Good afternoon from PNC Park where the Pirates (70-64) look to take yet another series as they face the Reds (65-70). Vance Worley (5-4, 3.14 ERA) will face Alfredo Simon (13-8, 3.26 ERA).
Injury Update
— Charlie Morton talked to Rob Biertempfel of the Trib about his sports hernia. Morton is still uncertain on if surgery will be needed, but he still hopes to help the team out during the stretch run.
#Pirates Morton says no decision yet re: possible hernia surgery. “I’m keeping all options on table (but) I don’t want to go thru surgery.”
— Rob Biertempfel (@BiertempfelTrib) August 30, 2014
Could Morton (hernia) pitch out of bullpen down stretch? “I’d be open to anything that helps the team.”
— Rob Biertempfel (@BiertempfelTrib) August 30, 2014
Hurdle’s Quotes
On Josh Harrison: “The part of the job that’s really cool is having a belief in a person. I’ve shared with you in the past that there was one year where I had to hug him 12 times and sent him out or how many times we optioned him out that year and look him in the eye and say, ‘Go down there and do this, this and this. I believe in you. We’ll get you back.’ That’s hard and that kid looked me in the eye and said okay and he did. So, now when he comes back, and you see this play out. It’s great. I was in the parking lot last night with his mom, his dad, aunts, uncles. That’s cool stuff and that’s what really makes life meaningful. It’s the quality of the relationships you make throughout. That’s the cool part for me.”
Other Notes
— The Pirates recalled INF Brent Morel from AAA Indianapolis. To make room, they have optioned Jeff Locke to AAA. Locke will still make his next scheduled start in St. Louis on Tuesday as rosters expand to 40 on Monday.
— With St. Louis’s loss to Chicago and Milwaukee’s loss to San Francisco last night, the Pirates now stand 3 games behind the Brewers for first in the National League Central and 1 1/2 behind the Cardinals for the second NL Wild Card spot.
— Tony Watson won his fifth straight decision and picked up his 10th win of the season in last night’s 2-1 victory. Watson’s 10 wins are the most by a Pirates reliever in a single season since Jeff Robinson went 11-5 in 1988.
This Afternoon’s Pirates Lineup
First pitch is set for 4:50.
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(Photo Credit: Getty Images)
