Blogs

teve Pearce has a boot on his sprained right ankle and is using crutches after being injured in the second inning of Monday’s 7-5 loss against the Reds.

Andy LaRoche is out of the starting lineup for the third straight game due to a stiff lower back.

Here’s the Pirates lineup for Sunday.

Manager John Russell watched the tail end of Aki Iwamura’s workout on the field at PNC Park, then chatted briefly with the second baseman.

Ross Ohlendorf lasted only 3 2/3 innings in tonight’s 7-0 loss against the Braves. The right-hander allowed six runs on seven hits, walked three and struck out three.

Andy LaRoche will bat the leadoff tonight for the first time in his pro career.

The Pirates placed lefty reliever Jack Taschner on the 15-day disabled list with left hamstring tightness on Thursday and reinstated reliever Brendan Donnelly (oblique strain) from the 15-day DL.

You had to feel for Steve Pearce a little bit tonight. In the nine games before last night Pearce has looked pretty solid defensively since being brought up from Indy.

Zach Duke is 2-3 with a 4.17 ERA in five career starts against the Phillies. Those numbers don’t tell the whole story of how well he has pitched at times against them.

Right-hander Brayan Almonte and lefty Angel Sanchez were assigned to the Dominican Summer League. Right-handers Oderman Rocha, Jose Luis Acosta, outfielder Willy Garcia and first baseman Jose Roman were assigned to the Venezuelan Summer League.