Earlier in the season, the Pittsburgh Pirates swept a road series against the San Francisco Giants. The Pirates hope to do the same in a four-game series that begins tonight.
In tonight’s game, Charlie Morton [7-4 4.36 ERA] takes on Jake Peavy [3-5 4.18 ERA].
Morton is 3-4 with a 2.84 ERA in 11 career starts against the Giants. In his last start Morton earned a no-decision allowing three runs [two earned] on four hits in 6.4 innings against the New York Mets.
Morton’s journey this season has been one of ups and downs. Left-handed batters have achieved a decent amount of success against the right-handed pitcher this season. Morton was able to fight back against the Mets.
“He’s executing his pitches and that’s what it boils down to,” pitching coach Ray Searage said. “He’s feeling comfortable with his delivery and once those two go hand in hand it’s where Charlie needs to be on a consistent basis. We’ve talked about it and that’s where he’s at right now.”
Searage admitted that confidence is a large part of Morton’s game and he is eliminating the negative thoughts in his head in search of finding more consistently positive results.
“Confidence breeds success and it’s a never ending wheel,” said Searage. “He was having success with it but not on a consistent basis. He has to keep staying with the process and keep doing it over and over again. We reached a real good spot his last start.”
Peavy has not faced the Pirates since 2009, however he is 5-2 with a 2.52 ERA in eight career starts against them. He earned a win against the Washington Nationals despite allowing five runs on nine hits in 5.2 innings of work.
Seventh-inning stretch: The date is getting closer on the calendar for Josh Harrison and Jordy Mercer to return for their minor league rehab assignments.
This could create a logjam where it is four guys for two spots. Manager Clint Hurdle discussed the factors for each man.
Harrison has the flexibility to play many positions and excel, Mercer is a better defensive shortstop than Jung Ho Kang, while Kang has adjusted well from playing third base early in the season. At the same point, Aramis Ramirez has become more comfortable at the plate after perhaps pressing too much when he first rejoined the team.
Hurdle cited this as a good problem to have.
“There need to be a lot of considerations that need to be taken into place,” Hurdle said. “I’ve given a lot of thought and we all have a plan that has been formulated. We’ve got all of those pieces and we need to paint the right picture for us.”
Hurdle also stated that Harrison and Mercer could return to the team at some point this series but did not further elaborate.
Bottom of the ninth: Tonight is Faith Night at PNC Park. Over 4,000 tickets were sold for the event, and fans will be permitted to stay after the game for spiritual talk from both players and coaches.
Jared Hughes was willing to discuss his faith and what it means to him.
“My faith has been a journey and I’m always trying to be more faithful and always trying to grow,” said Hughes. “I didn’t go to Sunday school a lot when I was a kid, and I didn’t go to church much as a kid but when I started going to church it made a big impact on my life.”
Former Pirate Marlon Byrd was traded to the Giants. He will join the team tomorrow. Recently, Byrd was in the center of a Pirates-Cincinnati Reds benches clearing incident… Francisco Cervelli and the Giants Buster Posey each are batting .309, the best mark among National League catchers… The Pirates have won each of their last eight extra inning games, the best streak since May 13-Aug. 8, 2008… Neil Walker is one hit shy of 800 in his career… Andrew McCutchen and Starling Marte each have 34 multi-hit games which tie for the team high… Arquimedes Caminero has made 10 straight scoreless appearances over his past 13.1 innings of work… The Giants enter tonight’s contest two games back of the Los Angeles Dodgers for first place in the National League West and three games behind the Chicago Cubs for the second NL Wild Card spot… The Giants have activated Nori Aoki from the seven-day concussion list and placed Hunter Pence of the 15-day disabled list [retroactive to Aug. 18] with a left oblique strain… The Pirates officially announced the signing of Travis Snider, and announced that Corey Hart will begin a rehab assignment in Triple-A.
Photo credit: Jared Wickerham/Getty Images
