It was supposed to be a great pitching matchup but both Paul Skenes and Zack Wheeler were knocked out of the game early, and the Pirates lost a second straight game to the Phillies.
Joe Block recaps the Bucs’ fourth loss in their last six games.
Manager Donnie Kelly says Skenes and the Pirates just didn’t have it last night.
Kelly liked the way the Pirates’ hitters got after Wheeler, even though the Bucs were playing from behind.
Asked what “stones he needs to turn over,” a puzzled Skenes says he’s trying to find answers to his slump.
The predawn temperature in Philadelphia this morning was 85 degrees and the gametime temperature is expected to be 98, on the way to 104 this afternoon when the series concludes. Jared Jones (1-1, 5.76 ERA) takes the mound for the Pirates against the Phils’ Alan Rangel (0-1, 4.50 ERA), who will be making his first MLB start in a bullpen game. Airtime is 12:10, first pitch at 12:35 on WCCS.
Pirates top prospects Seth Hernandez and Edward Florentino have been selected to play in the All-Star Futures Game on July 12th at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. Hernandez is 20 years old. He’s 6-1 with a 2.02 ERA for Bradenton and Greensboro this season. He’s 3-1 with a 2.88 ERA since his promotion to High-A on May 8th.
The 19-year-old Florentino missed the start of the season with an ankle injury. He hit .321 with three homers in nine games in Low-A before joining High-A Greensboro, where he’s hitting .210 with seven more home runs.
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