Notes: Not So Hot Week, Nicholas Up, Jared's Streak Ends

Jekyll & Hyde…

At PNC: The Bucs put one inning together, and with Jared Jones on the hill, it was enough to snap their six-game losing streak as they beat Milwaukee, 4-2, on Monday. Cutch kinda liked being returned to the top of the order – he hit a leadoff homer Monday and led off today with another one. It was a key blast as Bailey Falter, as the young ‘uns say, shoved, Colin Holderman and David Bednar did their things and the Pirates made it two-in-a-row by a 2-1 count. Shelty went with a bullpen game for game three; the pitching was willing but the hitting was still AWOL; they dropped a 3-2 decision. They allowed the Brew Crew to escape with a split by losing on Thursday, 7-5, after taking a lead into the 8th, built on Joey Bart’s three-run bomb. Aroldis Chapman couldn’t hold it.

Bailey Falter – 2023 photo Archie Campbell/UPI

On The Road: And so it was off to San Fran and Oracle Park. The beat went on as the Bucs wasted a strong Quinn Priester effort, 3-0, when David Bednar gave up a three-run dinger in the ninth. Pirates hitters stranded 11 runners and were 0-for-7 w/RISP. The next day was played mostly without bats by both clubs until the 10th, when Bryan Reynolds banged a two-run homer and Ke’Bryan Hayes followed with a solo shot, giving the Bucs enough pad to survive after Bednar allowed a two-run blast and hold on for a 4-3 victory. Martin Perez was stellar, going six frames and giving up just four hits and an unearned run. Jones was human in the rubber match, giving up three runs in 5-1/3 frames with three K, and the offense continued its snooze fest as the Bucs dropped a 3-2 decision. Now on to Oakland…

Moves:

• The Pirates optioned RHP Ryder Ryan (1-0/4.35) to Indy and brought RHP Kyle Nicholas up. 
• IF Sergio Alcantara went from the Pirates to the D-Backs in a cash deal. Alcantara signed a minor league depth deal with Pittsburgh and was at Indy; he was assigned to AAA-Reno by Arizona.
• Oneil Cruz tweaked his ankle Friday; Shelty sat him Saturday, but he was back in action on Sunday.

Notes:

• GM Ben said on his radio show that both Ryan Borucki and Marco Gonzales are on the west coast trip with the club and will get second opinions from Cali docs re: their arm injuries. Dunno if that’s good or bad news…
• Jared Jones became the fifth MLB pitcher since 1893 to open his career with five games of seven+ K after fanning seven Brewers in six innings on Monday. He’s tied for the Buc record with Jose DeLeon (1983). His strikeout streak came to an end on Sunday.
• Cutch is second in leadoff homers swatted by a Bucco; he has 12, behind Barry Bond’s 20. He has 100 long balls at PNC Park, the most hit by any player in the Pittsburgh ballyard.
• Paul Skenes got into the fifth frame this week before being pulled after 71 pitches. He gave up two runs (one earned) on five hits with a walk and fanned seven. Gettin’ closer…
• July 20 is a Wiz Khalifa (no, not Sammy) Bobblehead giveaway at PNC v the Phils, the kickoff event to Yinzerpalooza Weekend on the North Shore.