Game 3: Pirates 5 Astros 4

For almost the first four innings it was "same old Pirates." The dropped ball in right field, leaving the bases loaded, just all around sloppy play. And Tom Gorzelanny sat with the bases loaded, laboring through 80+ pitches and still in the fourth inning and you couldn't help but think, "Well, it was nice while it lasted." When Gorzo beaned Chris Burke to bring in the Astros third run and put the Bucs down 3-1, you could hear the desperation in Bob Walk's voice on the radio, "How can you DO that?" Same old Pirates.

But Gorzo bore down and got out of the inning without too much damage, and the Pirates fought back. Jose Bautista fired the latest volley in the "I want to keep playing when Freddy Sanchez comes back" sweepstakes, Shawn Chacon pitched two perfect innings out of the pen, and somehow the Pittsburgh Pirates swept the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. That's simply unheard of. Does it mean those same old Pirates are gone? I don't think so. It's still only three games. But I'd damn sure rather be 3-0 than 0-3 after three games. Breathe in those standings for now guys, we're alone on top of the Central. I'm not counting on it lasting, but I couldn't have written the script for a better start to the season.