It was an odd way to win a ballgame, but the Pirates will take it. They took advantage of poor defensive play by the Padres to rally and beat San Diego yesterday at PNC Park. Joe Block has the recap.
The start of the game was delayed 45 minutes because of the air quality after players voiced concerns about their safety. Catcher Austin Hedges characterized it as placing their lives on the line and designated hitter Andrew McCutchen wore an N-95 mask the two times he got on base. Director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said a decision on postponing the game would have been “a collaborative effort” between the health experts at the Allegheny Health Network, the league, and the players association.
Shelton yesterday was named to the coaching staff for the National League for the All-Star Game in Seattle next month. He will be joining his mentor, Phillies manager Rob Thomson, who will manage the NL team. Thomson and Shelton spent time together in the Yankees minor league system when Shelton was a player and manager there and Thomson was the director of player development for the Yanks.
The Pirates open a three-game series with Central Division rival Milwaukee tonight, hoping to avenge a sweep by the Brewers June 16th through the 18th. Osvaldo Bido (0-1, 3.45 ERA) pitches for the Bucs against Freddy Peralta (5-7, 4.65 ERA). It’s a 6:40 airtime, a 7:15 first pitch on WCCS.
Tomczyk had updates on injured Pirates:
- Bryan Reynolds took batting practice yesterday and should be able to return from his sore back very soon. He’s eligible to come of the injured list today.
- Ke’Bryan Hayes has a stiff lower back and is on the ten-day injured list, retroactive to last Sunday. Tomczyk says Hayes should miss a minimum amount of time.
- Reliever Colin Holderman is eligible to come of the injured list today and seems recovered from a cyst in his right wrist.
- Reliever Rob Zastryzny had no ill effects in his forearm from his one inning of rehab work on Wednesday in Indianapolis.
- Reliever Jose Hernandez will throw live batting practice tomorrow.
- And shortstop Oneil Cruz is playing catch from 75 feet but “sneaks back” to 90 feet at times as he works on improving his range of motion on his healing ankle. He remains on schedule to return late in the season.
ALTOONA CURVE
For the second straight game, Altoona lost to Harrisburg, 6-5. Jacob Gonzalez and Abrahan Gutierrez each hit home runs for the Curve. Mason Martin and Andres Alvarez each had two hits. Game three of the series is tonight with 20-year-old sensation Anthony Solometo on the mound for the Curve.
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