PITTSBURGH – Pirates heart fielder Oneil Cruz was eliminated within the eleventh inning of the membership’s 3-2 loss to the Braves on Saturday at PNC Park on account of decrease again tightness.
Cruz appeared to tweak one thing whereas operating to second base and slowing up after Tommy Pham drew a stroll within the ninth inning. Cruz performed the sphere the following body, however then he didn’t come again out for the eleventh.
Supervisor Don Kelly described Cruz’s standing as day after day, however he was not within the lineup for Sunday afternoon’s sequence finale.
Cruz has battled by means of a number of illnesses since fracturing his left ankle in 2023, however he has been in a position to keep away from the injured checklist because the begin of the 2024 season. Shedding Cruz for an prolonged stretch can be a blow for a struggling Pirates offense, as his eight dwelling runs and 16 stolen bases every lead the membership.
The Pirates have choices within the outfield if Cruz is unavailable. Ji Hwan Bae was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday, and whereas Pham has been a bit beneath the climate and out of the beginning lineup the previous two days, he did come off the bench in each video games. Matt Gorski can also play the outfield, although accidents at first base could maintain him there in the interim. Andrew McCutchen has additionally expressed a willingness to play the sphere, and has carried out so six instances this 12 months.
