Rookie right-hander Ian Snell, one victory short of becoming the Pittsburgh Pirates' first 15-game winner in seven years, will miss Sunday's scheduled start against Cincinnati because of tightness in his right elbow.

Snell was the losing pitcher Tuesday in a 7-4 loss to Houston, giving up six runs, four earned, in five innings. He complained afterward of having problems locating his pitches and not being able to throw with a free, easy motion.

``There's no question that he fought with his mechanics a major portion of his outing, so we're not going into venture into Sunday,'' manager Jim Tracy said Wednesday. ``Yeah, he's wearing down some. So why run the risk knowing what an integral part of this pitching staff he is going to be in 2007?''

Snell was 1-3 in 18 career games before leading the Pirates' staff in victories this season. No other pitcher on the club has more than 10 wins.

Todd Ritchie was the Pirates' last 15-game winner, going 15-9 in 1999.

© The Canadian Press, 2007