Following a 9-3 loss by the Pittsburgh Pirates to the Washington Nationals, the home team hopes to take three of four against a team that is leading the National League East.
Gerrit Cole [13-4 2.31 ERA] will face Joe Ross [2-2 2.70 ERA] in this afternoon’s contest.
Cole is 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA in two career starts against the Nationals. Cole lost his last start against the Kansas City Royals allowing three runs [two earned] on five hits over the course of 7.1 innings of work.
Ross is coming off a loss to the New York Mets in which he allowed three runs [two earned] in 6.1 innings. He retired the first nine batters he faced in order. He struck out a career-high 11 batters in a 4-1 victory against the Pirates earlier this season. His older brother is Tyson Ross of the San Diego Padres.
Ramirez and Basketball: Buried in the media file of Aramis Ramirez is his playing basketball as a youngster before switching to baseball at age 13.
“I’ve played basketball all my life and I still play,” Ramirez said. “I like to play a lot. I cut down when I signed because I could get hurt but I still play a little bit.”
Ramirez discussed his passion for basketball and what made him choose baseball.
“It was just the opportunity to be in the big leagues,” said Ramirez. “I’m not tall enough to play in the NBA and I don’t think I’m good enough either, so I was good enough in baseball.”
The Pirates third baseman is a huge NBA fan and roots for the Chicago Bulls.
His favorite player of all-time should not come as a surprise.
“I was a big Jordan guy,” Jordan said. “He was the best player in the world. He was really good.”
Seventh inning stretch: Today is the day that Craig Biggio, Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez and John Smoltz will be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Manager Clint Hurdle focused his reflection on Johnson and Smoltz since he saw them the most.
“He [Johnson] was just untouchable,” Hurdle said. “We faced them 19 times and we got Schilling and Johnson 12 one year. The angles he created there was no emulation to it.”
Hurdle admired Smoltz’s versatility.
“Smoltz it was fun to watch that guy start and close,” said Hurdle. “200 wins and 150 saves is unheard of. The ability to adapt and improve was amazing.”
Ask any of the Pirates players and they will discuss their frustrations about not finishing some plays. Among other things cut off throws have been missing, bases haven’t been properly covered and pick off throws have been more errant.
“Four days off from baseball and then having to pick up where you left off can be a little tough,” Chris Stewart said. “It’s something we definitely need to work on and definitely have to perfect for us to be where we need to be.”
Alen Hanson was also a point of discussion as his offense has impressed Hurdle. He has been playing some third base, however Hurdle said it was to familiarize himself around the horn. He also took the time to clarify that reports of him taking balls in the outfield are untrue.
Bottom of the ninth: Excitement is often a part of baseball when your team is winning. Perhaps no one exhibits this more than Rob Scahill.
Though Scahill has been on the disabled list since June 26, he has been rooting on his team in the bullpen.
“I get a little bit amped up out there,” Scahill said. “It’s wanting nothing but the best for your team and everyone that goes out there. We can’t win without all nine guys on the field. You have to sit back and be a fan when you’re not in the game and you get lost in it. I live and die by what we do out there, good and bad.”
Josh Yohe of DK on Pittsburgh Sports was told a story that Scahill got so excited when the Pirates were making their comeback Friday against the Nationals that the relief pitcher nearly passed out.
Scahill confirmed the story’s accuracy.
“I got a little light headed, yeah,” said Scahill. “It’s not the first time and I promise you it won’t be the last time.”
Scahill also recalled the most excited he was this season which were the three games prior to the All-Star Break against the Cardinals as Mark Melancon smiled and laughed from a few feet away.
“Melancon and I got really excited the one day when McCutchen hit the walkoff,” Scahill said. “We had some choice words and some high fives.”
114,355 fans have been at the past three Pirates games, all sellouts… Jung Ho Kang ranks first among National League rookies in OBP [.436] and batting average [.362] this month.
Photo courtesy: Jared Wickerham/Getty Images
