Moehler Turns Back the Clock, Baffles Bucs

The Houston Astros snapped their seven-game losing streak with a 6-1 victory at PNC Park tonight.  The Astros were led by rookie Edwin Maysonet, who went 4-for-4 and had four RBI with his first major league extra-base hits, two doubles and a homer.  The guy who hit 250 and change in the seven years he spent in the minors, had a coming out party tonight.  All of his offense came from his eight spot in the batting order.  Baffling?  Ahhh, that’s nothing.

Brian Moehler, who has been awful this year, was spectacular.  He pitched his first complete game since 2000.  The 37-year old Moehler threw 123 pitches in the game, 85 for strikes.

Ross Ohlendorf allowed eleven baserunners in five innings.  He had a nice slider early, he just wasn’t consistent with it.  He fell to 5-5 on the season.

Brandon Moss has his average on the way up  (.263)

Who do they keep when Ryan Doumit comes back?  The slowest healing bone in the wrist is moving along nicely.  Once he has his second scan in three or four weeks he can begin some serious rehab work.  It looks like it will be the beginning of July, but who stays and who goes?  Robinzon Diaz or JHammer? 

Ray Chang has 24 RBI in just 81 at bats in Lynchburg!

Baseball America top 30 prospects in the Pirates system.

Team key: PIT—Pirates; IND – Triple-A Indianapolis; ALT – Double-A Altoona; LYN – Lynchburg; WV – Low-A West Virginia.

1. Pedro Alvarez (3B, LYN)—.242 AVG, 8 2B, 1 3B, 9 HR, 40 RBIs, 1 SB, 48 K

2. Andrew McCutchen (LF, IND)—.296 AVG, 9 2B, 8 3B, 3 HR, 19 RBIs, 10 SB, 19 K

3. Jose Tabata (OF, ALT, currently on 7-day DL)—.250 AVG, 3 2B, 0 HR, 6 RBIs, 3 SB

4. Brad Lincoln (RHP, ALT)—1-3, 2.45 ERA, 52 2/3 IP, .223 AVG against, 12 BB, 45 K

5. Bryan Morris (RHP, LYN, currently on 7-day DL)—has not pitched

6. Neil Walker (3B, IND)—.238 AVG, 14 2B, 1 3B, 6 HR, 26 RBIs, 3 SB, 32 K

7. Jeff Sues (RHP, ALT)—1-2, 5.04 ERA, 30 1/3 IP, .219 AVG against, 10 BB, 28 K

8. Shelby Ford (2B, ALT)—.179 AVG, 4 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 14 RBIs, 2 BB, 27 K, 3 SB

9. Daniel McCutchen (RHP, IND)—2-3, 3.83 ERA, 44 2/3 IP, 15 BB, 41 K

10. Robbie Grossman (OF, WV)—.270 AVG, 10 2B, 1 HR, 11 RBIs, 13 SB, 60 K

11. Jamie Romak (OF/1B, ALT)—.163 AVG, 9 2B, 2 HR, 13 RBIs, 46 K

12. Jimmy Barthmaier (RHP)—Released by Indianapolis

13. Jarek Cunningham (3B/SS)—Has not played

14. Brian Friday (SS, ALT, currently on 7-day DL)—.341 AVG, 4 2B, 3 3B, 3 HR, 8 RBIs, 3 SB

15. Jordy Mercer (SS, LYN)—.246 AVG, 14 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 28 RBIs, 5 SB

16. Quinton Miller (RHP)—Has not played

17. Chad D’Arnaud (SS, WV)—.299 AVG, 10 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 23 RBIs, 8 SB

18. Ronald Uviedo (RHP, LYN)—2-2, 3.69 ERA, 46 1/3 IP, 8 BB, 40 K

19. Daniel Moskos (LHP, ALT)—2-4, 4.53 ERA, 45 2/3 IP, 17 BB, 17 K

20. Wesley Freeman (OF)—Has not played

21. Steve Lerud (C, ALT)—.245 AVG, 4 2B, 0 3B, 9 RBIs, 1 SB

22. Evan Meek (RHP, PIT)—0-0, 2.87 ERA, 15 2/3 IP, 14 BB, 10 K

23. Matt Hague (1B, LYN)—.281 AVG, 10 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 19 RBIs, 25 K, 1 SB

24. Jim Negrych (2B, ALT)—.301 AVG, 8 2B, 1 3B, 0 HR, 11 RBI, 9 K, 1 SB

25. Romulo Sanchez (RHP)—Sent to the Yankees in a minor-league trade

26. Donald Veal (LHP, PIT)—0-0, 4.15 ERA, 4 1/3 IP, 9 BB, 4 K

27. Brian Bixler (SS, IND)—.226 AVG, 9 2B, 2 3B, 0 HR, 11 RBIs, 37 K, 4 SB

28. Jason Jaramillo (C, PIT)—.271 AVG, 8 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 5 RBIs, 8 K, 1 SB

29. Justin Wilson (LHP, LYN)—2-3, 7.08 ERA, 34 1/3 IP, 14 BB, 27 K, .311 AVG against

30. Nelson Pereira (LHP)—Has not played