An eight-game homestand concludes tonight when the Pittsburgh Pirates face the Chicago White Sox.
In last night’s game the Pirates tied a season high scoring 11 runs in a shutout victory against the White Sox. Francisco Liriano struck out 12 batters which also tied a season high.
Tonight’s starters:
The Pirates will send Charlie Morton to the mound to face Jose Quintana.
Morton is 2-6 with a 5.00 ERA in 10 career Interleague starts. He pitched 7.1 shutout innings allowing three hits in his last start, a victory against the Milwaukee Brewers. This is his first outing against the White Sox.
Quintana also is coming off a win in which he allowed one run on six hits against the Houston Astros. He is 4-4 with a 2.29 ERA in 12 Interleague starts. Tonight’s outing against the Pirates will be his first.
Pregame thoughts:
Ke’Bryan Hayes recalls the moment that made him tougher in baseball.
The moment included his now 26-year-old brother Tyree who has pitched in the minor leagues.
“We’d hit every day in the backyard and whenever he couldn’t get me out, he’d hit me with the ball,” Hayes said. “When I first got into Kid Pitch I was never afraid of the ball so I always felt like I was ahead of the game.”
Now, Hayes whose dream as a kid was to play in the big leagues is one step closer to that opportunity as the Pirates signed the 18-year-old infielder.
“The scouts liked so many of his attributes on and off the field,” Pirates General Manager Neal Huntington said. “We love the way he swings the bat, he’s got tremendous barrel to ball for a young hitter and we think there’s power coming when he matures. We love the defense and how he handles himself on the field. We love the work ethic, this young man has grown up around the game.”
Hayes predominantly has been a third baseman, however growing up in a baseball family has played several positions throughout his major league career.
He hit .436 with 16 doubles, three home runs, 27 RBI and 12 stolen bases at Concordia Lutheran [TX] High School. He hit the game-winning RBI single in the sixth inning of the 2015 TAPPS State Championship. Hayes also played for the Team USA Junior National Team and USA Baseball Tournament of Stars, both in 2014.
Hayes is the son of Charlie Hayes, who was in attendance for the Tuesday afternoon press conference. He had a 14-year career in the major leagues and played one season with the Pirates. The younger Hayes acknowledges his father and the obvious influence he has but also uses the fact as a challenge for himself.
“Having my dad playing 14 years just makes me more hungry to have a better career than him,” said Hayes.
It was a tough start to the season for Antonio Bastardo, however in his last 12 appearances which date back to May 5, Bastardo has a 2.53 ERA and 0.84 WHIP.
“I had some inconsistencies during the beginning of the season,” Bastardo said. “I just needed to make an adjustment and got to that point where I made it.”
Pirates manager Clint Hurdle cites the addition of a third pitch as the reason for Bastardo’s recent success while the reliever cited the use of his fastball. Regardless, Bastardo is pleased with his success.
“I’m really confident,” said Bastardo. “I’m throwing the ball the way I have all the time.”
Bottom of the ninth:
In last night’s game Francisco Cervelli passed Manny Sanguillen for the most consecutive scoreless innings caught with 42. Cervelli’s catcher ERA of 3.18 ranks second behind the St. Louis Cardinals’ Yadier Molina [2.54].
Hurdle however discussed a different aspect which he also found encouraging.
“Last night that man blocked 14 balls and the only ball he wanted to talk about was the passed ball that got away, that’s how good catchers are wired,” Hurdle said.
Photo credit: USA Today
