The Pittsburgh Pirates have made three roster moves in order to reinforce their bullpen after yesterday’s starting pitcher Jeff Locke lasted just 3.2 innings.
Relief pitchers Antonio Bastardo, Rob Scahill, Arquimedes Caminero, Jared Hughes, Tony Watson, Mark Melancon and Radhames Liz all pitched in Friday’s 11-10 extra innings loss to the Chicago Cubs.
As a result, the Pirates have selected the contract of RHP Wilfredo Boscan from the Indianapolis Indians. Boscan will wear number 69 and will be available to pitch out of the bullpen this afternoon.
To make room on the 25-man roster for Boscan, infielder/outfielder Steve Lombardozzi was optioned to AAA. To make room on the team’s 40-man roster, pitcher Brandon Cumpton was transferred from the 15-day to the 60-day disabled list.
If Boscan pitches for the Pirates, it will be his major league debut. The 25-year old Venezuelan has spent the last seven years in the minor league systems of the Texas Rangers, San Diego Padres and Boston Red Sox. The Pirates signed him as a minor-league free agent in January.
He has six appearances with Indianapolis this season – all starts – and has a 2-1 record with a 2.87 ERA. In his 31.1 innings, he has stuck out 20 batters while walking 11.
Lombardozzi had just been called up from Indianapolis on May 6 to replace Andrew Lambo on the Pirates roster. He appeared in six games, mostly as a pinch hitter and pinch runner. At the plate, he went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts, a walk and a run.
Cumpton is expected to miss the entirety of the 2015 season after undergoing surgery on his UCL ligament, which he tore in spring training.
Gerrit Cole [5-1] will start for the Pirates against Jon Lester [3-2] as the Pirates and Cubs continue their three-game series against the Cubs this afternoon at 4:05 p.m.
Photo credit: Hickory Crawdads/John M. Setzler, Jr.
