MILWAUKEE — Looking ahead to first pitch…
Game: Pirates (53-37) vs. Milwaukee Brewers (40-52), 2:10 p.m., Miller Park
Pitchers: LHP Jeff Locke (5-5, 4.03) vs. RHP Taylor Jungmann (4-1, 2.15)
TV, radio: Root Sports, 93.7 The Fan
Online: Gameday / Multimedia / Media notes
Update 12:10 p.m.: Clint Hurdle said he still hasn’t spoken with Francisco Liriano today, so he is unsure of how the pitcher’s neck feels. Liriano was a very late scratch last night because of neck stiffness, something that initially bothered him when he woke up Saturday morning. … Vance Worley, who threw 81 pitches Saturday night, obviously isn’t available today. Hurdle would only use Deolis Guerra in a “911” situation because he threw two innings last night. He also would prefer to rest Antonio Bastardo, who threw two innings. So, the relievers likely to be used today include Mark Melancon, Tony Watson, Jared Hughes and Arquimedes Caminero. Also, another reliever – Hurdle wouldn’t identify him this morning – is on his way to Milwaukee from the Pirates’ system and is expected to be in uniform today. … Hurdle said that Gerrit Cole, who has never pitched 200 innings in his brief career, will be watched closely for the remainder of the season but didn’t suggest that he will be limited in any manner. … It’s two hours until first pitch, and the Pirates still haven’t released their batting order for today, which is a little unusual. … Locke will face a big test today against a Brewers’ lineup that features right-handed threats like Ryan Braun, Jonathan Lucroy, Carlos Gomez, Aramis Ramirez and Jean Segura. … Hurdle spoke at length about returning to Kansas City, where the Pirates play next. He started his professional career there in 1977. Hurdle has been there as Rockies manager and Rangers hitting coach, but not as the skipper of the Pirates. “I have a lot of great memories of Kansas City,” Hurdle said. “I still have friends there. I was so happy to see them ignite that organization. It has a lot of significance for me in a lot of ways.”
12:40: No Andrew McCutchen today. Hurdle has been wanting to give him a day off after the All-Star festivities, though this seems like a puzzling day for such a move, as the Pirates are on the verge of being swept to start the second half. The lineup: Gregory Polanco (RF), Neil Walker (2B), Starling Marte (CF), Jung Ho Kang (3B), Travis Ishikawa (1B), Francisco Cervelli (C), Jaff Decker (LF), Jordy Mercer (SS), Locke (P).
1:27: Forgot to mention this earlier, but that mystery reliever that will be available today is Wilfredo Boscan. Gorkys Hernadnez is now on the 15-Day DL with shoulder discomfort.
2:15: Jungmann needed all of nine pitches to set the Pirates down in order in the first. And away we go.
2:20: Anything you can do, I can do better. Locke needs five pitches to get out of the first inning unscathed.
2:29: So far, it’s a 6-4-3 kind of day.
2:37: Major injury alert. Jordy Mercer is leaving on a cart after a collision with Carlos Gomez. Looks very bad for Mercer. He was in a shift, essentially playing second base, when he collected a ground ball and went to tag Gomez. It appeared that Gomez kicked him with his right leg. Mercer tagged him but went down immediately, clutching at his knee and leg.
2:52: Gomez, it should be noted, was about 10 feet from second base when he slid. It seemed like an odd time to slide, since he wasn’t going to make it anywhere close to the bag. The whole play looked awkward, in fact. Mercer could have flipped to second and gotten a double play, though it might have been an awkward play for him because he was playing in the shift and on the other side of second base, which isn’t what he is comfortable with. Given Gomez’s history, this will be a fairly controversial play, I have no doubt.
2:53: Locke walks and Polanco doubles with two outs, but Walker grounds out to end the inning. Walker was so angry that he broke his bat while running to first base.
3:07: Locke looks solid through three innings. You might want to get back to the TV soon, as Gomez will lead off the bottom of the fourth.
3:20: Locke doesn’t hit Gomez, but does retire the Brewers in order. No score, headed to the fifth.
3:26: Locke hits an RBI single to left with two outs on a full count. Decker, who earlier tripled, scored on the play.
3:31: Walker just misses hitting a three-run homer. Gomez makes a leaping catch into the wall to end the inning.
3:37: Locke cruises once again. He’s retired eight straight as the Pirates lead 1-0 going to the sixth.
Taylor Jungmann won his major-league debut June 9 at PNC Park. — GETTY
July 19, 2015
Pirates 1, Brewers 0, 6th
233by Josh Yohe • Game previews • Pirates
MILWAUKEE — Looking ahead to first pitch…
Game: Pirates (53-37) vs. Milwaukee Brewers (40-52), 2:10 p.m., Miller Park
Pitchers: LHP Jeff Locke (5-5, 4.03) vs. RHP Taylor Jungmann (4-1, 2.15)
TV, radio: Root Sports, 93.7 The Fan
Online: Gameday / Multimedia / Media notes
Update 12:10 p.m.: Clint Hurdle said he still hasn’t spoken with Francisco Liriano today, so he is unsure of how the pitcher’s neck feels. Liriano was a very late scratch last night because of neck stiffness, something that initially bothered him when he woke up Saturday morning. … Vance Worley, who threw 81 pitches Saturday night, obviously isn’t available today. Hurdle would only use Deolis Guerra in a “911” situation because he threw two innings last night. He also would prefer to rest Antonio Bastardo, who threw two innings. So, the relievers likely to be used today include Mark Melancon, Tony Watson, Jared Hughes and Arquimedes Caminero. Also, another reliever – Hurdle wouldn’t identify him this morning – is on his way to Milwaukee from the Pirates’ system and is expected to be in uniform today. … Hurdle said that Gerrit Cole, who has never pitched 200 innings in his brief career, will be watched closely for the remainder of the season but didn’t suggest that he will be limited in any manner. … It’s two hours until first pitch, and the Pirates still haven’t released their batting order for today, which is a little unusual. … Locke will face a big test today against a Brewers’ lineup that features right-handed threats like Ryan Braun, Jonathan Lucroy, Carlos Gomez, Aramis Ramirez and Jean Segura. … Hurdle spoke at length about returning to Kansas City, where the Pirates play next. He started his professional career there in 1977. Hurdle has been there as Rockies manager and Rangers hitting coach, but not as the skipper of the Pirates. “I have a lot of great memories of Kansas City,” Hurdle said. “I still have friends there. I was so happy to see them ignite that organization. It has a lot of significance for me in a lot of ways.”
12:40: No Andrew McCutchen today. Hurdle has been wanting to give him a day off after the All-Star festivities, though this seems like a puzzling day for such a move, as the Pirates are on the verge of being swept to start the second half. The lineup: Gregory Polanco (RF), Neil Walker (2B), Starling Marte (CF), Jung Ho Kang (3B), Travis Ishikawa (1B), Francisco Cervelli (C), Jaff Decker (LF), Jordy Mercer (SS), Locke (P).
1:27: Forgot to mention this earlier, but that mystery reliever that will be available today is Wilfredo Boscan. Gorkys Hernadnez is now on the 15-Day DL with shoulder discomfort.
2:15: Jungmann needed all of nine pitches to set the Pirates down in order in the first. And away we go.
2:20: Anything you can do, I can do better. Locke needs five pitches to get out of the first inning unscathed.
2:29: So far, it’s a 6-4-3 kind of day.
2:37: Major injury alert. Jordy Mercer is leaving on a cart after a collision with Carlos Gomez. Looks very bad for Mercer. He was in a shift, essentially playing second base, when he collected a ground ball and went to tag Gomez. It appeared that Gomez kicked him with his right leg. Mercer tagged him but went down immediately, clutching at his knee and leg.
2:52: Gomez, it should be noted, was about 10 feet from second base when he slid. It seemed like an odd time to slide, since he wasn’t going to make it anywhere close to the bag. The whole play looked awkward, in fact. Mercer could have flipped to second and gotten a double play, though it might have been an awkward play for him because he was playing in the shift and on the other side of second base, which isn’t what he is comfortable with. Given Gomez’s history, this will be a fairly controversial play, I have no doubt.
2:53: Locke walks and Polanco doubles with two outs, but Walker grounds out to end the inning. Walker was so angry that he broke his bat while running to first base.
3:07: Locke looks solid through three innings. You might want to get back to the TV soon, as Gomez will lead off the bottom of the fourth.
3:20: Locke doesn’t hit Gomez, but does retire the Brewers in order. No score, headed to the fifth.
3:26: Locke hits an RBI single to left with two outs on a full count. Decker, who earlier tripled, scored on the play.
3:31: Walker just misses hitting a three-run homer. Gomez makes a leaping catch into the wall to end the inning.
3:37: Locke cruises once again. He’s retired eight straight as the Pirates lead 1-0 going to the sixth.
Taylor Jungmann won his major-league debut June 9 at PNC Park. — GETTY