PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Earlier in the day, Pirates GM Ben Cherington was able to add to the team to try and help push towards a playoff run. Then on the field, yet another win against a playoff contending team on the road, final 6-2 in Houston.
Heading into the final day of July the Pirates are within a pair of games of a Wild Card spot tied with St. Louis and six behind the Brewers for first in the NL Central. They have won 16 of their last 18 games when scoring at least four runs and are 8-3 on the road this month, clinching the series against the Astros.
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His first start since coming back from left triceps tendonitis, Bailey Falter was able to pitch into the sixth inning going 5.1 innings, allowing six hits, two runs, one earned, no walks and three strikeouts. The lefty threw 47 of 66 pitches for strikes for his fifth win, one away from matching a MLB career-high.
A bullpen, now without righty Carmen Mlodzinski for at least 15 days on the injured list with a right shoulder strain, didn’t give up a run in 3.1 innings.
· Dennis Santana-1.2 innings, hit, two strikeouts
· Kyle Nicolas-1 inning, hit, walk
· Hunter Stratton (recently back from a right triceps injury)-1 inning, 2 hits, 2 strikeouts
Michael A. Taylor again had the big swing. Taylor hit a three-run homer on Monday and a two-run homer on Tuesday, the first time he’s had home runs in back-to-back games in two years. It’s the 99th in his career.
After a miserable start offensively, Taylor is hitting .300 in July with a .389 on-base percentage which raised his average to .211 overall.
Eight of those in the Pirates lineup had at least a hit and Andrew McCutchen drove in a run with a bases loaded walk. Jared Triolo had an RBI double and Connor Joe had three hits.
Defensively Bryan Reynolds and Ji Hwan Bae each had diving catches to end innings.
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He watched as the Pirates added three players at the trade deadline who can play his position, Liover Peguero answered with a big night. A trade acquisition himself from Arizona in the Starling Marte trade, the infielder had a pair of hits, scored a pair of runs and drove in a pair of runs. The right-handed hitter now has a team-leading 58 RBI on the season.
Up Next
The Pirates have yet to name a starter as left-handed Framber Valdez (9-5, 3.43 ERA) starts for Houston, in two starts against the Pirates, he’s walked six and given up eight runs in 10 innings. First pitch at 8:10 with Dan Zangrilli hosting the North Shore Tavern Leadoff Show at 7:15 on Wednesday.