Good afternoon from PNC Park where this afternoon the Pirates (68-64) look to take the rubber match of a three-game series against the Cardinals (71-60). Jeff Locke (5-3, 3.69 ERA) will take the hill against Adam Wainwright (15-8, 2.52 ERA).
Hurdle’s Quotes
On the large amount of team chemistry in the clubhouse: “There’s no doubt. It’s another trademark, I think, of our organization and we encourage it as soon as these guys become Pirates. One of the things I challenge the first year players in spring training every year, I say ‘What’s your number one dream?’ and to a man, the number one dream is to play in the big leagues and I said, ‘That’s honorable and I’m with you on that. I want your next dream to be to play on a championship club this season and to make a difference on that club.’ That’s not talked about very often. It’s talked about they want to be big leaguers. Well that’s good, I get that, but this year, most of you aren’t going to be, so let’s focus on being a part of a championship club this year and supporting that club. The one attribute that I’ve seen here the last two years that sticks out is the way these men celebrate the successes of others. The way they celebrate their teammates success. It’s tremendous.”
Other Notes
— Pirates minor league outfielder Josh Bell and pitcher Tyler Glasnow were named Florida State League Player and Pitcher-of-the-Year on Tuesday. Bell, who has since been promoted to Double-A Altoona, hit .335 with 20 doubles, four triples, nine home runs and 53 RBI in 84 games with the Marauders. Glasnow enters today with a league-leading 1.67 ERA while posting a 12-5 record and 148 strikeouts in 22 starts.
— Beginning today the Pirates have 30 games left to play in the regular season, 13 of which will be at home and 17 on the road. A total of 19 will come against teams from the NL Central and 19 will be played against teams with current records below .500 (11 against teams with winning records).
— Jeff Locke has won three straight decisions overall and three in a row at PNC Park, where he has gone 3-1 with a 3.78 ERA in eight starts this season (Pirates have won six straight and are 6-2 overall). Locke has surrendered just two runs in his last two starts (11 2/3 IP) and has pitched at least 6 innings in 11 of his last 15 assignments.
This Afternoon’s Pirates Lineup
First pitch is set for 12:35.
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(Photo Credit: Justin K. Aller/ Getty Images)
