The Pittsburgh Pirates are looking for a series split tonight against the Chicago Cubs. The first game scheduled for Monday was postponed due to weather and likely will be made up as a day-night doubleheader Sept. 15.
In game two, the Cubs emerged victorious by a 5-0 score. J.A. Happ made his first start as a Pirate and did not make it out of the fifth inning.
“There were some solid sequences but we have to get some improvement on the overall consistency,” manager Clint Hurdle said of Happ. “We’ve got some things to focus on moving forward.”
Tonight, Jeff Locke [6-6 4.21 ERA] will take on Dan Haren [7-7 3.42 ERA].
Locke has a 2.81 ERA in his past nine starts and had surrendered one home run during that time. He is 1-2 with a 5.75 ERA in eight career starts against the Cubs however this season, he is 0-1 with a 10.22 ERA in three starts. Locke has a 1-1 record with a 5.19 ERA in the second half of the season. He earned a win in his last start allowing three runs on five hits in five innings of work against the Cincinnati Reds.
Haren is making his first start since being traded at the trade deadline to the Cubs. The Cubs are his eighth major league team he has pitched for [St. Louis, Oakland, Arizona, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Washington, Los Angeles Dodgers and Miami prior]. Haren is 3-3 with a 5.28 ERA in 10 career starts against the Pirates. His last start was a loss in which he allowed one run on four hits in six innings versus the Washington Nationals.
Melancon’s travels bring adventure: Pirates closer Mark Melancon leads all of major league baseball with 33 saves, however it is no secret that he is a thrill seeker.
Melancon is a user of Periscope, an app which allows live video streaming for both iOS and Android devices. Earlier today Melancon rode with his family in a DirecTV blimp. In the past he also has used Periscope to show him sliding down the infamous slide at Miller Park.
On a larger scale, Melancon is one to take advantage of the world and see what it has to offer, something he learned from his parents.
“I think from a young age with my parents were always about getting out and seeing everything that we could see,” Melancon said. “We traveled a lot as a family and just my parents wanted to spend their money more on making memories than materials.”
Among the countries he has traveled to are Australia and South Africa, however New Zealand is his favorite.
“It’s a neat place, there four million people and 50 million sheep,” said Melancon. “Everybody is nice. Hitchhiking is still a popular thing and it’s a very adventurous country. It’s kind of like a secret, people don’t realize how special it is.”
Though Melancon is very focused when on or around the baseball diamond, he is excited to show his family what his parents showed him.
“It’s [traveling] something I look forward to; to be able to get out and enjoy our family time,” Melancon said. “It’s kind of an outlet for me.”
Seventh inning stretch: Josh Harrison [left thumb] and Jordy Mercer [left knee MCL sprain] are making strides and each is getting closer to taking the next step. Hurdle stated that Harrison is anticipated to begin a rehab assignment on Tuesday with Mercer beginning his three days later. Both would go to Triple-A Indianapolis.
Harrison hit on the field for the first time yesterday and Hurdle was encouraged by the swing and lack of grimaces and hesitation. Mercer has been hitting on the field since the team was in Cincinnati.
The projected pitching rotation for the Pirates weekend series against the Los Angeles Dodgers is for Gerrit Cole to start Friday, Francisco Liriano Saturday and Charlie Morton Sunday.
Bottom of the ninth: The Cubs placed Rafael Soriano on the 15-day disabled list with right shoulder inflammation. This means that Clayton Richard has rejoined the team.
Richard was traded from the Pirates to the Cubs so that he could get an opportunity to start major league games, honoring a promise the team made to him.
“I was excited for the opportunity,” Richard said. “It had been nearly two years since I had the opportunity to start in the big leagues so to have that chance was a tremendous opportunity.”
Starling Marte leads the National League with 10 outfield assists while the Pirates have 23 on the season… Alen Hanson has 48 triples since the start of the 2012 season which ranks first among all minor league players… Andrew McCutchen is six hits shy of becoming the 29th player in team history to reach 1,100 hits. When he reaches this mark he will be the first since Jack Wilson in 2007.
Photo credit: Joe Robbins/Getty Images
