HOUSTON – Following their 5-0 loss to the Astros on Wednesday afternoon, the Pirates optioned first baseman/outfielder Steve Pearce and right-handed reliever Steven Jackson to Triple-A Indianapolis.
They recalled left-handed reliever Donnie Veal, who had spent the past month in Indy on a rehab assignment. Another move most likely an infielder will be made Friday to fill out the 25-man roster when the Pirates travel to Philadelphia to begin their final series before the All-Star break.
Pearce was hitting .083 in 12 at-bats and will return to the minors to get more consistent at-bats. Jackson was 2-1 with a 3.44 ERA and pitched two scoreless innings this afternoon.
“I want to be here,” Jackson said. “But if I’m the odd-man out, that’s baseball. All I can do is keep pitching and let them make the decisions. I have no control over that. If it was me, I would probably still be here. But they make the decisions.”
by John Grupp
