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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The Pittsburgh Pirates and Los Angeles
Dodgers are separated by $62 million in payroll -- and only eight
victories. At least manager Gene Lamont has an excuse for his
team's dismal record.
|  | | Wil Cordero is congratulated after his 3-run blast in first inning Tuesday helps the Pirates down L.A. |
The Pirates can't afford enough capital to obtain or keep
quality players -- except for the $45 million they recently paid
Brian Giles to sign a five-year extension, and the $60 million CEO
Kevin McClatchy and general manager Cam Bonifay have put on the
table to keep All-Star catcher Jason Kendall around for another six
seasons.
It would seem like a prudent investment. Kendall had three RBIs
Tuesday, including a two-run homer that put the Pirates ahead to
stay, and Giles got his team-leading 77th RBI in an 8-6 victory
over Los Angeles that ended Pittsburgh's six-game losing streak.
"The Pirates know that they need to keep these two key players
for the future," Lamont said. "Cam at times has his hands tied
with the money, but I think we've shown with those two guys that we
have to make an investment to win. Brian is satisfied, and
hopefully we can get Jason signed to a long-term contract.
"I don't think people know how tough it is for a small-market
team to exist, especially when you look in the paper and see the
Yankees' payroll," Lamont added. "And it's not easy. But we're
trying to win, and that's the only thing we have on our minds."
Kendall declined to talk about his contract situation, but he
seems to be the only one in the Pirates' clubhouse who won't.
"He's pretty much this organization," Giles said. "And for us
to be competitive, we need to find a way to keep him. It's a
no-brainer. Hopefully, something will get done shortly."
Josias Manzanillo (1-0) got credit for the win after replacing
starter Todd Ritchie, who squandered a 5-0 lead he helped create
with an RBI double.
Manzanillo, who had been scored on in nine of his other 16
appearances, held the Dodgers to an infield single over 3 2/3
innings to earn his sixth major league victory and first since May
15, 1995, with the New York Mets. The right-hander struck out four,
including Gary Sheffield and Shawn Green back-to-back to end the
sixth.
"I don't know about his ERA, but the last five or six times out
he's pitched outstanding," Lamont said. "He's been kind of an
inning-eater for us.
"He pitched 3 1/3 for us today, threw a third of an inning last
night and threw 60 pitches on Saturday. So he was tired. He said
so, and I respect that. I mean, I want guys to be tough, but for
him to go out there -- as much as he's pitched lately -- showed me
something."
Mike Judd (0-1), called up from Triple-A Albuquerque to start
because of Carlos Perez's five-game suspension, allowed seven runs,
four hits and three walks in his season debut. The right-hander
retired nine straight batters before issuing a leadoff walk to
Warren Morris in the fifth, followed by Kendall's ninth homer.
Morris, given a second chance in the seventh when third baseman
Adrian Beltre dropped his foul pop for an error, doubled and scored
Pittsburgh's eighth run on Giles' sacrifice fly.
Pirates reliever Jason Christiansen slipped a called third
strike past pinch-hitter Mark Grudzielanek with the bases loaded to
end the seventh. Mike Williams, the sixth Pittsburgh pitcher, got
three outs for his 13th save in 15 chances.
The Dodgers took a 6-5 lead in the third with two-run singles by
Green, Eric Karros and Kevin Elster against Ritchie, who allowed
six runs and nine hits over 2 1/3 innings in his shortest of 20
starts this season. The right-hander is 0-1 with an 8.35 ERA in
four starts since beating the Chicago Cubs with a three-hitter on
June 27, his first major league shutout.
Pitching on nine days' rest, except for a couple of bullpen
sessions, Judd fell behind 3-0 before retiring a batter. He walked
Morris and hit Kendall with a 2-2 pitch before surrendering Wil
Cordero's 16th home run.
"I just seemed rusty. I wasn't consistent and basically never
had command with my fastball," Judd said. "But we battled and had
a big inning. We never let down and never gave up."
Game notes
Dodgers manager Davey Johnson missed his third straight
game while being hospitalized for an irregular heart rhythm that is
now under control. Publicity director Julio Sarmiento read a
statement from Dr. Michael Mellman that said, "Davey Johnson is
doing well and undergoing further tests at Centinela Hospital. He
remains in good spirits and good health." ... Pirates OF Bruce
Aven, out since June 30 because of a strained left hamstring, was
activated from the 15-day disabled list following a three-game
rehab stint with Triple-A Nashville. The Pirates made room for him
by optioning Chad Hermansen to Nashville. Hermansen started four
games in RF following his July 7 recall, going 3-for-14 with no
RBIs.
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Baseball Scoreboard
Pittsburgh Clubhouse
Los Angeles Clubhouse
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Colorado 18
Oakland 3
Anaheim 3
San Diego 2
Boston 3
Montreal 1
Cleveland 8
Houston 2
Cincinnati 5
Detroit 4
NY Yankees 3
Philadelphia 1
NY Mets 11
Toronto 7
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Tampa Bay 2
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Baltimore 0
Chi. White Sox 7
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Kansas City 12
Chicago Cubs 4
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Arizona 2
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Texas 3
Pittsburgh 8
Los Angeles 6
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