The Pittsburgh Pirates look to avoid being swept when it takes on the Milwaukee Brewers tonight.
The Pirates have been swept on two occasions this season, both on the road. The first sweep was the opening series against the Cincinnati Reds and the second was May 1-3 against the Cardinals as part of a five game losing streak.
A loss for the Pirates tonight would be the first three game losing streak since they lost four May 13-16. The Brewers are 4-1 in their past five games.
Tonight’s starters:
The Pirates will send right-handed pitcher Charlie Morton to the mound against Kyle Lohse.
Morton has won each of his past four starts, a streak that dates back to late season. During this time period he has allowed six earned runs in 24 innings. He won his last start allowing four runs [three earned] on seven hits in five innings against the San Francisco Giants. Morton is 2-6 with a 4.63 ERA in 11 career starts against the Brewers.
Lohse is coming off a no-decision against the Minnesota Twins in which he allowed five runs on eight hits in six innings. In his last three starts, Lohse is 0-2 and has allowed 17 earned runs on 26 hits in 14.2 innings. He is 11-5 with a 4.02 ERA in 25 career games [24 starts] against the Pirates.
“I don’t think he needs to do anything different, he’s been kind of burned one pitch often,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. “It’s just coming through in those moments. He’s gone through stretches during each of those starts that he’s run through guys and last start it was the one pitch to Joe Mauer that really changed the start. It’s a pitch here and a pitch there, it’s not drastic changes.”
Pregame thoughts:
It has been a challenging season for Corey Hart. His 40 at-bats are the lowest on the team and he has not registered more than one at-bat in a game since May 16.
Hart was looked at as a top option to get a start when the Pirates faced a left-handed pitcher, however those opportunities have been few and far between. Even when a left-handed pitcher is starting manager Clint Hurdle has gone with other options and left Hart out of the lineup.
“We’re going to have an opportunity coming forward,” Hurdle said. “I’ve never had a season where the lack of left-handed pitching against us has been at this rate. We’ve got a chance to see three or four against Chicago. It has been tough to get anybody at-bats except for the guys I feel have earned them. Corey is working hard and will stay ready.”
Hurdle is no stranger to limited playing time as he registered 82 at-bats in his 1985 season with the Mets. It was a season in which he was healthy for all 162 games, just had players Hurdle admitted were better than he was. Hurdle batted .195 for that season.
Arquimedes Caminero has had an up and down season. The Pirates feel that Caminero, who has pitched three times thus far in June has likely earned more meaningful opportunities.
“We’re looking for that guy to compliment the other guys and he wasn’t that guy coming out of Spring Training,” said Hurdle. “We’re hoping that he could come in, get his feet under him, provide a solid foundation and build some momentum. We’ve given him added responsibilities based on the work he’s been able to do. The split can play, the slider can play and the fastball is real.”
Carlos Gomez is out of the lineup for the Brewers tonight. He had a scheduled day off later in the week, however with his right groin bothering him a little bit and games through June 21st the opted to give him off tonight.
Bottom of the ninth:
The Pirates will next have a weekend series against the Philadelphia Phillies and will pitch against a familiar face Friday. The Phillies signed Kevin Correia Monday. With the Pirates, Correia was the Opening Day starter in 2011 and he also was named to the All-Star Game that season. Correia was 24-22 in 325 innings as a Pirate.
Douglas Danforth the former Pirates CEO passed away Tuesday at the age of 92. Danforth joined the Pirates board of directors in 1984 and was part of the group that kept the Pirates in Pittsburgh a year later.
“The news of Mr. Danforth’s passing was met with heavy hearts by all of us at the Pittsburgh Pirates,” Pirates Chairman of the Board Bob Nutting said in a statement. “Personally, I will forever owe him a debt of gratitude. The Pirates likely would not exist in Pittsburgh had it not been for his leadership and influence. Our sympathies, thoughts and prayers are with the entire Danforth family. He will be missed and remembered fondly by all of us at within the Pirates.”
Photo courtesy: Gene J. Puskar/AP
