The Pirates needed the bat of a red-hot Ke’Bryan Hayes, a sparkling debut by a pitcher just claimed off waivers, and Bryan Reynolds’ creative slide to avoid a tag at the plate to erase another 4-0 deficit and get by the Braves yesterday. Joe Block has the game recap.
Pirates fans get a chance to see what this season may have been like watching Oneil Cruz play when the Reds come to town with their rookie sensation, Elly De La Cruz, another tall, lanky infielder. Johan Oviedo [6-11, 4.18 ERA] faces Reds lefty Andrew Abbott [6-3, 2.93 ERA]. It’s a 6:40 airtime on WCCS.
Oneil Cruz has begun a running program and Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk says he is still optimistic that Cruz will play in Pittsburgh before the season ends, but he also says the team has decided to slow down Cruz’s progression as he works to come back from his fractured ankle. He said there have been no problems, but they just decided the extra caution is warranted. Cruz is not doing full speed running yet and not running bases.
For the first time since the College World Series in June, Paul Skenes stood on a pitchers mound against live batters yesterday. The top overall pick in this year’s draft made his pro debut in the Florida Complex League, pitching one perfect inning. Skenes got a groundout and a flyout, and then faced Walker Jenkins, the Twins’ number one pick, fifth overall…and he struck him out. Skenes’ fastball topped out at 101 miles per hour.
ALTOONA CURVE
Altoona could manage only three hits in a 2-0 loss to Erie last night. The standout for the Curve was pitcher Braxton Ashcraft, who started and threw three scoreless one-hit innings.
Aaron Shortridge will be on the mound for the Curve tonight.
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