The Pittsburgh Pirates have returned to PNC Park after a nine game road trip and will begin a three game series tonight against the Cincinnati Reds. This is the second time these teams have met as the Reds swept the first series with happened to be the opening series to the season. Both teams enter this game with a 12-13 record.
Tonight’s starters:
Tonight’s pitching match-up will feature Pirates left-handed starter Jeff Locke [2-1 4.76 ERA] and Reds right-handed starter Michael Lorenzen [0-1 5.40 ERA].
Locke is 2-1 against the Reds with a 2.75 ERA in seven career starts. In two starts last season, Locke posted a 0-0 record with a 2.19 ERA. In his last start, Locke took a loss against the Chicago Cubs pitching 3.2 innings allowing six runs [five earned] on eight hits while walking three batters and striking out five.
Lorenzen is making his second career start. His first appearance was a start this past Wednesday against the Milwaukee Brewers after 49 minor league appearances. Lorenzen pitched five innings allowing three runs on eight hits. He walked one batter and struck out five batters in his 107 pitches.
Pregame thoughts:
Many fans have voiced their concerns when it comes to the health of Andrew McCutchen. Manager Clint Hurdle attempted to put these worries to rest when he called the series this past weekend against the St. Louis Cardinals his best. Hurdle liked his speed and McCutchen himself has expressed that he feels fine. Hurdle concluded by telling the media that he does not feel McCutchen’s health is a concern right now though the team will continue to monitor him.
Hurdle was also asked to reflect on Jung-ho Kang first month and change with the team. Kang hit his first career major league home run Sunday.
“He’s a physically and mentally tough kid,” Hurdle said. “I continue to have conversations with him as we work through this process together. He’s made some adjustments to his swing. I didn’t have any expectations I wanted to let him come in and play and see what he could do.”
On Monday, Major League Baseball announced that Gerrit Cole was named National League Pitcher of the Month. Cole was 4-0 in April while posting a 1.76 ERA.
“We’re really happy for him and proud of him,” said Hurdle. “It’s been a very clean and impressive start. He’s had to deal with some challenges along the way, it hasn’t been just pick it up and throw it and get everybody out.”
Hurdle particular expressed satisfaction with Cole working out of a 31-pitch inning in his last outing against the Chicago Cubs. He described Cole working through the inning and smiled when recalling his meeting with the team’s ace the day after the game.
“He’s a guy I’ll spend more time with than others because he can get animated,” said Hurdle. “I told him it looked like he was trying to stop things and not let anyone else play. He had this smirk come across his face and told me it was kind of an interesting way to put it because it was kind of how he felt. He didn’t mean it in a bad way, it was just him trying to stop the inning and he did.”
Tonight’s lineups:
Pirates [12-13]
1. Gregory Polanco RF
2. Francisco Cervelli C
3. Andrew McCutchen CF
4. Neil Walker 2B
5. Starling Marte LF
6. Pedro Alvarez 1B
7. Jung-ho Kang 3B
8. Jordy Mercer SS
9. Jeff Locke P
Reds [12-13]
1. Billy Hamilton CF
2. Marlon Byrd LF
3. Joey Votto 1B
4. Todd Frazier 3B
5. Brandon Phillips 2B
6. Jay Bruce RF
7. Kristopher Negron SS
8. Brayan Pena C
9. Michael Lorenzen P
Bottom of the ninth:
A lot has been made about the Clint Hurdle garden gnome promotion which will be given to the first 20,000 fans that arrive to Thursday’s Pirates game. The Pirates have used the gnome all over social media.
“I caught wind of it today,” said Hurdle. “I wasn’t aware that gnomes were a new thing and I thought they [Pirates media relations] were having fun with me so I’ve just played along. They did have very good attention to detail with [the gnome]. I’ll end up in everyone’s garden.”
Charlie Morton threw a 50-pitch bullpen prior to batting practice today. His first rehab outing is expected to be made in Double-A Altoona although no official announcement has been made.
Josh Harrison is out of today’s lineup. Hurdle made clear that today was a scheduled day off for Harrison but still a work day.
Kang’s first home run ball is safely in Pittsburgh. Pitcher Jared Hughes told reporters prior to today’s game that he negotiated with the fan who caught the ball. Hughes, Radhames Liz, Rob Scahill and Tony Watson each signed a ball to give the fan.
