Pirates add lefty Beimel; Designate Olson
On Friday the Pirates designated Left-hander Garrett Olson for assignment to make room for lefty Joe Beimel on the 40-man roster.
Beimel was rehabbing from arm soreness, which hindered him throughout spring training. He threw on back-to-back days for the Triple-A Indians where he faced the minimum (six) with three strike outs. It was reported that he had no issue afterwards.
Beimel told Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com, “I got all my pitches working. I think that was the big thing. I got the back-to-back games in there to show them I’m ready to go and show myself I’m ready to go. That’s why I’m here.”
The club has 10 days to either trade, release or outright Olson to the minors, if he clears waivers.
Olson allowed one run on two hits over 4.1 (four appearances) innings in relief. He struck out four and walked one.
With Olson gone, Beimel is the only lefty in the bullpen.
*Photo credit: Joe Beimel- Pittsburgh Post Gazette
Pre-game: Pirates @ Reds 4/15
The Pirates (5-7) open up a four-game series against the Cincinnati Reds (8-4) at Great American Ballpark tonight at 7:10 PM ET.
Right-hander Charlie Morton (1-0, 2.08 ERA) will face Righty Bronson Arroyo (2-0, 2.08 ERA).
Pirates:
Andrew McCutchen CF, Jose Tabata LF, Lyle Overbay 1B, Neil Walker 2B, Pedro Alvarez 3B, Garrett Jones RF, Chris Snyder C, Ronny Cedeno SS, Charlie Morton RHP
*Manager Clint Hurdle shuffled the lineup around today.
Reds:
Drew Stubbs CF, Edgar Renteria SS, Joey Votto 1B, Scott Rolen 3B, Johnny Gomes LF, Jay Bruce RF, Miguel Cairo 2B, Ryan Hanigan C, Bronson Arroyo RHP
Bucs drop four straight, lose 4-1 to Brewers
The Pirates as a team to combined for just four hits and struck out 14 times against the Milwaukee Brewers pitching staff in the 4-1 loss at PNC Park on Thursday evening.
Manager Clint Hurdle told Karen Price of the Tribune Review, The number of strikeouts continues to be alarming, the inability to get leadoff hitters on. … We need to get everybody involved to some degree. We haven’t been able to connect the dots from the top to the bottom of the lineup.”
Andrew McCtuchen told Karen Price of the Tribune Review, We’re not hitting, that’s about it. There’s really no explanation for it, we’re just not getting it done.”
The Bucs did not score a run for 23 consecutive innings (going back to Sunday’s game against the Rockies) until McCutchen scored on a wild pitch by the Brewers closer, John Axford, in the bottom of the 9th.
Left-hander Paul Maholm threw a 28-pitch first inning. After allowing a lead off single to Rickie Weeks and a walk to Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder stepped to the plate with one out. Fielder, who prior to the game had a 0.71 average against Paul Maholm, hit a RBI single to give the Brewers a 1-0 lead.
Maholm walked a second batter in the inning before allowing a SAC fly by Yuniesky Betancourt.
The next six innings, however, Maholm was solid. He held the Brewers scoreless after the first and allowed just two more hits.
Brewers Manager Ron Roenicke told Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com, “Maholm settled down and pitched really well and changed speeds. He has pitched well for them, and really has had some bad luck.”
Maholm pitched allowed two runs on four hits with two walks and six strikeouts over seven innings (97 pitches). He picked up the loss –his second of the year– despite pitching a good outing.
Paul Maholm told Jenifer Langosh of MLB.com, “I think everybody is looking forward to going to Cincy to get back on the track we need to be on. The] first homestand, everybody is trying to do too much, probably.
“We expect to come in and compete every day. Is it fun this homestand? No. But I can guarantee you that [Friday] we’ll get to Cincy and we expect to win it. And that’s all you can do. Turn the page.”
The Buccos faced lefty Randy Wolf who struck out 10 over 6.2 innings. He held the Pirates to just two hits and walked two.
The Brewers tacked on two more insurance runs in the top of the 9th inning off of Joel Hanrahan. Casey McGhee lead off the inning with a double to right field. Bentancourt singled and McGhee scored on a throwing error by Neil Walker. Former Bucco Nyjer Morgan hit a RBI double to give the Brewers a 4-0 lead, but was thrown out trying to stretch his double into a triple.
The Pirates started a rally in the bottom of the 9th. McCutchen drew a walk and Steve Pearce singled in the inning. Ryan Doumit, who pinch hit for Chris Snyder, walked to load the bases. Josh Rodriguez, who has yet to have his first major league hit came to the plate with two outs. McCutchen scored on a wild pitch thrown by John Axford but Rodriguez struck out to end the game.
A total of 24 runs have been score by the Pirates in the last nine games, just an average of 2.66 runs per game.
The Pirates have lost four in a row. They finish the homestand 1-5 after going 4-2 on the road to start the season.
Pre-game News and Notes 4/15: Brewers @ Pirates
The Pirates (5-6) will face the Milwaukee Brewers (6-5) on Thursday at 7:05 PM/ET for the final game of the home stand.
Following the game, the Bucs will fly to Cincinnati for a three-game series starting Friday against the Reds.
Lefty-hander Paul Maholm will face lefty Randy Wolf.
Maholm is 0-1 this season, despite only allowing three earned runs over 12.1 innings.
Notes:
- Jose Tabata’s 10-game hitting streak came to an end on Wednesday, after going 0-for-2 with two walks against the Brewers.
Manager Clint Hurdle was very impressed with Jose Tabata’s plate discipline during his final at-bat in the 8th inning yesterday. Tabata, with the 10-game hitting streak on the line, drew a six pitch walk.
Hurdle told Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com, “I’m not saying it’s normal, but you’ll find players at times that will put individual accomplishments in front of the game from time to time. A young man going up there, knowing what he needed to do and got down early in the count… took a walk. He’ll have other 10-game hitting streaks. He’ll have longer ones than that. But it was very encouraging to see that that’s his mindset. His mindset is not that he can have an 11-game hitting streak.”
- Evan Meek pitched a 1-2-3 9th inning on Wednesday. It was his first appearance since April 6th (right shoulder tightness).
News:
- Catcher Chris Snyder is back in Pittsburgh tonight and will be the lineup tonight. Snyder was activated from the disabled list on Wednesday.
- Left-hander Joe Beimel should be joining the club on Friday in Cincinnati. He completed his rehab assignment with the Triple-A Indians. The Pirates will need to add him to both the 40-man and 25-man roster.
- Third Baseman Pedro Alvarez will get the night off, giving Steve Pearce the start at third.
Alvarez, who is notorious for having a slow start to the season, is batting just .200. Manager Clint Hurdle and Alvarez were out early taking batting practice.
Hurdle told Rob Biertempfel of the Tribune, What I’d like him to do is go up there and be reactionary. He hasn’t gotten off to the start that he would like or we would like but it’s still early and I’m just trying to get him to focus on a couple absolutes at the plate. See the ball, number one, get a good pitch to hit, number two, know that he can attack the ball anywhere in the strike zone, it doesn’t need to be in a teacup. And just hit it hard where it’s pitched. I can tell you that.”
Brewers:
Rickie Weeks 2B, Carlos Gomez CF, Ryan Braun LF, Prince Fielder 1B, Casey McGehee 3B, Yuniesky Betancourt SS, Erick Almonte RF, Jonthan Lucroy C, Randy Wolf LHP
Pirates:
Jose Tabata LF, Neil Walker 2B, Andrew McCutchen CF, Matt Diaz RF, Steve Pearce RF, Lyle Overbay 1B, Chris Snyder C, Ronny Cedeno SS, Paul Maholm LHP
Jaramillo optioned; Snyder activated from DL
After the Pirates 6-0 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers, The Bucs optioned Catcher Jason Jaramillo to Triple-A Indianapolis and activated Catcher Chris Snyder from the disabled list.
Snyder will join the team on Thursday after making six rehab appearances with High-A Bradenton.
Jaramillo went 5-for-14 (.357 avg) in four games with a RBI, walk and a stolen base with the Pirates.Jaramillo will spend catching duties with Dusty Brown for the Indians.
Jaramillo told Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com, “I feel like I’ve shown people that I deserve to be here and that I’ve done a pretty good job. Like I said, I’m going to go do my job, and hopefully I’m back up here a lot sooner rather than later.”
Correia’s no-no turns bad as the Pirates lose 6-0 to Brewers
Right-hand pitcher Kevin Correia was cruising. After pitching five innings without allowing a hit and just two walks, things turned ugly in the 6th and 7th inning as the Pirates were shutout by the Milwaukee Brewers, 6-0 on Wednesday night at PNC Park.
Jonathan Lucroy doubled to the North Side Notch in the top of the 6th, to break up Correia’s no-no. And from there, the Brewers scored four runs in the inning, including a three-run homer by Prince Fielder.
The Brewers tacked on two more runs in the 7th. Mark Kotsay reached base on an error by Third baseman Pedro Alvarez. Former Bucco Nyjer Morgan pinch ran for Kotsay and was driven in by a double hit by Yuniesky Betancourt. Morgan tackled Ryan Doumit at the plate and Betancourt advanced to third during the play at the plate. Shaun Marcum grounded to short, scoring Betancourt to give the Brewers a 6-0 lead.
Correia was charged with six runs (four earned) over six innings with two walks and one strikeout and picked up his first loss of the season.
Righty Shaun Marcum also flirted with a no-hitter through four innings. He didn’t allow a base runner until Lyle Overbay broke up the no-no in with a lead off single to right field in the 5th. Pedro Alvarez followed with a single, but were left stranded.
Marcum pitched seven shutout innings with one walk and four strikeouts. The four hits by the Pirates came off of Marcum. The Brewers bullpen held the Pirates hitless the final two innings.
The Pirates have lost three games in a row and have dropped to 5-6 this season –the first time this year the club has been under .500.
Pre-game News and Notes 4/13: Brewers @ Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates (5-5) will face the Milwaukee Brewers (5-5) at 7:05 for the first of a now two-game series.
Tuesday’s game was postponed due to rain. It will be made up on August 22 in part of a double-header. The first game will begin at 5:05 p.m. ET.
Right-hander Kevin Correia will face righty Shaun Marcum.
Correia out dueled Chris Carpenter during his last start pitching a seven inning shutout, limiting the Cardinals to just five hits while walking two and striking out three. Correia has been the Bucs most consistent starter this season. He even pitched an inning of relief during Friday’s 14-inning marathon game. Correia has allowed two earned runs over two starts (three appearances), 14 innings.
Marcum allowed two runs on five hits with two walks and four strikeouts over six innings against the Atlanta Braves his last start. Marcum is still working on his command after missing his next-to-last spring start with a stiff shoulder.
News:
- Jeff Karstens will no longer start in the rotation behind Kevin Correia and Paul Maholm (Thursday) because of the rainout, Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com reports.
Instead, Charlie Morton will pitch on Friday and James McDonald will go on Saturday. Sunday’s starter is still listed as TBD.
- Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com also reports that reliever Evan Meek has been cleared and is ready to go out of the bullpen tonight.
- Lefty Joe Beimel reported to have no issues on Wednesday after pitching on back-to-back days for the Triple-A Indians.
Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com reports that the Pirates want Beimel to have two days off to make sure he doesn’t have any negative effects.
Beimel could be with the big league team as early as Friday.
- After seeing video footage of Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers sliding head first into home plate on Tuesday, Manager Clint Hurdle discussed to the players the dangers of the head-first slide. Hamilton will be out six to eight weeks with a shoulder fracture.
Hurdle told Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com, “You are very susceptible to injury, especially at home plate. I understand why people do it. I’m just not a big fan of it.”
Brewers:
Rickie Weeks 2B, Carlos Gomez CF, Ryan Braun LF, Prince Fielder 1B, Casey McGehee 3B, Mark Kotsay RF, Yuniesky Betancourt SS, Jonathan Lucroy C, Shaun Marcum RHP
Pirates:
Jose Tabata LF, Neil Walker 2B, Andrew McCutchen CF, Lyle Overbay 1B, Matt Diaz RF, Pedro Alvarez 3B, Ryan Doumit C Ronny Cedeno SS, Kevin Correia RHP
Lincoln reinstated, optioned to AAA
Brad Lincoln was reinstated from the disabled list on Monday and was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis where he will start in the rotation.
Lincoln was recovering from a right arm contusion he sustained from a line drive by Jimmy Rollins in spring training.
Lincoln made his first rehab start on Sunday for Indianapolis. He allowed two earned runs on two hits with no walks (but two hit batters) with two strikeouts over 4.2 innings. Lincoln threw 72 pitches, 42 for strikes.
Over 10.2 innings this spring, Lincoln allowed four runs on six hits, with four walks and five strike outs in four games (two starts).
*Photo credit: Yahoo! Sports
Karstens will start against Reds
Right-hander Jeff Karstens will start against the Cincinnati Reds, filling in for Ross Ohlendorf who was placed on the disabled list with right shoulder posterior strain.
Manager Clint Hurdle announced his decision to place Karstens in the rotation but it is still undetermined which of the three game series against the Reds he will start (April 15-18).
The plan was for Karstens to pitch on Thursday, in the third game against the Milwaukee Brewers but plans where changed because of the rain postponement tonight.
Karstens, who serves as the teams long reliever, threw 3.1 innings (67 pitches) in relief on Friday after Ohlendorf was pulled from the game with his injury.
Karstens is up for any task the Pirates ask of him. He appeared in 26 games with the Bucs last year, 19 of them starts.
“I’m just used to the role,” Karstens told Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com. “I roll out of bed with a smile on my face. I get to put the big league uniform on every day and I’m proud of that.”
Right-hander Daniel McCutchen will serve as the long inning man with Karstens in the rotation.
*Photo credit: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Brewers @ Pirates 4/12: Postponed by rain
Tonight’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers was postponed due to rain. The Pirates have not yet announced when it will be made up.
- The pitching match up for the next two games versus the Brewers are as follows:
Wednesday, April 13th: Right-hand pitcher Shaun Marcum vs. Righty Kevin Correia
Thursday, April 14th: Left-hand pitcher Randy Wolf vs. Lefty Paul Maholm
- The Pirates announced that right-hander Jeff Karstens will take Ross Ohlendorf’s (15-day disabled list) spot in the rotation on Friday in Cincinnati –at least for one turn, according to Rob Biertempfel of the Tribune.
- Evan Meek threw on the side on Monday and told Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com that he expects to be ready to go on Wednesday.
- Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com also reports that both Chris Snyder and Joe Beimel are just a few days away from being with the big league club.
Snyder (lower back) has caught five straight games with the Bradenton Marauders and has not had any back soreness that sidelined him this spring.
Beimel (left elbow) threw again today, marking the first time he has thrown on back-to-back days this year. In the two appearances, Beimel faced the minimum (six) with three strike outs.
Manager Clint Hurdle said the club wants to see how Beimel feels tomorrow before the decide his next step.
- Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com reports that:
Fans with tickets to Tuesday’s game are free to exchange those tickets to any Sunday through Thursday home game this season, expect the June 5 game against the Phillies and the June 26 one against the Red Sox.
Kristy Robinson
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