Home runs from two unexpected sources powered the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 7-4 victory over the Florida Marlins on Friday night. Brandon Moss and Ramon Vazquez hit the long balls to support Charlie Morton's six shutout innings. Moss's home run was his second of the season. Vazquez, starting a second consecutive game for injured second baseman Freddy Gonzalez, belted his first homer since July...

Seemingly lost in the trade the Pirates made with Washington on Tuesday is that right-hander reliever Joel Hanrahan was one of the two players obtained from the Nationals.

Much of the focus in Pittsburgh has been on the acquisition of Lastings Milledge, who figures to replace the traded Nyjer Morgan in left field after a stint at Class AAA Indianapolis. However, the Pirates were thrilled to be able to obtain Hanrahan, even though he was having an awful season with the Nationals.

"He has a great arm, and he's still a pretty young guy," Pirates manager John Russell said of the 27-year-old. "We feel he can help us both now and in the future."

The Pirates have been lacking an experienced setup reliever from the right side since Tyler Yates went on the disabled list...

Fernando Tatis' body was laden with ice bags, Francisco Rodriguez's right arm was wrapped with towels. The weary New York Mets went through a lot to gain an improbable victory in an unwanted game. Two days after appearing to be in a freefall, the Mets pulled off the kind of victory that can turn a season around.

No doubt the Cubs anticipated needing Randy Wells and Sam Fuld to win games for them as the All-Star break approached in early July. The Iowa Cubs, that is. The Chicago Cubs? Hardly, at least not until injuries repeatedly made them dip into the minors for help. Derrek Lee and Kosuke Fukudome homered to support Wells' seven effective innings and the Cubs won another series from division opponent...

Their bench was thin, their minds admittedly jumbled a few hours after watching three more teammates leave. The Pirates had every reason to expect to lose to the Cubs after management effectively told them they're not ready yet to win. Ross Ohlendorf and Freddy Sanchez made certain it wouldn't happen.

The Pittsburgh Pirates, swapping outfielders at a rapid rate for the second successive season, sent starting left fielder Nyjer Morgan to the Washington Nationals in a four-player deal involving outfielder Lastings Milledge and also shipped backup Eric Hinske to the Yankees on Tuesday. The Pirates, spurred to trade because their farm system has been unproductive, acquired Milledge and reliever...

One good week is all that's needed to move near the top of the crowded NL Central. Or, maybe for the Chicago Cubs, one good series in Pittsburgh. Rich Harden repeatedly worked out of trouble to win for the first time in more than six weeks, Ryan Theriot homered and the Cubs maintained their mastery of the Pirates by winning 3-1 on Monday night.

Beating Zack Greinke and the weatherman in one day proved too difficult for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Greinke didn't allow any scoring until making his final pitch before a rain delay in the seventh inning, and the Kansas City Royals prevented the Pirates from sweeping an interleague series for the first time since 2001 by winning 3-2 on Sunday.