Pirates Continue Record Power Pace

This is how the Pittsburgh Pirates hope it will be in 2001.

Brian Giles hit a home run against his former Cleveland Indian teammates and Ed Sprague, another ex-American Leaguer, added a two-run homer Friday night in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 11-3 rout.

In front of 43,519, the Pirates hit three homers against as many Indian pitchers, with Kevin Young adding a solo drive that was the Pirates’ 93rd in 89 games. The Pirates are on pace to break their club record of 158 in 1966.

“Everybody wants me to say it felt better because it was them,” said Giles, who was traded for reliever Ricardo Rincon. “But it would be a good feeling no matter who it is. We want to play them tough because they’re the best team in baseball and we’re a young team trying to get there.”

Even with thousands of their fans imported into sold-out Three Rivers Stadium--the Ohio Turnpike backed up for miles--the Indians didn’t resemble the team with the best record in the majors or the American League’s best road record.

They quickly fell behind, 10-0, on Giles’ three-run homer in the third inning--his 19th, two more homers than he had a year ago with the Indians--and a five-run Pirate fourth inning against Dave Burba and Dwight Gooden.

With a full house and a big outburst against the team they have modeled themselves after, the Pirates established a blueprint for the kind of nights they hope to enjoy once they open PNC Park in 2001.

“I can’t say we get more satisfaction out of beating them than any other team,” Sprague said. “But they’re a good team, and this shows us we can play against good teams.”

Burba (7-6) had tormented the Pirates since his days with Cincinnati, going 7-2 against them with five consecutive victories since May 1, 1996. But he never found a groove, yielding nine hits and eight earned runs in 3 1/3 innings.

“It was probably the first game I’ve had all year where I had nothing,” said Burba, who hadn’t pitched in eight days because of the All-Star break.