Lineup: Adam Frazier 2B, Bryan Reynolds RF, Starling Marte CF, Josh Bell 1B, Melky Cabrera LF, Colin Moran 3B, Elias Diaz C, Erik Gonzalez SS, Steven Brault P. Gonzalez plays, Newman sits, plus Melky in for Joey O.
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| Steven looks to salvage a game - image Pittsburgh Pirates |
Pitchers: LHP Steven Brault (3-1/4.09) closes it out against RHP Miles Mikolas (7-12/3.94). Steven couldn't hold the #5 spot after camp and now is the team's most effective guy; go figure. Since getting plugged back into the rotation in late May, he's 2-0/2.21. He hasn't faced the Redbirds in that span, but in the early part of the season, they put up seven runs in five IP against the lefty. Miles has found his mojo after the break, tossing to a 2.18 ERA even though his slate is just 2-3. In four starts against the Buccos, he's 2-1/2.67, so he's been a tough nut for Pittsburgh to crack.
Notes:
- Clay Holmes is back from the IL, and Parker Markel was sent down to Indy.
- No matter what the Bucs do today, this will be the ninth straight series since the All Star break that they've lost.
- The Little League homer hit by the Tommy Edman last night was a team effort. Edman doubled, took a turn and retreated to second, but K-Man still threw Starling's relay on a hop to third, despite Fraze yelling for him to hold it (Newman blamed crowd noise). The bouncer looked catchable, or at least stoppable, but nevertheless skipped past Redbeard. And no one backed him up; Big Joe saw Edman stop at second and pulled up, assuming there would be no throw. The ball hopped into the dugout (a couple of feet either way and it would have hit fencing instead of going through the gate) and viola, two bases turned into four.
- Plays like that are why the Bucs have given up 26 unearned runs in 27 games since the ASG, without adding in the effect of uncharged but just as costly mental/fundamental breakdowns.
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