The frustration mounts for the Pirates, as their bullpen blew up again and they were swept by the Cubs. Here’s Joe Block.
Manager Derek Shelton says the performance by his pitching staff yesterday, and throughout the Cubs series, was unacceptable.
Paul Skenes says it was an okay outing, but he gave up some early runs.
Skenes says it was a rough series but the Bucs need to stay together.
The Pirates are off today and will open a three-game series in Cleveland tomorrow night. Then, they’ll get another shot at the Cubs, with three in Chicago starting on Monday.
Director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk had a long list of updates on injured Pirates yesterday. He said Andrew McCutchen is close to returning from his knee injury. Cutch took batting practice and ran the bases on Tuesday and Tomczyk said he’s working through some soreness.
Ke’Bryan Hayes might be longer term. He is still doing rehab on his lumbar inflammation. Tomczyk says there is an acute disc injury, and “a plethora” of specialists are looking at it, but there is still not enough information to speculate on a return to baseball activity.
Pitcher Hunter Stratton had surgery to repair a torn patellar tendon in his left knee, suffered on Sunday. It will be seven to ten months before he can return.
After consulting with the doctor who performed his Tommy John surgery, pitcher Marco Gonzalez will have surgery on his flexor tendon in his pitching elbow. Dr. Neil ElAttrache, said the ulnar collateral ligament is intact. Surgery will be in September and Gonzalez will be out nine months to a year.
Pitchers Ryan Borucki and Colin Holderman are having no issues with their injuries. Both were scheduled to pitch for Indianapolis last night but only Holderman did, giving up a hit and no runs in one inning of work.
Tomczyk also had encouraging news on catchers Joey Bart and Endy Rodriguez and pitchers Johan Oviedo, Dauri Moretta, Daulton Jeffries, and Braxton Ashcraft, who is scheduled to return from a month off and pitch for Indianapolis sometimes this week. After Bubba Chandler pitched and won for the Indians last night, another top ten prospect, Thomas Harrington, pitches against Louisville tonight.
ALTOONA CURVE
Termarr Johnson hit his first AA home run and Altoona beat up New Hampshire, 8-4. Eli Wilson and Jase Bowen also homered and Tres Gonzalez had two hits. Brad Case got the win with two innings of scoreless relief.
The Curve have won two straight to start the series. Dominic Perachi starts tonight.
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