The Pirates combined dominant pitching with a potent offense last night, pummeling the Mariners.
Greg Brown has the story.
Manager Donnie Kelly says Braxton Ashcraft was dialed in.
The fifteen hits by the Pirates last night ties them with the Dodgers for the major league lead in hits, both with 712 so far this season.
First baseman Spencer Horwitz left the game in the fourth inning with left hamstring pain. Esmerlyn Valdez replaced him and had a single and double, both off the wall.
The series concludes this afternoon. Bubba Chandler (2-7, 4.62 ERA) faces the Mariners’ right-hander Bryce Miller (3-1, 1.58 ERA). It’s a 12:10 airtime, 12:35 first pitch on WCCS.
Konnor Griffin’s return to play on a rehab assignment with Altoona wasn’t perfect – he did commit an error – but it was as close to perfect as it could be. He was 2-for-2 with a triple, a home run, a walk, and a hit-by-pitch in the Curve’s 8-4 win over Reading. Jack Brannigan and Lonnie White Jr. both homered for the Curve, who will send right-hander Josh Loeschorn to the mound tonight. Griffin’s availability hasn’t been announced. He will be in Pittsburgh today for an evaluation.
After the game, in comments provided by the Curve…
Griffin said he felt good, and he’s not rushing to get back to Pittsburgh.
Griffin said it was fun to be back in Altoona.
Jared Jones threw his normal bullpen session yesterday and manager Donnie Kelly said it went well and Jones appears as if he will be able to make his next scheduled start, Saturday against the Reds,
In an extraordinary question-and-answer session yesterday, general manager Ben Cherington and Kelly answered questions from Pirates fans, who asked about a number of team issues, including the possibility of signing Paul Skenes to a long-term contract. Cherington did not say whether talks are going on, but did say he believes the most important priority in contract talks, to Skenes, at least, is whether the Pirates are building a winning team. “…To the extent that we want to influence him being a Pirate going forward — yes, there are other things that will come into it, obviously — that might be the single most important thing…”
Cherington also said there have been no talks with second baseman Brandon Lowe, who is playing on an expiring contract, but he anticipates extension conversations to begin near the end of the season.
