Buc Notes-O’Hearn return, G shot, Braxton big again

PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Ryan O’Hearn and Nick Gonzales homered as the Pirates finished a third home sweep of the season beating the Twins 9-3 Sunday afternoon.

Fifth pitch into his return, Ryan O’Hearn lined a 2-2 slider over the Clemente Wall. O’Hearn had missed two weeks with a quad strain and he didn’t play in the field Sunday, rather was the designated hitter. It was his 8^th home run in his 160^th at bat as a Pirate.

412 is special

Next inning, Nick Gonzales launched a slider into the Twins bullpen for a 4-0 lead. It was Gonzales first of the season and first since July 28 at San Francisco. He had gone 412 at bats, the second-longest active draught in the majors between home runs.

Seven different Pirates drove in a run on Sunday-Gonzales and O’Hearn, but also Brandon Lowe, Oneil Cruz, Jake Mangum, Jared Triolo, Henry Davis (2).

Big company

Starter Braxton Ashcraft with another gem, he became the 12^th Pirate in the Modern Era to strikeout at least 11 with no walks joining Bob Veale, Dock Ellis, John Candelaria, Doug Drabel, Francisco Liriano, Mitch Keller and others.

Ashcraft struck out at least a batter in every inning and two in four innings.

In May, Ashcraft is 4-0, 2.01 ERA, 40.2 innings, nine runs, five walks and 42 strikeouts. He threw 535 pitches, 393 strikes.

Shelton firing inside talk

Before the series started Friday afternoon, Twins manager Derek Shelton said he still had a strong friendship with Pirates GM Ben Cherington. The Bucs general manager said on the Pirates Insider Show that when he met with the then Pirates manager to tell him he was going to be fired, Shelton understood the news that was coming.

“We just kind of both looked at each other and said you know what we don’t even have to talk about it, we know what is going on,” Cherington told Jason Mackey on 93.7 The Fan. “Let’s talk about something else.”

Cherington said they talked about what was next for Shelton and family.

AAA note

Starting the season with the Pirates, Jose Urquidy gave up no runs on only two hits with a walk and six strikeouts for AAA Indianapolis against Iowa on Sunday. The right-hander’s ERA is now 4.78.

Up Next

Pirates head to the road for two series starting in Houston Tuesday night. Right hander Bubba Chandler (1-6, 4.85 ERA) starts against former Pirates righty Mike Burrows (3-6, 5.40 ERA). Burrows was traded to the Astros as part of a three-team deal that brought Brandon Lowe, Mason Montgomery and Jake Mangum to the Pirates.

The numbers for Burrows have been better in May 2-3, 4.55 ERA, 31.2IP, 9 BB, 21 K, 1.23 WHIP. The 26-year-old is coming off giving up two runs in seven innings with six strikeouts at Texas.