Morning Rundown: Pirates win 1-0, Bubba Chandler pitches five shutout innings
Pirates pitch a combined shutout, Bubba Chandler throws five strong inning.
Jack Suwinski’s solo home run was the only bit of scoring the Pittsburgh Pirates needed, as the pitching staff held the Los Angeles Dodgers off the board en route to win the first of their three-game set 1-0 on Tuesday.
Jared Jones pitched six innings of shutout baseball, allowing three hits and walks while striking out six batters. The win is his fourth this season for the Pirates. Colin Holderman, Aroldis Chapman, and David Bednar combined to close the door, with the latter picking up his 12th save of the season.
The Pirates were actually outhit by the Dodgers, with just four total on the day—two of which were by Bryan Reynolds. Initially drafted by the Pirates, Tyler Glasnow pitched six innings, allowing just one run on three hits while striking out nine batters.
Paul Skenes is set to pitch in game two and will be opposed by James Paxton.
In his second start since coming off the injured list, Bubba Chandler pitched five shutout innings against the Richmond Flying Squirrels.
Since returning from the injured list, the control and command have looked a lot better. The one run he allowed was unearned, as the batter reached base after Carter Bins was called for catcher’s interference.
It took him just 66 pitches to get through the five innings—48 of them were strikes—and he got up to 98 mph with the fastball.
Chandler has struggled with his control this season, having walked 18 batters in 24.2 innings pitched before going on the injured list. He’s walked just one batter in nine innings since.
The Pirates announced that they selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Ben Heller. Signed as a minor league free agent, Heller has 42 strikeouts in 22.1 innings pitched between the Bradenton Marauders (rehab) and the Indianapolis Indians.
Heller, 32, was a 22nd-round pick by the then-Cleveland Indians in 2013.
Jack Suwinski and Liover Peguero were also called up from Indianapolis as Ji Hwan Bae was placed on the injured list, and Michael A. Taylor went on the Paternity List.
Altoona Curve activated LHP Tyler Samaniego from the 7-day injured list
SS Brenden Dixon assigned to Indianapolis Indians from Altoona Curve
3B Jackson Glenn assigned to Indianapolis Indians from Altoona Curve
SS Kalae Harrison assigned to Altoona Curve from Bradenton Marauders
Pittsburgh Pirates recalled CF Jack Suwinski from Indianapolis Indians
Pittsburgh Pirates recalled SS Liover Peguero from Indianapolis Indians
Pittsburgh Pirates optioned LHP Jose Hernandez
Pittsburgh Pirates selected the contract of RHP Ben Heller from Indianapolis Indians
DSL Pirates Gold placed RHP Jonathan Salazar on the 7-day injured list
DSL Pirates Gold placed LHP Angel Camacho on the 7-day injured list
LHP Victor Cabreja assigned to FCL Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates optioned C Jason Delay to Indianapolis Indians
DSL Pirates Black placed LHP Angel Soriano on the 60-day injured list
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Top Exit Velocity
Bryan Reynolds - PIT - 110.5 mph - Single
Oneil Cruz - PIT - 108.4 mph - Groundout
Esmerlyn Valdez - BRD - 107.9 mph - Double
Jake Lamb - IND - 105.6 mph - Single
Bryan Reynolds - PIT - 105.6 mph - Groundout
Top Pitch Velocity
Jared Jones - PIT - 101.4 mph
Jared Jones - PIT - 101.3 mph
Aroldis Chapman - PIT - 101.2 mph
Aroldis Chapman - PIT - 101.1 mph
Jared Jones - PIT - 101 mph
Most Whiffs
Jared Jones - PIT - 12
Bubba Chandler - ALT - 12
Hung-Leng Chang - BRD - 12
Isaac Mattson - IND - 9
Derek Diamond - GBO - 8
Indianapolis Indians - 4 vs Columbus Clippers - 15
Top Hitter - Jason Delay: 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI
Top Pitcher - Chris Gau: 3 IP, 4 H, ER, BB, K
Altoona Curve - 0 vs Richmond Flying Squirrels - 1
Top Hitter - Carter Bins: 2-3, BB, 2B
Top Pitcher - Bubba Chandler: 5 IP, 5 H, R (0 ER), 5 K
Greensboro Grasshoppers - 5 vs Jersey Shore Blue Claws - 4
Top Hitter - Lonnie White Jr.: 2-4, 2 R, RBI, 2B, BB
Top Pitcher - Derek Diamond: 5 IP, 4 H, ER, BB, 3 K
Bradenton Marauders - 6 vs Clearwater Threshers - 4
Top Hitter - Esmerlyn Valdez: 3-3, 2B, 3B
Top Pitcher - Landon Tomkins: IP, 3 K
FCL Pirates - 4 vs FCL Red Sox - 12
Top Hitter - Richard Ramirez: 1-3, R, HR, 3 RBI
Top Pitcher - Inmer Lobo: 1.1 IP, H, ER, K
DSL Pirates Black - PPD
DSL Pirates Gold - 4 vs DSL Red Sox Blue - 0
Top Hitter - Edward Florentino: 1-3, R, RBI, BB, 2B
Top Pitcher - Adrian Aray: 3 IP, 4 K
Jared Jones showed Major league Baseball that he is an Alpha Dog and is ready for any moment. I can't wait to watch him pitch in a Post-Season Blackout.
A couple of thoughts from watching the postgame interviews:
1. Jones gives great interviews, and definitely could become a face of the franchise if his arm holds up (loved the velocity last night but couldn't help recalling a blurb from earlier this season that 9 of the 10 SP with the highest velocities last year were on the IL, many with serious injuries, and we have two on that top 10 list this year).
2. When Suwinski was asked if going to AAA led to a swing adjustment he said something along the lines of 'no, the opposite actually' which sounded to me like he was saying he just needs to play, the demotion wasn't necessary. Last year he was second to Hayes in fWAR and what do they do in the offseason but essentially turn him into a platoon player by trading for Olivares and signing MAT.
Anyway, enjoying the postgame shows now that I can watch them under the new broadcasting arrangement.