The Pirates are riding high with the best record in the National League after yesterday’s series-clinching win over the Dodgers. Greg Brown has the story.
Manager Derek Shelton says it was another team win for the Bucs.
Shelton says Mitch Keller was cruising, but he handed the game over to the bullpen because other pitchers needed the work.
Keller says the Pirates are having a lot of fun right now.
On the injury front, Oneil Cruz had the staples removed from his surgically repaired left ankle this week and yesterday made his first appearance at PNC Park since suffering the injury eighteen days earlier. He will begin upper body conditioning but will not be able to put weight on the ankle for another six weeks.
Top prospect Endy Rodriguez, who has been out of the Indianapolis lineup with a right forearm strain, will return as a designated hitter as early as this weekend and start catching again in about ten days.
Highly-rated pitching prospect Mike Burrows had Tommy John surgery on Wednesday and is out for 14 to 16 months.
ALTOONA CURVE
Trailing 1-0 entering the 9th inning, Altoona scored three times, then stopped a Reading rally in the bottom of the inning for a 3-2 win. Connor Scott hit a bases-loaded sacrifice fly and after a walk reloaded the bases, Henry Davis drew yet another walk to force in a run and Domingo Leyba’s infield single scored the game-winner. In the bottom of the 9th, Reading had runners on the corners when Liover Peguero snared a hot line drive at short and doubled off the runner at third to win the game for Altoona.
6-3, 280-pound right-hander Matt Eckelmen starts in a bullpen game for Altoona tonight in the series’ fourth game.
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