THE BULLPEN

Root, root, root for the home team! Your Pittsburgh Pirates return home to PNC Park tonight to start a 4-game series with the Chicago Scrubs. These are your keys to tonight's game. 1)The Pirates ride into town following a sweep of the Strangers, 3 wins in a row. Get #4 with tons of the Hit, Run, & Score! 2)The Scrubs go with lefty Chris Rusin tonight. Rusin is 2-3 with a 2.89 ERA. The Pirates counter with LH Jeff Locke, 9-5, 3.23 ERA. Locke hasn't won a game since July 21, walking 27 in 38 1/3 innings. Get this kid his double-digit win. Locke and load! 3)The Pirates lead the season series 7-5. The Scrubs bring up the rear of the NL Central with a 62-83 record. You have to beat the good teams and beat up the bad teams. The Scrubs are a bad team. Woop, woop, woop! Standings Alert: The Pirates and St Louie both won yesterday so the Buccos remain 1 game out in the NL Central. Cincy's win puts them 3 games back. The Pirates have 17 games left in the regular season. Let's Go Bucs!!!!!