The Pirates rebounded from a shutout loss on Saturday with an offensive burst on Sunday.
Joe Block has the story.
Manager Donnie Kelly shuffled the lineup yesterday, inserting Nick Yorke and Billy Cooke, and scrambling the batting order too, with Jared Triolo leading off, Esmerlyn Valdez batting second, and Brandon Lowe hitting cleanup. He said he was just looking for a spark.
Kelly says the Bucs kept battling at the plate after a difficult night against Sonny Gray on Saturday.
The Bucs play another interleague series tonight, hosting Detroit, which was
swept over the weekend by the White Sox. Carmen Mlodzinski (6-5, 3.79 ERA) throws for the Pirates against Tigers’ left-hander Framber Valdez (7-8, 4.26 ERA). Airtime is 6:40, first pitch at 7:05 on WCCS.
On Pirates Insider on WCCS yesterday, general manager Ben Cherington talked about some players who will be key for the Bucs down the stretch, with six weeks left in the season.
Shortstop Konnor Griffin will be examined by a doctor today, hoping to get the all-clear for baseball activities. Cherington is hopeful.
Oneil Cruz continued his rehab from his hand injury with Altoona over the weekend and was in Pittsburgh yesterday for evaluation. Cherington says when he does return to Pittsburgh, the Bucs will continue to find playing time for Jake Mangum, who’s had a great season at the plate and in the field in Cruz’s absence.
Cherington actually said yesterday that Paul Skenes is having an “excellent year”, despite being only 9-11 with a 3.88 ERA. The Pirates have ordered extra rest for Skenes, whose next start has been pushed back to Wednesday. The GM says he believes Skenes will turn it around.
ALTOONA CURVE
Altoona was rained out yesterday. The Curve and Akron will play a makeup doubleheader on September 10th. The Curve will open a series in Binghampton tomorrow night.
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