BUCS EVEN SERIES WITH CARDS, ANNOUNCE THAT GRIFFIN WILL REHAB WITH CURVE TONIGHT

The Pirates have announced that shortstop Konnor Griffin will begin his minor league rehab tonight with the Altoona Curve.

The announcement was made by Pirates manager Don Kelly prior to yesterday’s game with the Cardinals.  Griffin has been on the injured list July 7th with a fractured left ring finger sagittal band.  He rehabbed with the Curve for a forearm strain on June 24^th against Reading and went 2-for-2 with a triple, a home run and a walk in four plate appearances.

The Pirates have not revealed what the plan is moving forward as the Curve move on to play at Harrisburg starting on Tuesday.  The Bucs’ Triple-A affiliate, Indianapolis, will play at Toledo starting on Tuesday.

Griffin is eligible to be activated from the 60-day injured list on Friday.

The gates for tonight’s game at PNG Field will open at 4:30, with first pitch scheduled at 6:00.

Meanwhile, on the field in St. Louis yesterday, the Pirates knocked off the Cardinals to even their series at a game apiece.  Joe Block reports.

The series, and the Pirates’ nine-game road trip, concludes this afternoon.  Right-hander Braxton Ashcraft (13-5, 3.59 ERA) faces Cardinals’ lefty Matthew Liberatore (5-12, 5.44 ERA).  Coverage begins with Pirates Insider on WCCS at 1:15.