The Pirates’ Jared Jones had another dominant performance on the mound last night, as they opened their final home series with a shutout over the Cardinals.
Joe Block recaps the win.
Manager Donnie Kelly says it wasn’t easy for him to lift Jones from the game after seven innings.
Kelly says Jones has made a tremendous comeback from last year’s elbow surgery.
The Bucs have won five in a row and fifteen of their last twenty-one games.
Game Two of the series is tonight, the last night game of the season at PNC Park. It’s another bullpen game for the Pirates, with Lake Bachar (1-4, 3.56 ERA) getting the opener role again against the Cards’ Matthew Liberatore (5-14, 5.36 ERA). Airtime is 6:15, first pitch at 6:40 on WCCS.
ROSTER MOVES
The Pirates acquired former All-Star reliever Camilo Doval along with cash considerations from the Yankees for prospects Omar Alfonzo and Luis Cruz two days before the trade deadline. Yesterday, the Bucs designated Doval for assignment, essentially cutting him loose after he went 0-1 with a 3.79 ERA in twenty mostly high-leverage appearances. Reliever Kirby Yates was activated from the injured list.
AWARD TIME!
The Pittsburgh chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America yesterday announced its annual Pirates awards, selecting second baseman Brandon Lowe for the Roberto Clemente Award as the team’s MVP. Lowe has hit 33 home runs with 93 RBIs this season and set the team record for single-season homers at PNC Park, with 19. He’s also the Pirates’ nominee for MLB’s Roberto Clemente Award for character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions on and off the field.
Braxton Ashcraft is the winner of the Steve Blass Award for most outstanding pitcher. The All-Star right-hander went 14-6 with a 3.65 ERA before his season ended when he was placed on the injured list September 10th due to right arm discomfort
The writers named outfielder Jake Mangum the recipient of the Chuck Tanner Award for his cooperation with the media.
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