Florida Wood Versus Pennsylvania Iron

Poor Pittsburgh Pirates. Their city is two-for-two in sports championships this year. The Steelers romped through the NFL Playoffs, and the Penguins completed an improbable (and epic) comeback to top the NHL. The Steel City hasn’t been this ecstatic since, well, it was actually making steel. And wouldn’t a trifecta of professional victories be the stuff of legend? Yes, but it ain’t happening for these 2009 Pirates, not after 17 straight losing seasons and the recent deportation of star center fielder Nate McLouth. (Some two weeks after the deal, McLouth was still leading the team in RBIs.)

But the Pirates did sweep our Florida Marlinsin April, initiating the six-game losing streak that erased any hope of the Fish becoming the powerhouse their 11-1 start suggested. So the Pirates can’t be taken lightly. See if HanRam and company can dish out a little payback this weekend.
Fri., July 3, 6:10 p.m.; Sat., July 4, 6:10 p.m.; Sun., July 5, 1:10 p.m., 2009