The Pirates’ Nick Gonzalez had the walk-off single in Friday’s come-from-behind win over the Phillies and he came through for the Bucs again last night against St. Louis. Joe Block recaps a big NL Central win.
Manager Derek Shelton admired Mitch Keller’s effort.
Oneil Cruz drove in the Pirates’ first run with a third-inning single. Shelton says the shortstop is a difference-maker in the Bucs’ lineup.
Mitch Keller appreciated the Pirates’ team effort, including some sparkling plays by Cruz and Rowdy Tellez.
The race tightens in the NL Central and in the Wild Card race too. The Pirates are a game behind the Cards in the Central Division, and they are tied with the Padres, a half-game behind the Mets for the third NL Wild Card. Paul Skenes [6-0, 1.90 ERA] faces Cards’ righty Lance Lynn [5-4, 4.39 ERA] in the second game of the series tonight. It’s a 6:15 airtime, 6:40 first pitch on WCCS.
The Pirates yesterday signed five draft picks and assigned them all Bradenton in the Florida Complex League. All five signees were college players and three of them are pitchers taken consecutively in the 6th, 7th, and 8th rounds: right-hander Matt Ager, lefty Connor Wietgrefe, and righty Gavin Adams. They also signed their next two picks, infielder Duce Gourson, the 9th rounder who was mentioned as a potential sleeper by several draft experts last week; and the 10th round pick, catcher Derek Berge.
ALTOONA CURVE
After three straight close losses in Somerset, New Jersey over the weekend, the Altoona Curve are hoping for better luck at Erie tonight as they open a six-game series against the SeaWolves. Chris Gau gets the start for the Curve. He is 0-4 with the Curve but sports a 2.95 ERA. He’s also pitched for Indianapolis this season, going 2-1 with a 5.73 ERA.
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