--RHP Matt Capps saw his first action in eight days as he pitched a wild but scoreless ninth inning. The Cardinals loaded the bases with none out, but Capps preserved the 7-1 lead with two strikeouts and a lineout. The closer had not pitched in eight games after feeling a sharp pain in his elbow following his May 4 outing against Milwaukee in which he gave up four runs in one inning and took the loss.
--C Robinzon Diaz started Tuesday instead of C Jason Jaramillo for the fourth time in five games and went 2-for-4. Manager John Russell, though, stopped short of saying Diaz has moved ahead of Jaramillo as the No. 1 catcher with C Ryan Doumit on the disabled list with a broken right wrist, likely until late June. Russell has decided to go with the hot hand, as Diaz is 10-for-25 (.400) with one home run and four RBIs in seven games since being recalled from Indianapolis on April 20, when Doumit went on the DL. --3B Andy LaRoche's streak of reaching base in 22 consecutive games ended Sunday. He was 0-for-4 against the Mets at New York. LaRoche was 24-for-75 (.320) with nine doubles, one home run and 11 RBI during the streak, raising his batting average from .000 (he was hitless in his first 18 at bats of the season) to .264.
BY THE NUMBERS: 17 -- Consecutive games the Pirates have lost to the Milwaukee. That is the most games one major league team has won over another since Baltimore beat Kansas City 23 times in a row during the 1969 and 1970 seasons.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "The record speaks for itself. Apparently, they've got our number. I don't think anyone knows why." -- 2B Freddy Sanchez, on the Pirates losing 17 straight games to Milwaukee.
