The Pirates’ Johan Oviedo threw another strong game as the Bucs shut down Milwaukee yesterday. Greg Brown has the story.
The Pirates return home to take on baseball’s best team in a four-game series at PNC Park. Greg Brown has a preview. The Bucs will send right-hander Osvaldo Bido [2-2, 5.18 ERA] to the mound against Atlanta’s Spencer Strider [12-3, 3.61 ERA]. The Pirates have lost eight straight games against the Braves. Airtime is 6:40, first pitch at 7:05 on WCCS.
The Pirates claimed right-handed relief pitcher Thomas Hatch off waivers from Toronto yesterday, filling an open spot on their forty-man roster. He was 0-0 with a 4.26 ERA in six appearances this season with the Blue Jays.
On The Ben Cherington Show on WCCS yesterday, the Pirates’ GM said “all signs point to (Oneil Cruz) playing Major League games in Pittsburgh this season”. Cherington said it appears Cruz will not be able to get back this month, as originally projected, but more likely in September. Cruz has been out since fracturing his ankle in a slide at home plate on April 9th.
ALTOONA CURVE
Altoona’s bullpen surrendered 11 runs in the final three innings as the Curve lost to Richmond, 13-4. The lone highlight for the Curve was a 4-for-4 day with a home run for third baseman Jackson Glenn. Lefty Jackson Wolf, who came to the Pirates’ organization last week in a trade with San Diego, started the game and went 4-and-two-thirds innings, giving up two runs, (one earned) on two hits, striking out five and walking one.
Altoona is off today. The Curve will open a six-game series tomorrow at home against Erie.
