Bryan Reynolds’ scorching hot month of June continued last night as his home run extended his hitting streak and got the Bucs’s offense started. Joe Block has the story of a Buccos rebound win.
Manager Derek Shelton appreciated the instant offense in the first inning.
Shelton admired the effort of Mitch Keller, who fought through some control issues to give him five-and-two-thirds innings.
Keller has pitched five or more innings for 47 consecutive starts. Shelton says knowing Keller will give him innings every time out is important.
Carmen Mlodzinski threw two and a third innings of perfect relief, and Shelton says he is back to being the pitcher the Pirates saw last year, after he started the season on the injured list.
Expect the Pirates to summon some bullpen help before today’s series finale in Cincinnati. The Pirates will start right-hander Luis Ortiz (3-2, 3.45 ERA) against the Reds right-hander Graham Ashcraft (4-3, 5.05 ERA). The relief corps is already stressed by David Bednar being on the 15-day injured list, and with Carmen Mlodzinski having pitched last night and Dennis Santana getting hit on his pitching arm by a line drive on Monday night, Shelton needs arms. It’s a 12:45 airtime, 1:10 first pitch on WCCS.
Reliever Ryan Borucki has begun a rehab assignment with Indianapolis. He’s been out since the first week of April with median nerve inflammation. Borucki gave up a solo home run in one inning of work last night.
MLB Pipeline’s Sam Dykstra ranks Pirates outfield prospect Charles McAdoo as one of his “Minor League MVPs” for the first half of the season. McAdoo hit .336 with 9 home runs and 14 stolen bases at High-A Greensboro in the pitcher-friendly South Atlantic League. He was promoted to Altoona last Friday.
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