Pirates Notebook: Grabow elbows his way back
Share with others:
Tuesday's results
ALTOONA (7-8) lost to Bowie, 6-3, in 11 innings. RHP Kip Bouknight (1-0, 2.70) allowed two runs in seven innings. RHP Romulo Sanchez (3.18) pitched a perfect inning of relief. 3B Neil Walker (.291) went 0 for 4 with a walk. CF Andrew McCutchen (.192) went 0 for 5.
LYNCHBURG (6-8) lost at Kinston, 3-2. RHP Clayton Hamilton (0-2, 8.44) allowed one run in five innings. 1B Steve Pearce (.288) hit his sixth home run -- fourth in the past three games -- and went 2 for 3 with a walk.
HICKORY (7-9) lost at West Virginia, 11-6. RHP Eric Krebs (1-1, 4.20) allowed six runs in five innings. DH Jamie Romak (.340) hit his fifth home run and went 2 for 2.
The Pirates welcomed back left-hander John Grabow to their bullpen last night.
"I'm good to go," Grabow said. "I'm game ready."
Never mind that Grabow didn't pitch in back-to-back games during a four-appearance rehabilitation stint with Class AAA Indianapolis.
"We didn't want him to," manager Jim Tracy said. "We won't ride him [heavily] right out of the chute. We'll build up to that point."
Grabow, shut down during spring training after reporting elbow irritation March 12, believes he wouldn't have a problem pitching in back-to-back games.
"It's never been a problem in the past," he said. "I'm not getting any soreness the day after I pitch like I did in the spring."
Nady sits with injury
Right fielder Xavier Nady, out since the game Saturday with a left hamstring strain, probably won't play again until Friday at the earliest.
Nady felt some better yesterday, but the most he could have done last night was pinch-hit.
"We will not let him run," Tracy said.
Tracy started right-handed batting Brad Eldred in right field last night even though right-hander Woody Williams started for Houston. Why Eldred and not left-handed batting Nate McLouth?
"Researching Woody Williams, it makes more sense to have a power-hitting right-handed batter in there," Tracy said. "[Williams' cut fastball] this season has been very effective against left-handers."
Entering the game last night, right-handed batters were hitting .339 against Williams, while left-handed hitters had a .256 mark.
Outfield work for Castillo
Second baseman Jose Castillo began taking fly balls in the outfield during batting practice last night in the Pirates' effort to find more ways to get him into the lineup.
"We'll see where it takes us," Tracy said. "He's played the outfield in winter ball."
Going for 3,000
Houston second baseman Craig Biggio had 2,946 career hits going into the game yesterday. He's trying to become the 27th major-leaguer to reach 3,000 hits.
"Hopefully it's meant to be," Biggio said. "It's going to be whatever it is. I'm just going out there and trying to win games, and if you win games, you'll get your hits along the way.
"Hopefully in another two months we'll have something positive to talk about. It's too far away now. When we get close, I'm sure the media will be a little more attentive to it. But you have to get there first."
White still going
Former Pirates pitcher Rick White is in the Houston bullpen for the second time in his career. He also pitched for the Astros in 2003.
Why does White, 38, think he continues to get big-league jobs?
"I can throw every day," he said. "I can throw strikes. I get ground balls. A lot of teams like guys who can get ground-ball outs. And there's the durability, staying off the [disabled list]."
White became a 10-year veteran last season. Pitching in the majors at age 40 is his next goal.
"My wife told me if I'm still pitching when I'm 40 and somebody wants to sign me I should probably keep playing because she doesn't want me around the house," White said.
Makeup date
It's not official yet, but the makeup date for the Pirates' rained out doubleheader against San Francisco April 15 is tentatively set for Aug. 13.
Pups in PNC Park
The first of six scheduled "Pups in the Park" events will be held tomorrow. Fans with their dogs can watch the Pirates' 12:35 game from the deck under the left field scoreboard.
A limited amount of tickets to the game are available at a cost of $20 per person for a single game ticket and $108 for a Pup-Pack, a pass good for all six dates. Only one dog per person will be allowed.
First Published April 24, 2007 11:28 pm
