PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- The Pittsburgh Pirates haven't been good at many things over the last 18 seasons, but, one thing they do well is kill momentum and good will that they gather.

Just when the Pirate fans were starting to get excited about this year's team, the Pirates start the season with a 1-5 homestand.

Prior to scoring on a wild pitch in last night's 4-1 loss to Milwaukee, the Pirates went 22 consecutive innings without scoring. During those 22 innings, they managed just 8 hits and only 1 extra-base hit.

The most disappointing part of the homestand is the play of the middle of the order. The middle of the order (Walker, McCutchen and Alvarez) went only 9-65.

If the Pirates are going to start winning this season, the following numbers have to improve:
*Alvarez vs. RHP this season (7-36)- .199 avg.
*Garrett Jones .185 vs. RHP
*McCutchen 2 for his last 21
*Ronny Cedeno: 1 hit in his last 5 games
*McCutchen and Alvarez a combined 10 RBI
*RF platoon of Jones and Matt Diaz: 1 HR and 3 RBI
*As a team, the Pirates struck out 14 times and have struck out 105 times already on the season. Alvarez and Walker are leading the way with 16 K's.