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Pirates Notebook: Wilson, Andy LaRoche ailing
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The left side of the Pirates' infield may look a bit different tonight in Houston.
Shortstop Jack Wilson was a late scratch before the 11-6 victory against the New York Mets yesterday, when Dr. Edward Snell diagnosed him with a stomach virus. Wilson was deemed hale enough to board the team flight later in the afternoon, and it will be determined today if he can play.
"I hope so," Wilson said.
Third baseman Andy LaRoche left the game yesterday two innings after he was plunked on the right kneecap by the Mets' Mike Pelfrey in the fourth. LaRoche said that, "if it feels the same way as it does now, I can't play" tonight.
So, the left side of the infield that finished this game -- Ramon Vazquez at shortstop and Eric Hinske at third -- may well play again.
Beltran 'embarrassed'
New York center fielder Carlos Beltran expressed shame at being swept by the Pirates.
"The reality of this is coming here to Pittsburgh and getting swept, me, I feel embarrassed," Beltran said. "I mean, we have to take this personally. It can't happen. It can't happen, us being able to come here and lose three games just like that. Three games to this team. I know they're a big-league ball club, but we're better than them.
He cited the absence of Nate McLouth.
"McLouth wasn't there, and they still come out and score how many runs, 11? Eleven runs. We have to play better."
Outfield is covered
Defensive positioning will not change in the remodeled Pirates outfield, with McCutchen responsible for the same ground McLouth did in center. But all concerned agreed he ultimately could bring more range.
"It's going to be huge," left fielder Nyjer Morgan said.
Utilityman Delwyn Young, who occasionally plays right field, approached Morgan and McCutchen early in the morning to deliver this message: "Dudes, when I'm in right, I'm playing on the line. The rest is all yours. A coach told me a long time ago that, when you're out there with two rabbits, let them do all the running."
Buried treasure
• Despite the rainout Wednesday, the Pirates' rotation will stay in order.
• The crowd of 20,684, enhanced by a walkup of 3,300-plus, was the fifth largest for a weekday afternoon game in PNC Park history.
• The day after McCutchen left Class AAA Indianapolis, that team named him its player of the month for May: He batted .304 with four doubles, three triples, three home runs, 14 RBIs and three steals.
• After the game, New York reliever J.J. Putz, hit hard again yesterday, complained of elbow pain and could go on the disabled list.
First Published June 5, 2009 12:00 am
