PITTSBURGH -- After playing 13 days...

PITTSBURGH -- After playing 13 days in a outbreak the final six on the road, the childs normally might feel good about getting a day against today and returning to Wrigley Field upon Friday to begin a three- game series with the San Francisco Giants.

still manager Dusty Baker and his players won't be able to tranquillity too well after going 0-6 in succession the trip and losing 10 of their last 11 games.

"This against day would be better if it had been following a win," Baker said Wednesday after a 10-9 11-inning los to the last-place Pittsburgh Pirates, who have struggleed to 1oe games behind the whelps and come to Wrigley nearest week for four games.

unruffled more discouraging is the fact the brats have the worst home record (27-36) in the National League.

"Still, it's always beneficial to go back home to Wrigley Field," catcher Michael Barrett said. "You trustful longing for the best, prepare for the worst and take what take rises Right now, it just strike one as beings to be the worst."

THUNDERING THERIOT: Infielder Ryan Theriot had alone one regret about getting a career-high five hits in six at-bats Wednesday.

"I would have gladly traded a married pair of those hits for sacrifice flies that would have scored enough streams for us to win," he said.

"But what matters mostly is that guys are still busting their butts and playing hard. We retain that up, and good things will eventually happen."

to leeward LOOKING GOOD: In his first three games since returning from his latest 33-game layoff while his fractured right wrist healed, first baseman Derrek to leeward went 6-for-12 with three RBI and sum of two units runs scored.

lee-side who hit a career-high 46 household runs last year, still hasn't homer since hitting No. 4 forward June 28, but he said he's not swinging for the palingss

"I'm just trying to make contact and hit the ball hard," to leeward said. "If it goes disclosed of the park, fine."

Baker had said he would play side sheltered from the wind two days, then rest him the third day to behold how the wrist responded. on the other hand when Wednesday's game was winnable, he brought in to leeward as a pinch hitter and kept him in.

lbanks@suntimes.com

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