Correia To Start In San Diego Monday Night
PITTSBURGH (93-7 THE FAN) -- Yesterday the Tribune-Review's Dejan Kovacevic reported, according to an internal source, that Pirates right-handed pitcher Kevin Correia privately volunteered to pick up the team's tired pitching staff after a 19-inning win in St. Louis. The team has confirmed Correia will indeed make a spot start, opposing Edinson Volquez, in tonight's game at San Diego, the start of a three-game set against the Padres.
Correia put up a pair of zeroes in the ninth and tenth innings of the Bucs' 6-3 victory over the Cardinals on Sunday. The former Padre, who had been moved to the bullpen following the Wandy Rodriguez trade in late July, has gone 9-7 with a 4.56 ERA and 1.31 WHIP in his second season in Pittsburgh, working 124 1/3 innings. Prior to an 11-0 drubbing against Los Angeles at PNC Park last Tuesday, he had earned seven straight wins amidst two no-decisions.
Rodriguez, the originally scheduled starter for Monday's lid-lifter, also pitched two (unplanned) innings on Sunday, getting through the 18th and 19th frames to earn his first win as a Pirate.
Meanwhile, the Pirates made other roster moves to spell their pitchers. Reliever Juan Cruz has been designated for assignment, while Kyle McPherson and Justin Wilson have been recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis.
Cruz had struggled since coming off the DL over a week ago, allowing eight runners in just 4 2/3 innings and posting a 3.86 ERA in that span.
Wilson, 24, a 2008 fifth-round Pirate draftee, has two signature performances with Indy under his belt: he pitched 7 1/3 innings of a combined no-hitter Apr. 29 against Durham, and on Aug. 9 tossed a rain-shortened eight-inning no-hitter against Charlotte. The lefty is 9-6 through 25 starts with a 3.84 ERA and 1.16 WHIP.
McPherson, a right-hander who just turned 25, had a cup of coffee with the Indians, but spent most of 2012 with the Double-A Altoona Curve. With Altoona he went 3-5 in nine starts with a 4.07 ERA and 1.21 WHIP, recording an impressive 46 strikeouts against just five walks in 48 2/3 innings.
In addition, reserve infielder Jordy Mercer has been placed on paternity leave to be present for the birth of his son.
Tune into the Pirates Preview Show with Dan Zangrilli and Kevin Orie at 8:40 on your flagship home of the Bucs, SportsRadio 93.7 The Fan, for starting lineups and more.
