It is the rubber match between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds as each team won a game in the first two days of the series. The Pirates won a 7-6 decision on Tuesday and the Reds countered with a 5-2 victory Wednesday.
The loss Wednesday also saw Gerrit Cole have his shortest outing while allowing the most runs in a start this season.
“It boiled down to me not making pitches and just being flat,” Cole said. “It happens sometimes.”
Tonight the Pirates will have A.J. Burnett toe the rubber to face Anthony DeSclafani.
In his last start, Burnett allowed a career-high 14 hits in a loss to the Washingon Nationals. He pitched 6.2 innings and allowed four runs, three of which were earned. Burnett is 8-6 with a 3.62 ERA in 18 career starts versus the Reds and also has posted a 1-0 mark to go alone with a 2.92 ERA in two start this season.
DeSclafani is making his third career start against the Pirates and is 0-1 with a 4.09 ERA against them. DeSclafani lost his last start against the Miami Marlins. He allowed three runs on four hits in five innings.
Seventh inning stretch:
Jung Ho Kang returns to tonight’s lineup and will play third base. Kang’s progression at third base was noted by manager Clint Hurdle both in Wednesday’s postgame press conference and this afternoon’s pregame presser. Wednesday night, Kang fielded a slow roller and threw on to first to a record the out, a play which resulted in Hurdle applauding his third baseman.
“He’s made nice plays at third base all season long,” Hurdle said. “His feet work really well. He’s got a really good touch for throwing and when to air it out and when to get it over there. He’s a really solid defender.”
Hurdle stated he trusted Kang when he has a glove on.
Many people are exposed to the law of averages during schooling. Hurdle is not a fan of it.
“If you believe in the law of averages, you’re setting yourself up to be mediocre,” said Hurdle. “Give me the guy’s name that wrote the law of averages, I’d like to talk to him and find out how he got it.”
The reason for the response was a question dealing with the team’s starting rotation struggling after going through a stretch in which it found success against opposing teams.
It has been hard not to notice the Pirates having first inning struggles in both games this series. The Reds have scored seven first inning runs thus far in the series.
“They had a hard time getting out of the first inning without a crooked number on the scoreboard,” Hurdle said. “That’s a part of the game I embrace. Every once in a while you take that belt and pull it a notch closer.”
Bottom of the ninth:
Before the start of this afternoon’s press conference, the media was treated to Hurdle’s ringtone which is the X Ambassador’s song Renegades. Media members were pleasantly surprised by Hurdle’s choice of a modern ring tone however the song’s recent exposure to pop culture may lead to a change.
“I really want to get rid of it now, it’s not cool,” said Hurdle. “It was cool now it’s not cool, it’s in a Jeep commercial.”
In terms of bullpen availability, Jared Hughes and Chris Volstad are both likely out for tonight’s game. Hughes was used in back-to-back days and also pitched into a second inning of work. Volstad threw two innings last night. Vance Worley will be a possible bullpen option tonight and Arquimedes Caminero also is back in play.
A.J. Burnett has the lowest home ERA in the National League at 1.27…Burnett ranks 37th on the all-time strikeout list with 2,451 coming into tonight’s game. He is two behind Sam McDowell for 36th… The Pirates have plated more than three runs on three different occasions in the past 16 games however they have posted a 10-6 record during that stretch…The Reds lead all of baseball with 71 stolen bases in 91 attempts…Reds closer Aroldis Chapman who missed the first two games of this series because he was on the paternity list is expected back in time for the first pitch of tonight’s contest. J.J. Hoover earned his first save of the season filling in for him Wednesday.
Photo credit: Gene J. Puskar
