Way too many pitches.

That formula for failure again took form for Jeff Karstens in the Pirates' 5-0 loss to Cincinnati yesterday before 13,670 at PNC Park, one that gave the Reds two of three in the series, and one that further emboldened the stark contrast between Karstens and the rest of the rotation.

Karstens' line: Five runs in as many innings, a home run by Jay Bruce, six hits, four walks and a pitch count of 95, with only 53 registering as strikes. He is 1-1 with a 5.85 ERA, with five home runs and 13 walks allowed in 20 innings.

The rest of the rotation: 10-9 with a 3.04 ERA.

"He left too many balls over the plate, missed his spots, had trouble keeping the ball down," Pirates manager John Russell said. "That's what's hurt him. He gives up runs early and settles down but, by then, it's too late."

"I was all over the place," Karstens said. "I'd look up at the pitch total and see 28 strikes, 28 balls, and that's never good."

What must he do to recover?

"I just have to take a look at myself and evaluate everything. It's one of those things where I'm kind of lost right now. But I'm definitely going to find myself. Hopefully, it comes back soon."

Is it mechanical?

"Honestly, I just feel out of sync. At times, I feel fine, where there are good stretches. I haven't really had a horrible, horrible game. It seems more like one bad inning."

Karstens, 1-8 in 11 starts since that flirtation with a perfect game in August in Phoenix, spent much of the spring reworking his delivery with pitching coach Joe Kerrigan, notably toward a more overhand release. Karstens said yesterday he felt better out of the windup than the stretch and would discuss a possible additional shift with Kerrigan today.

The Pirates have no plan to remove Karstens from the rotation, but there are strong indications that the patience is not unlimited. If they make any change, general manager Neal Huntington said yesterday, Virgil Vasquez is the top candidate for a promotion from Class AAA Indianapolis, with Tom Gorzelanny right behind.

Vasquez, who lost the fifth starter's job to Karstens after each put up poor numbers in the spring, is 1-1 with a 4.37 ERA, but the Pirates' evaluators believe he is pitching better than that. Gorzelanny is 1-1 with a 4.34 ERA.

Karstens' trouble began with Bruce's second-inning shot above the Clemente Wall, off an elevated 2-1 fastball. The next inning, Karstens walked three to load the bases, then allowed Ramon Hernandez's three-run single off the same wall for a 4-0 Cincinnati lead.

His run in the fifth was unearned: Joey Votto singled after two outs, took second on Jason Jaramillo's passed ball and scored on Brandon Phillips' single.

Meanwhile, the Pirates' offense, after a one-game resuscitation Saturday night, went back to firing blanks: Reds starter Johnny Cueto held them to four hits in his eight innings -- nine strikeouts, one walk -- and they would get no more in being shut out for the third time in four games.

No runner got beyond first base.

"You don't get a runner to second, the opposing pitcher did a heck of a job," Russell said. "He's a pitcher who has the ability to dominate a game, and it seems like we've run into a few of those lately."

"He was really good," Pirates right fielder Brandon Moss said. "He threw all his pitches, all for strikes."

"Johnny had a good tempo," Cincinnati manager Dusty Baker said. "Whenever he got behind, he'd back off and concentrate a little harder, relax and throw strikes. That's just a matter of concentration and desire."

The Pirates' lone highlight: Evan Meek pitched three scoreless innings of relief -- one hit, two walks -- after Karstens' exit. He has yet to give up a run in his four appearances since being recalled from Indianapolis.

Today

?Game: Pirates (Maholm 3-0) vs. Brewers (Gallardo 3-1), 7:05 p.m.

?Where: PNC Park.

?TV: FSN Pittsburgh.