Ian Snell

That mismatch between 340-game winner Roger Clemens and zero-game winner Ian Snell turned out to be exactly that. Only not as Houston figured it would be. Snell limited the visiting Astros to three singles over eight innings for his first career victory, as the Pittsburgh Pirates won, 7-0, last night. Snell (1-2) didn't allow a runner past second base, striking out five and walking three. Clemens (12-8) lost to Pittsburgh for the first time in six career starts. In another game: At Denver, Khalil Greene homered twice, including in the ninth as San Diego beat the Rockies, 8-7. Noteworthy Reds first baseman Sean Casey, who was knocked unconscious in a game Friday, was cleared to participate in light physical conditioning, but there's no timetable for his return to the lineup.

Quote of the week Righthander Scott Linebrink, on being sent to the Brewers on Wednesday after being the center of trade speculation for 2 years: "I hadn't been hearing any rumors. It's always the one you don't hear that gets you. " Nickname of the week Pirates righthander Ian Snell is called "Baby Sheff" by teammate Shawn Chacon, a reference to outspoken Tigers outfielder Gary Sheffield and Snell's recent string of controversial remarks. "He just says whatever comes to his mind and he wears his emotions on his sleeve," Chacon explained.

Brandon Webb became the majors' first 11-game winner with his second straight strong start, holding Pittsburgh to one run and three hits over 7 innings last night and driving in a run in Arizona's 3-1 victory over the Pirates. Webb (11-2), coming off a 4-0 shutout win over Washington in which he allowed only six singles, didn't allow a hit until Jose Bautista's two-out single in the fifth. The righthander has permitted only one extra-base hit - Jason Bay's RBI double in the sixth - while giving up nine hits and one run in 16 innings over his last two starts.

Maybe Bonds and Canseco could tour schools? As part of the most recent drug-testing deal negotiated between Major League Baseball and the Players Association, major-leaguers have agreed to join the league's efforts to educate youth about performance-enhancing drugs. Haven't players done enough of that already? They could take this guy along Former Toronto catcher Ed Sprague, now the baseball coach at the University of the Pacific, said he started using androstenedione in the mid- to late 1990s.

Chris Carpenter is almost always good for a victory against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Even on a night when a pitcher who hasn't lost since June looked ready to be beaten. Ryan Ludwick's sacrifice fly in the eighth inning last night scored the go-ahead run and visiting St. Louis withstood Carpenter's shaky beginning to beat Pittsburgh, 6-4, stretching the Pirates' losing streak to six games. Carpenter (11-3) fell behind, 4-2, in the third - as many runs as he allowed in his previous four starts combined - but settled down to give up only two singles and no runs over the next five innings before Ryan Franklin finished.

Albert Pujols hit a two-run homer and reached base five times to help the St. Louis Cardinals beat the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates, 9-3, last night. Pujols, the reigning National League Most Valuable Player, went 2-for-3 with two walks and also reached on an error after going 3-for-4 in Monday's season-opening 6-4 loss against the Pirates. Chris Duncan and Yadier Molina also had two-run homers for St. Louis, which pounded out 12 hits against four Pittsburgh pitchers. Joe Thurston and Khalil Greene each had two RBI. Colby Rasmus went 2-for-4 and scored twice in his major league debut.

Freddy Sanchez offered handshakes and hugs and bid farewell to the Pittsburgh Pirates before walking some 100 yards down the hallway to his new team. San Francisco swept the visiting Pirates yesterday, then plucked one of their top players. The Giants acquired Sanchez and made it a convenient switch for the three-time All-Star hours after doubleplay partner and shortstop Jack Wilson was traded to Seattle. The teams announced the swap following the Giants' 1-0, 10-inning victory - so Sanchez merely had to change clubhouses to join his new organization, which is in the thick of the NL wild-card race.

Joining the chorus With Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz the latest to be named from a list of 104 players who baseball says tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in 2003, Torii Hunter of the Los Angeles Angels echoed what many have said. He just expressed his thoughts a little differently. "You have someone who's a little rat, who keeps poking his head out of the hole," Hunter told the Los Angeles Times. "Why not just come out? Why throw a name out there every three months, every six months?

Earlier in his career, Rich Hill might never have regained control after beginning a game with a four-pitch walk. Hill struggled at times with his command yesterday, but won for the first time in three starts this season, helping the Chicago Cubs beat visiting Pittsburgh, 3-2, for their ninth victory in 12 games. "It wasn't anything mechanically that had to be adjusted, it was just the approach," Hill said. "I stayed aggressive. I always talk about that; staying aggressive and attacking.

Joe Kerrigan, a former pitching coach with the Red Sox, Phillies and Expos, will succeed Jeff Andrews in the same job with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Kerrigan was Boston's pitching coach from 1997-2001, during the time Pedro Martinez won two AL Cy Young Awards. Kerrigan was with the Phillies from 2003-04 and was the Yankees' bullpen coach in 2006-07 after serving as a Yankees special adviser for one season. Kerrigan also was Boston's manager late in the 2001 season, after Jimy Williams was fired, and had a 17-26 record.

Chris Carpenter is almost always good for a victory against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Even on a night when a pitcher who hasn't lost since June looked ready to be beaten. Ryan Ludwick's sacrifice fly in the eighth inning last night scored the go-ahead run and visiting St. Louis withstood Carpenter's shaky beginning to beat Pittsburgh, 6-4, stretching the Pirates' losing streak to six games. Carpenter (11-3) fell behind, 4-2, in the third - as many runs as he allowed in his previous four starts combined - but settled down to give up only two singles and no runs over the next five innings before Ryan Franklin finished.

Joining the chorus With Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz the latest to be named from a list of 104 players who baseball says tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in 2003, Torii Hunter of the Los Angeles Angels echoed what many have said. He just expressed his thoughts a little differently. "You have someone who's a little rat, who keeps poking his head out of the hole," Hunter told the Los Angeles Times. "Why not just come out? Why throw a name out there every three months, every six months?

Freddy Sanchez offered handshakes and hugs and bid farewell to the Pittsburgh Pirates before walking some 100 yards down the hallway to his new team. San Francisco swept the visiting Pirates yesterday, then plucked one of their top players. The Giants acquired Sanchez and made it a convenient switch for the three-time All-Star hours after doubleplay partner and shortstop Jack Wilson was traded to Seattle. The teams announced the swap following the Giants' 1-0, 10-inning victory - so Sanchez merely had to change clubhouses to join his new organization, which is in the thick of the NL wild-card race.

Albert Pujols hit a two-run homer and reached base five times to help the St. Louis Cardinals beat the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates, 9-3, last night. Pujols, the reigning National League Most Valuable Player, went 2-for-3 with two walks and also reached on an error after going 3-for-4 in Monday's season-opening 6-4 loss against the Pirates. Chris Duncan and Yadier Molina also had two-run homers for St. Louis, which pounded out 12 hits against four Pittsburgh pitchers. Joe Thurston and Khalil Greene each had two RBI. Colby Rasmus went 2-for-4 and scored twice in his major league debut.

Joe Kerrigan, a former pitching coach with the Red Sox, Phillies and Expos, will succeed Jeff Andrews in the same job with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Kerrigan was Boston's pitching coach from 1997-2001, during the time Pedro Martinez won two AL Cy Young Awards. Kerrigan was with the Phillies from 2003-04 and was the Yankees' bullpen coach in 2006-07 after serving as a Yankees special adviser for one season. Kerrigan also was Boston's manager late in the 2001 season, after Jimy Williams was fired, and had a 17-26 record.

Brandon Webb became the majors' first 11-game winner with his second straight strong start, holding Pittsburgh to one run and three hits over 7 innings last night and driving in a run in Arizona's 3-1 victory over the Pirates. Webb (11-2), coming off a 4-0 shutout win over Washington in which he allowed only six singles, didn't allow a hit until Jose Bautista's two-out single in the fifth. The righthander has permitted only one extra-base hit - Jason Bay's RBI double in the sixth - while giving up nine hits and one run in 16 innings over his last two starts.

Earlier in his career, Rich Hill might never have regained control after beginning a game with a four-pitch walk. Hill struggled at times with his command yesterday, but won for the first time in three starts this season, helping the Chicago Cubs beat visiting Pittsburgh, 3-2, for their ninth victory in 12 games. "It wasn't anything mechanically that had to be adjusted, it was just the approach," Hill said. "I stayed aggressive. I always talk about that; staying aggressive and attacking.

Maybe Bonds and Canseco could tour schools? As part of the most recent drug-testing deal negotiated between Major League Baseball and the Players Association, major-leaguers have agreed to join the league's efforts to educate youth about performance-enhancing drugs. Haven't players done enough of that already? They could take this guy along Former Toronto catcher Ed Sprague, now the baseball coach at the University of the Pacific, said he started using androstenedione in the mid- to late 1990s.

Quote of the week Righthander Scott Linebrink, on being sent to the Brewers on Wednesday after being the center of trade speculation for 2 years: "I hadn't been hearing any rumors. It's always the one you don't hear that gets you. " Nickname of the week Pirates righthander Ian Snell is called "Baby Sheff" by teammate Shawn Chacon, a reference to outspoken Tigers outfielder Gary Sheffield and Snell's recent string of controversial remarks. "He just says whatever comes to his mind and he wears his emotions on his sleeve," Chacon explained.

The Pittsburgh Pirates saw something new from Xavier Nady - a home run. Nady hit his first homer for the Pirates last night, a three-run shot that led Ian Snell and the Pirates over host Cincinnati, 7-3. "We were talking before the game about how I haven't hit one for the Pirates," said Nady, acquired from the New York Mets on July 31 for pitchers Oliver Perez and Roberto Hernandez. "I said, 'I hope I get it out of the way. You don't want to start changing your swing and getting into bad habits.