Good afternoon from PNC Park where today the Pirates (45-41) take on the Phillies (37-49) in the second game of a three-game set. Edinson Volquez (6-6, 4.07 ERA) will face David Buchanan (4-4, 4.86 ERA).
Hurdle’s Quotes
On Mercer’s recent success and what it does to Harrison at SS: “I’m trying to find that seamless transition for a lot of different guys. To give them a little bit. Move the chains a little bit and hold that ground. Like a tug of war, hold that ground, now can we get a little more. I’m not in a hurry to do it. I do trust pace. They’re comfort zones as well as what the game is showing us. I believe that with Jordy, a couple questions need to be answered. Can Jordy be our shortstop everyday? The other one is can Josh Harrison turn in to be the utility middle-guy at the end of the season every day. Not to run Barmes out, but so we can just evaluate him to the best that we can to know exactly what we have in that player and to say right now, I don’t have that answer.”
On Volquez’s success during his homer-less streak: “I think it’s his overall execution. He’s hard to hit. There hasn’t been much conversation about his batting average against him. The batting average against him isn’t a high batting average against. The walks added to the hits sometime and getting behind counts would kind of roll all into one another and then a home run, but when he get’s downhill angle, he’s tough to hit and he mixes in the breaking ball, the changeup plays. There’s a reason again he made the All-Star team a few years ago and there’s a reason for his success right now. He continues to push himself to be better each and every time he gets the ball.”
Other Notes
— Edinson Volquez has gone 30 1/3 IP since surrendering his last home run ( a solo shot by Los Angeles’ Justin turner in the fourth inning on June 1 at Dodger Stadium). Here along the banks of the Allegheny River, Volquez has served up just three home runs in 58 2/3 IP (the last one coming on May 22 by Washington’s Ian Desmond in the fourth inning).
— The Pirates are 7-2 at PNC Park this year against teams from the National League East and 10-5 overall this season. Atlanta is the only team Pittsburgh has yet to play from the N.L. East so far this year.
— In their last three games the Pirates have collected at least 10 hits while batting .340 (35-for-103) with eight doubles, a triple, a home run and 15 runs scored.
This Afternoon’s Lineups
First pitch is set for 4:05.
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(Photo Credit: Getty Images)
