Notes: So-So Week; Bart Back, Cook Called Up, Wentz Claimed; Davis On IL, Domingo & McKinney DFA'ed

September song…

At Wrigley, the Bucs reversed field on the Chicago club that swept them at home last week. They fell behind 3-0, scored five runs in the final two frames thanks to Bryan Reynolds and Cutch homering, and the pen was on top of it to close out a 5-3 win. Then a balanced attack and a goose-egg Paul Skenes start brought home a 5-0 win the next day. No sweep, tho – Domingo German got clobbered and three Cubbies combined on a no-no, so the 12-0 score was pretty indicative of the compete level.

Then it was back home to take on the Nats for four games. The Bucs fell behind 3-0 before batting, but came back for a 9-4 win. Thank you, DC, for the nine walks and coupla wild pitches to go with just eight hits. The next game was pushed back to a next day, split-game twin bill due to rain that never fell, at least during gametime hours. The Bucco bats were absent early on and a ninth-inning rally fizzled (they had the bases jammed with one away but left them packed) as they dropped the opener, 5-3. In the second game, the Pirates jumped ahead, the Nats rallied to tie, Pittsburgh came back to take a two-run lead into the ninth, but then the pen – this time it was Aroldis Chapman – flopped again and Washington swept the twin bill, 8-6. The Bucs then rode Jared Jones, three homers and a two-run double by Billy Cook to salvage a split, 7-3.

Jared Jones – 2024 Pirates image

The Marlins and Royals are in town this week, each for three games, with Thursday the day of rest between the two series.

Moves/Injuries:

• The Pirates claimed LHP Joey Wentz off waivers from Detroit. Wentz, 26, has an 0-2-1/5.37 line with 60 Ks in 55-1/3 IP/38 outings this season. He’s in his third MLB campaign and was a starter in ’22-23 with a lifetime slash of 5-17-1/5.81 in 70 games (26 starts). RHP Domingo German finally ran out of rope and was DFA’ed after posting a line of 0-1/7.84 with 18 K/13 walks in 20-2/3 IP. He cleared the wire and was assigned to Indy.
• A couple of days later, the Pirates reinstated C Joey Bart (hammy) from the IL and DFA’ed OF Billy McKinney (.200 BA in 10 games). Billy cleared waivers and was reassigned to Indy. The Buccos are carrying three catchers on the active roster now – Bart, Henry Davis (now on the IL, see below) and Yasmani Grandal.
• 1B/OF Billy Cook, who has swung a solid stick (.276/5 HR/21 RBI in 30 games) since the Bucs got him at the deadline, was called up. He made his MLB debut Sunday, playing first base. C Henry Davis broke the immediate backstop logjam when he was placed on the 10-day IL (hand).
• C Endy Rodriguez is slated to rehab at Altoona next week. GM Ben expects him to catch, play 1st and DH. One day the Pirates will match a player and position…

Billy Cook after his first MLB hit – 9/8/2024 SportsNet Pgh.

• Hi-A Greensboro OF PJ Hilson, 24, won the Sally League Player of the Week award. He hit .375 during the span with a couple of homers.
• LHP Rich Hill was DFA’ed after a brief stay with the BoSox. Hill worked just 3-2/3 IP with a 4.91 ERA, five strikeouts and three walks.