Gameday 8 - Giants

Pirates (2-5) at Giants (3-4)

9:05 PM ET

TV: ROOT Sports

More after the jump..

AT&T Park - San Francisco, California

Starting Pitchers

Pittsburgh - Charlie Morton (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

San Francisco - Barry Zito (1-0, 0.00 ERA)

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The Pirates look to put an end to their current 4 game skid tonight against the Giants. They also look to finally score more runs this season than the Philadelphia Flyers have scored in 2 games against the Penguins in the playoffs (Pirates have 11 runs through 7 games, Flyers have 12 goals in 2). They also look to cool down Barry Zito, who has gotten off to a hot start this year. Hopefully the bats show up today (I feel the need to put this in every post). Making his first start today after a short stint on the DL is Charlie Morton, and his #ElectricStuff.

Morton merges into the rotation after a couple rehab outings that completed his gradual comeback from hip surgery in October. Morton opened the season on the disabled, and he threw 98 pitches in a Monday rehab start. Last season: 10-10, 3.83 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, 110 K

Zito threw a shutout at Coors Field in his 2012 debut, using pinpoint control and a crafty mix of four pitches to keep the Rockies off-balance. Zito pitched backward, setting up hitters with his curve and changeup and spotting his fastball. Last season: 3-4, 5.87 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 32K

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Know the Enemy - Bay City Ball

What they're chit-chatting about: 

"There are times when you know you’re watching a superb pitching performance. Much like when you turn on a classic movie, or put on a great record, you just know that you’re in for a treat. Today was one of those times. In the Giants home opener against the Pirates, Matt Cain threw one of the best games from a Giants pitcher that I’ve seen in awhile. From inning one to the very end, Cain was in control. He struck out 11 batters; he walked none; and he did it all with just 106 pitches. Did I mention that he only gave up one hit? He only gave up one hit."

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Starting Lineups

Pittsburgh-

1. Presley, LF

2. Tabata, RF

3. McCutchen, CF

4. McGehee, 1B

5. Barajas, C

6. Walker, 2B

7. Harrison, 3B

8. Barmes, SS

9. Morton, P

San Francisco-

1. Pagan, CF

2. Cabrera, LF

3. Sandoval, 3B

4. Huff, 1B

5. Sanchez, C

6. Schierholtz, RF

7. Crawford, SS

8. Burriss, 2B

9. Zito, P

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• Giants center fielder Angel Pagan is hitting .778 (7-for-9) against Morton in his career.
• The Pirates have walked only twice in their last four games and have drawn a Major League-low seven free passes on the season. 

Lets Go Bucs