Paul Skenes got off to a slow start and the St. Louis Cardinals sent the Pirates to their fifth straight loss, dropping the Bucs to .500 on the season and dead last in the NL Central standings.
Joe Block recaps yesterday’s loss.
Manager Donnie Kelly says Skenes is an “incredible” pitcher, and when he struggles, his team needs to pick him up.
Kelly says the Pirates have had a rough start to the homestand, but they have to keep fighting.
Pirates senior director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk says two injured Jareds are making steady progress in their rehab stints. Jared Triolo played his second rehab game for Altoona yesterday, and it didn’t go as well statistically as he wanted, but his movement was good as he works his way back from a partially torn patellar tendon. Triolo was 1-for-6 with three strikeouts, but he turned an athletic double play, running down a pop foul along the left-field line and gunning down a runner at the plate. Tomczyk said the Gold Glove-winning infielder will be reassessed after every game.
Jared Jones had eye-popping numbers in his first rehab appearance, throwing a perfect three innings for Bradenton, striking out five and hitting triple digits on the radar gun eight times. Tomczyk said Jones will throw a bullpen side session next before the Pirates decide where his next rehab start will be.
Other injury news:
- Outfielder Mitch Jebb got off to a great start in Indianapolis but broke his thumb and injured ligaments diving into first base. He had surgery and is out at least three months.
- Altoona pitcher Anthony Solometo had surgery for a torn labrum yesterday and is out twelve months.
- Two of the Pirates’ best hitting prospects are continuing their rehabs…Number five prospect Jhostynxon Garcia is recovering from a lower back injury at Pirate City in Bradenton and Edward Florentino, the number three prospect in the Bucs’ system, is now considered healthy and active for Low-A Bradenton.
ALTOONA
Altoona lost a 3-2 lead in the eighth inning, and then gave up 12 runs in the 11th inning to lose to Richmond, 18-6. Shawn Ross, Will Taylor, Jesus Castillo, Titus Dumitru, and Callan Moss all had two hits for the Curve. Dominic Perachi starts for the Curve tonight.
