PITTSBURGH -- Jonathan Sanchez didnt look like a guy ready to give the Pittsburgh Pirates bullpen a needed night off after the St. Louis Cardinals touched him for two runs in the first inning on Tuesday. Instead, Mother Nature intervened. A massive thunderstorm hit at the end of the second inning with the Pirates leading 4-2, and the game was called after a delay of 1 hour, 24 minutes. No makeup date was immediately announced. The deluge wiped out a promising start for Pittsburghs offence but the Pirates could certainly use the break after the bullpen did yeomans work in relief of struggling starter James McDonald on Monday night. The right-hander gave up eight runs -- three earned -- in a 10-6 loss but insisted hes not injured. The struggling McDonald understands his velocity is down but doesnt believe it is injury-related. His fastball -- which can top out at 94 mph -- rarely ticked about 90 mph against the Cardinals. He isnt panicking, pointing to similar issues early in the 2012 season. "It was just one of those times you dont feel too well," McDonald said on Tuesday. "Its just one of those times where your body feels beat up." McDonald fell to 1-2 as his ERA rose to 5.27. While there may be some mechanical issues at work he believes hes also just trying to get into the rhythm of the season. The ball doesnt feel quite right leaving his hand but he thinks he can still get hitters out. "You dont have your good stuff every single time," he said. "You have to battle through it." Manager Clint Hurdle allowed McDonalds problems are "perplexing" but he doesnt plan on pulling McDonald from his next scheduled start on Saturday against Atlanta. "At this time, I dont have any information to lead me in that direction," Hurdle said. Tuesday nights cancellation could give the Pirates some flexibility. Sanchez -- who came in with a 12.96 ERA -- allowed two runs in the first inning but retired the side in order in the second. Matt Holliday had an RBI single for St. Louis. Garrett Jones, Neil Walker and Pedro Alvarez all had RBI singles for Pittsburgh. None of it will count, however, and the game will be replayed in its entirety. The rainout allows Pittsburghs depleted bullpen to get a needed day of rest. The Pirates called up reliever Vin Mazzaro from Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday for some help after long relievers Justin Wilson and Bryan Morris worked a combined 6 1-3 innings in relief of McDonald. Hurdle hoped Sanchez -- who made the team out of spring training as a non-roster invitee -- would be able work deep enough to get to the setup guys. It hasnt been the best start to the season for the left-hander. He was roughed up by Arizona in his previous start, allowing nine runs in 3 1-3 innings. It looked like more of the same in the first inning Tuesday. Sanchez walked Cardinals spring training star Shane Robinson on four pitches to start the game. Carlos Beltran followed with a single two pitches later and Holliday dumped Sanchezs next offering into centre, bringing home Robinson. Allen Craig lined out to shortstop Clint Barmes, but the typically solid Barmes made his second error in as many days when his attempt to double off Beltran at second ended up in right field. Beltran moved to third and then scored on Yadier Molinas grounder to first. Pittsburgh, however, had little trouble getting to St. Louis starter Jake Westbrook. The veteran righthander has allowed zero earned runs in 15 2-3 innings this season but is 1-7 with a 5.28 ERA against the Pirates during his career. Jose Tabata singled with one out, the first of five straight singles by the Pirates. A rare gaffe by the St. Louis defence helped. With runners on first and third and one out, Russell Martin hit a chopper back to the mound and Westbrook threw to second to try and start a double play. Second baseman Matt Carpenter was late covering and was charged with an error when the ball sailed into centre as Walker scored. Both pitchers settled down in the second before the rain starting falling. NOTES: Pittsburgh RHP Charlie Morton is expected to make a start at extended spring training on Thursday. Morton is recovering from Tommy John surgery. ... The series wraps up Wednesday when Pittsburgh RHP A.J. Burnett (0-2, 3.71 ERA) faces Shelby Miller (2-0, 1.46). ... Before the game, the Pirates held a moment of silence for victims of the Boston Marathon bombings. Wholesale Jerseys . The victory puts Juventus two points clear of AC Milan, which won 3-2 at Roma earlier. Napoli lost 2-1 at Catania. Mirko Vucinic gave Juventus the lead before Maicon levelled. Wholesale Hockey Jerseys . Goalkeeper Joe Cannon is worried some players might have already quit for the season. A frustrated Cannon questioned the commitment of some of his teammates Sunday after Vancouver lost 1-0 to the Portland Timbers to spoil the Whitecaps first game at the newly refurbished BC Place Stadium. http://www.wholesalesportsjerseysshop.com/ . Owens was released by the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, part of the league-mandated roster reductions from 90 to 75 players. Jerseys China Cheap . Hopefully a better performance compared to the Raptors showing in Oklahoma City on Tuesday. Wholesale NHL Jerseys . 4 Connecticuts nation-leading, 16-game win streak with a 68-63 comeback victory in the semifinals of the Battle 4 Atlantis. LOS ANGELES -- Kobe Bryant truly realized his life had changed when he had to meet with the officials in the customary pregame captains meeting. Derek Fisher, Bryants co-captain and longtime Lakers teammate, always handled those duties before he was traded to Houston a day ago. Kobe shook off the hurt and disappointment of his close friends departure to keep Los Angeles rolling through upheaval. Bryant scored 28 points, Ramon Sessions had seven points and five assists as a reserve in his Los Angeles debut, and the Lakers beat Minnesota 97-92 Friday night for their 19th consecutive victory over the Timberwolves. Matt Barnes scored 17 points, Pau Gasol added 17 points and 11 rebounds, and Andrew Bynum had 15 points and 14 rebounds in the Lakers fifth straight win overall -- and their first game since early 2007 without Fisher in their starting lineup. The 37-year-old point guard was shipped out of town along with fellow veterans Luke Walton and Jason Kapono. Fishers fellow five-time NBA champion still hasnt adjusted, even after a business-as-usual win over Minnesota. "Very difficult. Im not used to it," Bryant said. "Ive been with him pretty much my entire career ... so its very different for me. Its pretty weird." Sessions arrived from Cleveland to replace Fisher along with promoted starter Steve Blake, who went scoreless with six assists in 29 minutes. Sessions made an immediate impression with three quick layups and several sharp passes, showing off the quickness and athleticism Fisher couldnt match. Bryant took charge as usual, hitting five 3-pointers and scoring 17 points in the second half while suppressing any displeasure with the loss of Fisher, his teammate for 13 of their 16 NBA seasons. "I texted him yesterday, and we had a laugh about it, because he knows how I am," said Bryant, who had spoken to Fisher several times in the previous 24 hours. "We just talked about the good times, and what a fun time it was to go to battle together. Thats about as sentimental as Im going to get." Los Angeles never trailed for just the second time all season, nursing a small lead throughout the fourth quarter and winning at home for the 19th time in 20 games since Christmas. The Lakers 19 straight wins over the Timberwolves comprise the longest active streak for one NBA team against one opponent. The rest of the Lakers must adjust to Fishers absence as well. Gasol, the subject of innumerable trade rumours since he was nearly shipped out in a preseason three-team deal for Chris Paul, took over Fishers co-captain role. "It was a big load off my shoulders&qquot; to pass the trade deadline, Gasol said.dddddddddddd "It was exhausting to have to deal with for two, three months pretty much on a daily basis." Kevin Love had 27 points and 15 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who have lost four of five while dropping below .500 (22-23) in a skid that began with the Lakers 105-102 win in Minneapolis a week ago. "We know theyre great at home," said Love, who has never beaten the Lakers in his four NBA seasons since leaving UCLA. "Weve had our troubles with them for years now. We put up a decent fight, but we just didnt have enough intensity." Nikola Pekovic had 20 points and 12 rebounds while engaging in a lively clash under both baskets with Bynum, but Minnesota dropped to 1-2 on its seven-game road trip despite outrebounding the Lakers 55-47. Minnesota coach Rick Adelman didnt care about the Lakers upheaval while worrying about his own clubs slump. "We have to have more urgency as a group," Adelman said. "You cant talk about it. You have to do it. We have to go out in the last four games on this road trip and make a statement." The Lakers improved to 8-2 in a tough 17-day stretch since the All-Star break, increasing their Pacific Division lead over the Clippers to three games. Blake got no particular cheers and missed two early shots after he was announced as the Lakers first new starting point guard in 372 regular-season games, but Sessions got a quick start on winning over any Lakers fans who might not have liked the Lakers deadline moves. After getting a warm ovation when he checked in, Sessions immediately darted into the lane and scored just 13 seconds into his Lakers tenure. Along with his three driving layups, Sessions athleticism was impressive to Staples Center fans who had grown used to watching Fisher getting beaten off the dribble by younger point guards. "When youve got talent like we have in this locker room, its a lot easier," Sessions said. "Im looking forward to getting to know the guys a little bit more and learning the plays." Sessions finished the first half with six points, two assists and two rebounds in 10 minutes. NOTES: Love missed both of the Timberwolves first two meetings with the Lakers over the previous 16 days with ailments. ... The Lakers win streak against Minnesota is their longest against one opponent since beating Dallas 19 straight times from 1995-99. The club record is 24 straight wins over the Kansas City/Sacramento Kings from 1983-88. ... Fans near courtside included David Hasselhoff, directors Peter Berg and Adam McKay, and Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith. ' ' '