with a major league-low $34 million payroll, though Coonelly says the end-of-season figure will be about $44 million.

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