The Pirates could not break through against Blake Snell and the Padres, managing only three hits on the night as they lost to the Padres. Joe Block has the story.
For today’s series finale, the Pirates will turn to right-hander Johan Oviedo [3-11, 4.77 ERA] to start against Padres righty Seth Lugo [4-4, 3.72 ERA]. It will be a 3:45 airtime, 4:10 first pitch on WCCS.
The ligament injury to infielder Tucupita Marcano’s right knee is serious and will likely require surgery. The Pirates put him on the sixty-day injury list and with 62 games left in the season, he’s likely done for the year. Infielder Alika Williams was called up from Indianapolis and got into the game late, making a brilliant leaping catch and tag on an attempted steal and walking in his first Major League plate appearance.
The Pirates also said that pitcher Wil Crowe cleared waivers and was assigned to Indianapolis.
Third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes began a rehab assignment at Indianapolis and was 0-for-2 with a walk. Hayes has been out for almost the entire month of July, playing in only one game because of lower back inflammation.
With yesterday’s deadline for signing draft choices now past, the final tally for the Pirates is 20 out of 21 picks signed. The 17th round pick, third baseman Daniel Cuvet of ESB Academy of Florida, chose to play college ball at the University of Miami to improve his draft status rather than go pro now.
The Pirates’ 2024 spring training schedule is out, and the team will play 31 games, 16 of them at LECOM Park in Bradenton. The schedule opens on February 24th with a visit to the Twins. The first home game is the next day against the Orioles and spring training concludes with a March 25th game at Bradenton against the Blue Jays.
ALTOONA CURVE
Altoona started a six-game series at Harrisburg with a 6-5 loss to the Senators. Connor Scott, Mason Martin, and Chavez Young all hit home runs for the Curve. Starter Aaron Shortridge gave up all six runs in five-and-a-third innings of work.
Beau Sulser will start the second game of the series tonight for the Curve.
