The Pirates were 11-7 on April 26 after taking two games in a three-game series with the Padres in San Diego. However, the Pirates have since gone into a tailspin that has dropped them to 12-15. They were swept in a three-game series in Milwaukee, went 1-5 on a homestand against Cincinnati and the Brewers and then lost Monday.

It seems as if the Pirates are on their way to a 17th consecutive losing season. However, first baseman Adam LaRoche says it is too early for his team to give up on 2009 although the Pirates have been universally picked to finish last in the National League Central.

"We've got to keep grinding," LaRoche said. "We can't get down on ourselves. We're hitting a lot of balls hard but right at people. Things will turn around. We have to stay positive."

CARDINALS 4, PIRATES 2: Zach Duke (3-3) took the loss as he gave up four runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings with two walks and two strikeouts. Nyjer Morgan had two of the Pirates' six hits. The Cardinals' Albert Pujols again terrorized the Pirates by going 4-for-4 with a home run to raise his lifetime batting average against them to .371.