Now, after 50 games, that change is going to be put through its toughest test.

The Pirates were 22-28 after 50 games in 2007. They sat in third place, only 5 1/2 games out of first. However, they lost nine in a 13-game span, dropping them to fifth place and 8 1/2 out of first.

It was a stretch of games the Pirates would not recover from on their way to a 68-94 record.

"That can't happen," said center fielder Nate McLouth. "Obviously, that puts you out of things right away."

This year, the Pirates sit in a similar situation. After Sunday's 11-inning win against the Cubs, the Pirates are 24-26. They are looking to move up, instead of down, in the National League Central standings.

The Bucs have compiled their record despite playing without starting shortstop Jack Wilson for most of the season, and recently, without their catcher and No. 4 hitter, Ryan Doumit.

"It's definitely a lot different around here," McLouth said of the change of culture. "We've had a couple key injuries already. That's not an excuse, but that's something we've had to deal with. We're still in an OK position. I think when those two guys [Wilson and Doumit] come back, we're going to be even better.

"I think our whole lineup is finally starting to hit. We're starting to come together; starting to get big hits. One thing big this year is we've been able to score runs late in games and come back and win some of those games. Also, we haven't given up leads late in games."

They showed that resiliency by rallying to tie each of their last two games in the ninth before winning on walk-off hits by Jason Bay.

"That's been the difference, that never-say-die attitude," Zach Duke said. "It's nice to have around here. The sky's the limit. We just have to decide if we're willing to pay the price to be as good as we can be."

Pitching matchup
PIT: RHP Ian Snell (2-3, 4.84 ERA)
Though frustrated with the outcome -- his third straight loss -- Snell did look more comfortable on the mound in his most recent start. He eliminated his sinker, a decision designed to sharpen his four-seam fastball, and it seemed to work. Snell relied heavily on the fastball early, and with success. Snell's last win, which came on April 12, was against Cincinnati in a game in which Snell threw a season-best 6 1/3 innings and allowed three runs on nine hits. The right-hander is 1-2 with a 4.32 ERA in four career starts at Great American Ball Park.

CIN: RHP Johnny Cueto (2-5, 5.56 ERA)
Cueto once again showed signs of his youth, and that he's still adjusting to the big leagues, when he lasted just five innings and gave up four runs -- two of them earned -- in a loss to the Dodgers on Wednesday. The two unearned runs came on a passed ball that allowed a runner to score and a pickoff attempt that sailed into the seats and allowed another runner to score. He threw 114 pitches -- his highest pitch count of the season -- and allowed seven hits and three walks with a pair of strikeouts. The two strikeouts tied a season low for Cueto, who entered the game averaging almost six per outing.

Tidbits
The Pirates have gone 17-7 in the 24 games in which they have scored the first run. ... Bay's walk-off singles on Saturday and Sunday were the first and second walk-off hits of his career. ... The Pirates' series win against the Cubs over the weekend was their first series win against Chicago since Sept. 7-9, 2007.

Tickets
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On the Internet
 MLB.TV
 Gameday Audio
•  Gameday
•  Official game notes

On television
• FSNP

On radio
• WPGB-FM 104.7

Up next
• Wednesday: Pirates (Tom Gorzelanny, 4-4, 6.31) at Reds (Aaron Harang, 2-6, 3.32), 7:10 p.m. ET
• Thursday: Pirates (Zach Duke, 2-3, 4.55) at Reds (Edinson Volquez, 7-2, 1.31), 7:10 p.m. ET
• Friday: Pirates (Phil Dumatrait, 1-2, 4.05) at Cardinals (TBD), 8:15 p.m. ET