Adam LaRoche looks really queasy this morning ? the stomach virus that whacked the clubhouse during the final weeks of spring training finally caught up to him ? and is not in the lineup this afternoon.
"Hopefully, it's just a couple-of-days thing," manager John Russell said. "You know he's going pretty bad if he says he can't go."
Eric Hinske will start at first base. Also, Ramon Vazquez is making his second start in a row at third.
? Adam LaRoche expects to have a bit more zip on the basepaths this season.
"For the first time in a long time, my hamstring feels good," LaRoche said. "I'll never be fast, but I'm faster than I've been. Before, it was back and forth ? it would hurt for a week, then it'd OK, then it'd hurt again. Now, I feel like I can get up and go a little better."
LaRoche didn't do anything different with his offseason workouts. He said the Pirates changed their drills in spring training, which strengthened and eased the strain on his legs.
? Catcher Ryan Doumit remains in the lineup. Russell said backup Jason Jaramillo likely will get his first start Saturday in Cincinnati.
? Reliever Romulo Sanchez cleared waivers. The Pirates assigned him to Triple-A Indianapolis.
? The Pirates' 17-hit attack last night was their biggest hitting spree against the Cards since May 31, 2008, when they had 19 hits in a 14-4 win.
Lineups for today's game:
PIRATES ? 1. Nyjer Morgan lf, Freddy Sanchez 2b, 3. Nate McLouth cf, 4. Ryan Doumit c, 5. Eric Hinske 1b, 6. Brandon Moss rf, 7. Ramon Vazquez 3b, 8. Jack Wilson ss, 9. Ross Ohlendorf rhp
CARDINALS ? 1. Skip Schumaker 2b, 2. Colby Rasmus cf, 3. Albert Pujols 1b, 4. Chris Duncan lf, 5. Ryan Ludwick rf, 6. Khalil Greene ss, 7. Yadier Molina c, 8. Joe Thurston 3b, 9. Chris Carpenter rhp.
"Hopefully, it's just a couple-of-days thing," manager John Russell said. "You know he's going pretty bad if he says he can't go."
Eric Hinske will start at first base. Also, Ramon Vazquez is making his second start in a row at third.
? Adam LaRoche expects to have a bit more zip on the basepaths this season.
"For the first time in a long time, my hamstring feels good," LaRoche said. "I'll never be fast, but I'm faster than I've been. Before, it was back and forth ? it would hurt for a week, then it'd OK, then it'd hurt again. Now, I feel like I can get up and go a little better."
LaRoche didn't do anything different with his offseason workouts. He said the Pirates changed their drills in spring training, which strengthened and eased the strain on his legs.
? Catcher Ryan Doumit remains in the lineup. Russell said backup Jason Jaramillo likely will get his first start Saturday in Cincinnati.
? Reliever Romulo Sanchez cleared waivers. The Pirates assigned him to Triple-A Indianapolis.
? The Pirates' 17-hit attack last night was their biggest hitting spree against the Cards since May 31, 2008, when they had 19 hits in a 14-4 win.
Lineups for today's game:
PIRATES ? 1. Nyjer Morgan lf, Freddy Sanchez 2b, 3. Nate McLouth cf, 4. Ryan Doumit c, 5. Eric Hinske 1b, 6. Brandon Moss rf, 7. Ramon Vazquez 3b, 8. Jack Wilson ss, 9. Ross Ohlendorf rhp
CARDINALS ? 1. Skip Schumaker 2b, 2. Colby Rasmus cf, 3. Albert Pujols 1b, 4. Chris Duncan lf, 5. Ryan Ludwick rf, 6. Khalil Greene ss, 7. Yadier Molina c, 8. Joe Thurston 3b, 9. Chris Carpenter rhp.
