*********** For Immediate Release **********

*********** For Immediate Release **********

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About Relief Spark:
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We are a network of volunteers that span across the world. We create channels of
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individuals alike.

For more information please visit our website:

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Brewers-Pirates Preview

Jason Bay is giving Pirates fans something to cheer for in an othewise miserable season.
Bay looks to homer in his seventh straight game when Pittsburgh (16-34) meets the Milwaukee Brewers (26-24) in the start of a three-game series at PNC Park on Monday.
With a solo homer in fourth inning against Houston on Sunday, Bay became the first Pirates player to homer in six straight games since Dale Long did it en route to a record eight in a row in 1956.
Bay and Houston's Morgan Ensberg are the only NL players to homer in six consecutive games this season. Texas' Kevin Mench homered in seven straight games from April 21-28, one short of the record set by Long and matched by Don Mattingly in 1987 and Ken Griffey Jr. six years later.
Bay already has set a Pirates record with 11 homers in May, breaking the record of 10 shared previously by five players. Coming off a breakout 2005 season in which he hit a career-high 32 homers, Bay hit his first of the new season on April 5 against Milwaukee's Tomo Ohka.
Despite Bay's latest homer, Pittsburgh wasted a four-run lead heading into the ninth inning and fell 5-4 in 10 to deny the Pirates their first three-game winning streak of the season.
''It's real tough when you're up 4-0 and then, boom, it's 4-4,'' Bay said. ''That's definitely going to suck the life out of a team.''
To try and end Bay's streak, Milwaukee will send Doug Davis (3-3, 4.86 ERA) to the mound as he looks to win consecutive starts for the second time this season.
The left-hander held Cincinnati to two runs and five hits with four strikeouts and three walks over seven innings of a 6-2 victory on Wednesday.
''I thought I was making my pitches for most of the night,'' Davis said. ''My changeup was big all night. If you stay out of the big inning, you have a chance to go deep in the game.''
The win was his first since May 4 when he threw six shutout innings in a 7-4 victory over the San Francisco Giants to his second straight start. He earned his first win of the season on April 29 over the Chicago Cubs.
Davis was Milwaukee's opening day starting pitcher on April 3 against Pittsburgh but did not get a decision after giving up two runs and six hits in six innings of a 5-2 Brewers' win. Milwaukee went on to sweep the series.
Overall, Davis is 3-2 with a 3.71 ERA in 12 career starts against the Pirates.
Zach Duke (2-6, 4.36 ERA) will start a day earlier than planned when he takes the mound for Pittsburgh. Victor Santos was the scheduled starter in the opener, but Pittsburgh was forced to use him on Saturday in an 8-7 win in 18 innings.
''The program is set so that if there is a different day (to start) it's easy to recover,'' said Duke, a left-hander. ''I'm going to be fully recovered.''
Duke also is looking to avoid extending his career-high losing streak to five games. In his last four starts, Duke has a 5.76 ERA with 20 strikeouts and 10 walks in 25 innings.
He allowed five runs - four earned - and nine hits with five strikeouts through six innings of an 8-7 loss to Arizona on Wednesday. Duke's lone career win against the Brewers came on Oct. 2.

Steelers' blitz offers test for Colts

An interesting subplot to Monday night's AFC showdown between the Indianapolis Colts and Pittsburgh Steelers figures to be a chess match pitting two expert strategists.
Pittsburgh will be in the attack mode the second it enters the RCA Dome. Its trademark is a blitzing, disruptive 3-4 defense. Quarterback Peyton Manning generally responds to that type of pressure with the necessary pre-snap adjustments, and a hot hand of his own.

Consider it one of those strength-on-strength situations.
"For us it's been about execution,'' Manning said. "Our execution has been good up to this point, but just because you did something last week doesn't mean anything in the upcoming week.''
Manning is directing an offense that ranks No. 2 in total yards and No. 1 in scoring, and is averaging 39.8 points over the past five games. Credit his ability to check out of a bad play and into a better one once the defense tips its hand, and protection that has provided the required time to execute. The offensive line has allowed a league-low six sacks.
Defenses have blitzed Manning more in recent weeks than earlier in the season, and he hasn't flinched. According to ESPN.com, Manning has countered blitz situations by completing 60-of-86 passes (69.8 percent) for 795 yards with nine touchdowns and no interceptions. That's a rating of 133.6.
But now comes the Steelers and their defense. It ranks No. 6 in total yards, No. 3 against the run and No. 3 in points allowed. It's pressure personified, limiting opposing QBs to a 71.1 rating and 59.6 completion rate. While there's a definite method to their mayhem, the Steelers are adept at disguising it.
"They have a lot of interchangeable parts, guys that can blitz and cover,'' coach Tony Dungy said, noting Pittsburgh's similarity to New England in that regard.
The Steelers try to confuse offenses by alternating their blitzers and the origination of the blitz. Pittsburgh's 30 sacks, which rank fifth in the league, have come from 15 players. The linebackers have generated 17, with the defensive line chipping in six and the DBs seven.
"You're always wondering if there's going to be a free guy, if you have to throw fast,'' Dungy said.
Some teams counter "Blitzburgh'' by reinforcing pass protection with additional blockers. The Colts seldom rely on "max'' protection, opting to utilize four or five receiving options on every play and trust their normal protection schemes.
Against the Steelers, it's imperative to recognize the blitz, and block it. If the Colts can keep Manning "clean,'' he likely will have one-on-one matchups in the passing game to exploit.
"This will be the stiffest challenge that we have because this is a football team that if you do take some chances, if you do expose yourself, (Manning) will find it and I think he's done that with every team he's played,'' Pittsburgh coach Bill Cowher said.
A key component to the Steelers' defensive success has been limiting big plays. They've allowed only seven runs of at least 15 yards, none in the past four games, and 14 receptions that have gained at least 25 yards.
The Colts counter with an offense that is beginning to regain its big-play capabilities. In Sunday's 45-37 win at Cincinnati, Manning completed four passes that picked up at least 21 yards -- a 66-yard touchdown to Reggie Wayne, a 56-yard catch and 21-yard touchdown by Dallas Clark, and a 24-yard hookup with Brandon Stokley.
Cowher noted it's imperative the Steelers pick their spots when blitzing Manning. It's also important for the Colts to be selective.
"You can have some matchups you can throw,'' Dungy said, "but a lot of people can't get it figured out and can't get the people blocked.
"And that can make for a long day.''

Steeler Iron Curtain Closes Cincinnatti River Dance

Steeler Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger return from a knee injury helped Pittsburgh set a Steeler record with a tenth straight road win. This happened despite his lightly used arm. Football fan Brian Jackson was fined $300 for signing a Steeler jersey pretending to be Roethlisberger in wake of Pittsburgh’s milestone victory.

Pittsburgh’s attack continues to depend on a grinding ground game. Steeler lore’s filled with ball control outings compared to up and down aerial displays that avail the opposition to more counter attacks and costly turnover opportunities.

Sunday’s battle to take the Ohio River for pigskin supremacy shrank the champion Steelers’ margin to a half game behind Northeast division leading Cincinnatti.

The sooner touchdown receiving scorers on these two squads drop the Michael Flatley impersonations, the sooner they will return to what fans here expect from entertainment. The "River Dance" after flamboyant flat runners pass through both teams’ secondaries seems so last century.

Penguins Descend To Unprecedented Depths

The Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3 loss Tuesday to the Florida Panthers marked the worst start (0-4-5) in the team’s 39 year history. Mario Lemieux, the man if ever there could be called one behind the Penguins’ Stanley Cup banners, appeared out of character arguing with the referee who called him for a penalty that left Pittsburgh shorthanded when they surrendered an overtime goal.

Dating back to 2001-2002, Florida has beaten Pittsburgh ten straight times. Hopefully Pittsburgh won’t wind up winless after its tenth game Thursday hosting Atlanta.

Pittsburgh Pirates’s Bid Farewell to Pitching Phenom

Reliever Jose Mesa, waived by the Pittsburgh Pirates, holds the team record for most consecutive saves with eighteen, set in 2004. He will not turn forty next spring wearing gold and black Pittsburgh proud colors.

Mesa is one of six pitchers in the history of baseball to register forty saves four times, and only a year older since the last time he achieved this feat. Needing only thirty strikeouts to join the thousand club, it would be an unusual accomplishment for someone who’s spent an entire career in the bull pen. Let’s hope the ex-Pirate makes his mark…for an American League team.