? One of thePirates' injured starters is back in the lineup - and another one isn't far away. 

Call him Mr. 

Two singles to start the first inning, then an apparent Nate McLouth double play grounder. 

Nate McLouth's run-scoring single allowed Pittsburgh to stop a 22-inning scoreless streak in a span of only three batters and the Pirates held on to beat the Cincinnati Reds 8-6 on Saturday night as Ross Ohlendorf won his third in a row. 

The Pittsburgh Pirates didn't waste any time snapping a lengthy scoreless streak and eventually their four-game slide on Saturday. 

Were those actually ourPittsburghPirates near the top of the National League Central division this past week? Or was the team of the last 16 years lurking behind the scenes, waiting to make its gruesome reappearance? 

??? How they scored 

??? How they scored 

Pirates starter Jeff Karstens was fined an undisclosed amount of money by Major League Baseball for hitting the Milwaukee Brewers' Ryan Braun with a pitch Monday at Miller Park, according to a team source, but Karstens will not be suspended. 

It is one thing for thePirates to get mowed down by some of the National League's finest pitchers, as has happened in the early going against Chris Carpenter, Aaron Harang and Yovani Gallardo. 

--SS Jack Wilson took light fielding practice for the first time since being placed on the disabled list last Saturday with a strained ligament in his left middle finger. 

The Pirates had a rough week, losing two regulars in the span of five days as C Ryan Doumit suffered a broken right wrist and SS Jack Wilson also went on the disabled list with a sprained left middle finger. 

It is impossible to win a game by a 0-0 score regardless no matter how strong the pitching. 

The Pittsburgh Pirates' pitching staff has been among baseball's biggest early surprises, posting the majors' best ERA as the calendar turns from April to May. 

Nate McLouth's return to the lineup wasn't enough for thePirates to reverse their offensive woes.