The Pirates’ embarrassing second half got even worse last night as the Nationals put another beatdown on the Bucs, 11-1, at PNC Park.
Washington scored six runs in the third inning off Joe Musgrove. It got so bad, Jose Osuna started the game at third base and finished it on the mound. He pitched a third of an inning and gave up a hit.
There’s an increasingly loud call for someone to be held accountable for the Pirates’ horrible second half. They are 8-and-29 since the All-Star break and General Manager Neal Huntington says his job is certainly at steak. Last night, a reporter asked first baseman Josh Bell about manager Clint Hurdle. Bell says the Bucs love playing for the ninth-year manager.
Clint Hurdle says he can’t be thinking about his job security. He can only focus on the job at hand.
The Pirates are 2-and-5 in their last seven. Left-hander Steven Brault will start tonight for the Pirates to wrap up the series with Washington (6:40 airtime, 7:05 first pitch on WCCS).
The Pirates placed right-handers Chris Archer and Clay Holmes on the 10-day injured list. Archer left after one inning Tuesday with shoulder inflammation. Holmes had left quadriceps soreness. Archer will be shut down from throwing for at least a week. Pittsburgh promoted right-handed pitchers Dario Agrazai and Parker Markel from Triple-A Indianapolis. Both pitched last night. Markel gave up three runs in two-thirds of an inning.
