The Pirates were swept again this season, this time by the Tampa Bay Rays, after a defensive lapse by shortstop Diego Castillo led to a three-run seventh inning for Tampa and they beat the Bucs, 4-2, on Sunday.
Here’s Joe Block with the recap.
The Pirates now head to the nation’s capital as they take on the Washington Nationals for the first of a three-game set tonight. Eric Fedde (5-5, 4.46 ERA) will start for Washington. Pittsburgh has not yet announced its starter.
Airtime on WCCS 101.1 FM and AM 1160 is 6:40 p.m.
BUCS INJURY NEWS
On his radio show yesterday, General Manager Ben Cherington said that infielder Josh VanMeter, who’s been out since June 2 with a left finger fracture, will likely be the first player to come off the injured list this week. Other injured players, such as Ben Gamel, Kevin Newman and Yoshi Tsutsugo, will need more time in Class AAA this week, but he adds “expect all of them would be back sooner rather than later.”
Infielder Tucupita Marcano began a rehab assignment with Low A Bradenton yesterday and went 0-for-3 with a walk in the Marauders’ 3-2 win over Dunedin. He was placed on the COVID IL on June 17.
After being designated for assignment last week, the Pirates released RHP Heath Hembree.
MLB
The Philadelphia Phillies will be without star outfielder Bryce Harper for a while after he was hit by a pitch in Saturday’s game against the San Diego Padres. Harper experienced a broken thumb and will be out for an undisclosed amount of time, according to the team.