Leaving the visiting clubhouses city field the other day in New York,

a player who shall remain unnamed,

being innocently enough that the next order of business would be going into Cincinnati,

taking that series, going home, enjoying the opener at PNC Park, and just moving on from there.

That sounds okay, doesn't it? Good morning to you. Good. Wednesday morning, I'm Dan Kovachievich of D.K. Pittsburgh Sports,

and this is Daily Shot of Pirates, presented by our friends at the North Shore Tavern,

home of steak on a stone. If you're into football and or hockey, I also offer daily shots

of Steelers and Penguins in the same place that you've found this. Pirates eight, Reds

three last night at Great American Ballpark. So that series is indeed split so far. The finale

is today at 1240 p.m. with Paul Skeens. Probably in a bad mood, if I had to guess,

going out there to try to make sure that the aforementioned mission is indeed accomplished.

For this one, meaning the game last night, O'Neill Cruz homered twice,

hit three hits, three RBIs, Ryan O'Hern with a three-run homer and a walk, Brian Reynolds,

with his first home run. Nick Gonzalez with a couple more hits. He's off to a 318 start.

On the mound, Bubba Chandler, making his first start, he went four and a third and wasn't

charged with a run, at least not an earned one, gave up no hits and struck out six, which

sounds awesome until you see that he also walked.

Six guys, Johann Ramirez had to bail him out.

Boy, is Ramirez off to a good start.

Nobody ever talks about him.

What stuff he has?

I remember bringing this up with you from my first trip to Bradenton, but the people inside that clubhouse,

...