The Pirates return home having salvaged a game from the Cubs yesterday to close what was a dismal road trip. They’ll start a seven-game homestand tonight, welcoming the Reds for three games and the Giants for four games over the weekend.
Joe Block has the story of a close one for the Bucs yesterday.
Pirates’ manager Derek Shelton says yesterday’s win was a combination of the steady pitching of Tyler Anderson and some opportune plays in the first inning.
Shelton had to patch together his lineup over the weekend after injuries took some of his most reliable hitters off the field.
The Pirates got another solid effort from outfielder Wilmer Difo, who was 3-for-5 with a triple and 3 RBI. Shelton says he’s a high-energy guy on the field and in the clubhouse.
Tyler Anderson is 3-3 with a 3.05 ERA and has been outstanding in each of his starts. After another injury-plagued season in San Francisco last year, Anderson says he is finally healthy, and it’s making a difference.
Anderson says the Pirates are scrambling just to put a healthy starting nine on the field each day, so the win yesterday was gratifying.
The Pirates have put first baseman Colin Moran on the 10-day injured list with a groin injury, and outfielder Bryan Reynolds missed his second straight game with lower body soreness. And the Bucs moved rookie third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes to the 60-day injured list, retroactive to April 4th. Hayes has been out since the second game of the season with a wrist injury and will not be eligible to return until June 3rd. Gregory Polanco remains on the injured list, but the Pirates have not said what his injury is.
In other roster moves, the Pirates claimed outfielder Ben Gamel off waivers from Cleveland, where he was 1-for-14 this season. Outfielder Troy Stokes Jr. was recalled from Indianapolis and was in the starting lineup yesterday. Pitcher Michael Feliz was designated for assignment.
