Good afternoon from PNC Park where the Pirates (67-64) look to avenge last night’s 3-2 loss to the Cardinals (71-59) in the second game of a three-game set. Gerrit Cole (7-4, 3.69 ERA) will oppose Lance Lynn (14-8, 2.78 ERA).
Hurdle’s Quotes
On Alvarez’s play at first base: “We’re just happy that the hard work that he’s doing is paying off and giving him some opportunity to have some more freedom every time he goes out there. There’s going to be more plays that’s going to need to be made and he’s going to continue to work and we’ll see how he’s able to match up with it, but the work’s been put in. It was kind of quiet there at the beginning but more activity has picked up as the reps have more come his way.”
On Jose Tabata’s work in AAA: “He’d been down a while and to get yourself back in that frame of mind can take a player some time. It’s just you have to make some adjustments and there is going to be some challenges with it. His buy-in was good from the day he’s showed up as far as showing up, getting in extra work, playing, and after about a two week period once the at bats started to bundle, he’s been a very good offensive player for them. He’s hit the ball where it’s pitched. He’s hit the ball to the big part of the ballpark, right-center field. He moved around in the outfield and played both corners. We like the swing and we like the consistency of the at bats, especially the last two weeks and last month that he’s been down in Indianapolis.”
Other Notes
— The Pirates are batting .303 (70-for-231) and has scored 32 runs against St. Louis in the first seven games played at PNC Park this season. The Bucco pitching staff has posted a 3.00 ERA (63 IP / 21 ER) while winning four of the seven games.
— In his last 20 games, Starling Marte has gone 27-for-74 (.365) with six doubles, a triple, four home runs, 10 RBI and 18 runs scored. He homered Sunday afternoon and has now hit safely in 10 of his last 11 games (17-for-43, .395).
— The Pirates have gone 5-0-1 in the last six series played against the Cardinals at PNC Park, which includes taking two-of-three here from April 4-6 and May 9-11.
Tonight’s Pirates Lineup
First pitch is set for 7:05.
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(Photo Credit: Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)
