=== Pittsburgh Pirates Team Report - June 11 ===

(My Sportsbook) - The Pittsburgh Pirates try and get back on the winning track this evening when they continue their three-game interleague set against the Toronto Blue Jays at SkyDome.

The Pirates dropped their third straight game in the series opener on Tuesday, falling 13-8 to the Blue Jays. Brian Giles, who has reached base safely in 13 of his last 15 plate appearances, went 3-for-4 with a home run for the Pirates, who dropped their sixth game in seven tries.

Aramis Ramirez also homered and extended his hitting streak to a career-high 21 games. In addition to his hitting streak, Ramirez has struck out just twice in 93 plate appearances.

Kris Benson (5-7) suffered the loss after getting knocked around for eight runs on eight hits in 2 1/3 innings. He walked three and gave up three home runs to record his third loss in four decisions.

Opponents have homered in a season-high eight straight games against Pittsburgh pitchers. During the stretch, the Pirates have surrendered 23 home runs with 13 coming in the last three games.

Pittsburgh will pin its hopes tonight on 27-year-old righthander Jeff D'Amico, who is 4-6 on the season with a 4.03 ERA. D'Amico has lost his last two starts, allowing 10 runs over 13 innings in those outings. The St. Petersburg, FL native allowed five runs on seven hits over six innings in an 8-3 loss to the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday.

D'Amico, who has not earned a win in the month of June since 1997, is 1-1 with a 3.18 ERA in two career starts against the Blue Jays.

No Pirates starter has tossed a complete game since June 16, 2002. The 154- game stretch is the longest in the major leagues since the Tampa Bay Devil Rays went 194 games between complete games from April 14-May 19, 2002.

Pittsburgh is 0-31 on the year when trailing after eight innings.