MILWAUKEE -- Three weeks ago, the Pittsburgh Pirates boarded their team charter in Milwaukee feeling good.Theyd completed a four-game sweep of the Brewers at Miller Park for the first time since 2004 and moved to within a half-game of the Cardinals for the second National League wild-card spot.But since then, its gone all downhill for the Pirates, who dropped their next eight contests -- including back-to-back sweeps by the Cubs and Brewers -- and 13 of their next 16 before finally rebounding with a four-game winning streak against the Phillies and Reds.Now, they return to Milwaukee, practically out of the playoff chase. The Pirates arrived here Monday 74-75 and five games back of the Giants for the second slot, with St. Louis and Miami standing in between.There comes a point in time where the trying hard and the grinding part needs to be let go, and you need to be 6 and get in the backyard and play Whiffle Ball, Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. Its a game. Go play. In challenging times like these, youve got to find the fun. You have to get out there and not be concerned about your results and just stay focused in the moment. Were trying to revisit that in a meaningful way.After playing a doubleheader Saturday, Hurdle had yet to announce his starting rotation. But Milwaukee will hand the ball to Matt Garza, who has been bit by bad luck over the last month.Hes allowed 12 runs in his last four outings, but just three of them have been earned, leading to a 1.16 ERA during that stretch.Garza went five innings his last time out, but a pair of errors led to five unearned runs in a 6-4 loss at Cincinnati.We just made it way too hard on Matt, Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell said. Were asking him to get five outs. Going through Joey Votto, thats a tall task.Garza, the veteran member of Milwaukees rotation, took the miscues in stride.You just keep pitching, he told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Some days the ball finds the gloves, and some days it doesnt. You just keep making your pitches and keep going. We have a young team. Thats kind of where its at.Ive learned from the past you cant really come down on the guys. You cant go and harp and wear them out right now. Its September, and a lot of them its their first September playing baseball.So youve just got to kind of wear it and just keep going.Milwaukees starting pitching has stepped things up a notch over the last few weeks, with the rotation posting an NL-leading 2.85 ERA (49 earned runs, 148 2/3 innings pitched) over the last 27 games while the bullpen has combined for a league-leading 2.65 ERA over its last 28.As a result, the Brewers have been on a hot streak, winning 11 of 17 since the Pirates sweep in Milwaukee, with two series victories over the NL Central Champion Chicago Cubs.Our guys just keep doing it, Counsell said. So, as much as anything, it just speaks to them finishing the season and finishing it strong. 1/8Theyre 3/8 continuing to play well and at a high level. Obviously, were playing good teams. These are really good teams.Since the start of the 2007 season, the Brewers are 103-60 against the Pirates including a 64-21 mark at Miller Park. Air Max 97 SE Pull Tab . The Islanders dealt Thomas Vanek to the Montreal Canadiens after less than a year on Long Island. Meanwhile, the Oilers dealt long-time sniper Ales hemsky to the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday for a fifth-round pick in 2014 and a third-rounder in 2015. Air Max 97 Gialle . Lack made 20 saves for his third shutout of the season as the Canucks blanked the St. Louis Blues 1-0 in the first post-Olympic game for both teams night. http://www.airmax97outlet.it/scontate-air-max-97-pink-corduroy.html . A lawyer for MLB, Matthew Menchel, confirmed Wednesday the league dropped its case against Biogenesis of America, its owner Anthony Bosch and several other individuals. The lawsuit had accused Biogenesis and Bosch of conspiring with players to violate their contracts by providing them with banned performance-enhancing substances. Air Max 97 QS . The head of USA Boxing came out swinging Tuesday with an open letter to Tyson -- a former Olympic hopeful himself -- that accuses the former heavyweight champion of trying to poach fighters who might be candidates for the U. Air Max 97 Ultra 17 LX Dusty Peach . PETERSBURG, Fla. Bristol have added to their options in the backs with the signing of Siale Piutau until the end of the current campaign.Piutau, brother of Ulsters Charles, will arrive in January and will bring international experience to their battle against the drop. He has made 24 appearances for Tonga and will bolster their midfield options.I know Siale from his time at Wasps and hes a big presence in the midfield who carries hard and is a reliable defender, Bristol coach Mark Tainton said. He comes into the environment in the New Year and it will give the squad a boost in a crucial period of the campaign.Siale bringss the necessary intensity and physicality required to make an impact in the top flight and that abrasive style will benefit our style of play.ddddddddddddPiutau added: I thoroughly enjoyed my time in the Aviva Premiership with Wasps, so Im relishing the chance to play in the competition again.Its a hugely challenging league, so Im arriving with a focus of performing well and helping Bristol Rugby on the field. Its a Club with a strong reputation and Im exciting to get started. ' ' '
