The Pirates were going for a sweep of the Braves Sunday at PNC Park, but they ran into left-hander Chris Sale and Atlanta’s long-ball hitting first baseman, Matt Chapman.
With Martín Perez leaving the game after three innings due to a groin injury, the Braves immediately jumped on relievers Carmen Mlodzinski for three runs over the next two innings, then they later got to Aroldis Chapman and Kyle Nicolas, who both gave up two runs as Atlanta came away with an 8-1 win. Chapman surrendered home runs to Matt Olson and Adam Duvall, with Olson’s blast splashing down in the Allegheny River.
Manager Derek Shelton says that with a scheduled day off today, he tried to stop the Atlanta momentum with his bullpen, but they got bombed again.
At the plate, the Pirates couldn’t do much with Sale, who won his seventh straight start, lowering his ERA to 2.13, and struck out 8.
Shelton says Sale is a different kind of pitcher, and he’s evolving after finally getting healthy again.
In addition to Perez suffering the groin injury, the Pirates lost catcher Joey Bart in the first inning with a thumb injury to his catching hand. He will be evaluated before his status is determined.
The Pirates have the day off today and will play the Tigers in a quick two-day series starting tomorrow in Detroit.
With Ke’Bryan Hayes getting closer to returning, Shelton is looking forward to getting another piece of the puzzle back in the lineup.
Hayes ran the bases yesterday morning, testing his injured back.
If Perez is forced to the injured list, Quinn Priester is available to be called up. He threw seven innings and gave up one hit in a 6-1 win for Indianapolis yesterday. If the Pirates need to replace Bart, Henry Davis may be ready to return from Indy. He hit two more home runs on Saturday and had another base hit yesterday.
MLB
As bad as the injury news was for the Pirates yesterday, it was devastating for the Braves, who lost reigning National League MVP Ronald Acuna, Jr. for the season with a torn ACL in his left knee, suffered as he attempted to steal third base in the first inning. Acuna tore his right ACL in 2021.
ALTOONA CURVE
Altoona’s four-game winning streak was snapped yesterday as they fell to Erie, 12-4. The Curve are off today and will return home tomorrow after a 12-game road trip to face the Portland Sea Dogs.
