Pirates

Pirates Preview: Last Time Hill Suits Up for Bucs?

Published

9 months ago

July 30, 2023

The Pittsburgh Pirates (46-58) defeated the Philadelphia Phillies (56-48) thanks to a few young Bucs stepping up in more ways than one on Saturday night.

Liover Peguero flashed the leather on more than one occasion, and even contributed offensively going 3-4 with a homer and two RBIs.

Alika Williams flashed the leather, and even picked up a huge RBI single, and as a result, the Pirates beat the Phillies by a score of 7-6 as Quinn Priester picked up his second-straight victory.

First pitch at PNC Park is scheduled for 1:35 p.m. You can watch all of the action on AT&T Sportsnet or listen to the game on 93.7 The Fan.

Weather

The heat wave seems to have passed for now, as temperatures will range in the mid 70s throughout the contest. In addition, there will be partly skies and a slight two mph breeze.

The Pirates will send out LHP Rich Hill (7-10, 4.82 ERA)

As the trade deadline approaches, Hill is still a Pirate and is scheduled to make the start on Sunday.

In his last start, Hill wasn’t able to make it out of the fifth inning, despite giving up only two earned runs in that span. The rest of Hill’s line read, seven hits, two walks, and three strikeouts.

Hill has faced the Phillies nine times (six starts) and holds a 2-2 record with an ERA of 3.53 in 35.2 innings pitched.

The Phillies will send out LHP Cristopher Sanchez (0-3, 2.98 ERA)

Sanchez was called up by the Phillies on June 17 and has started in eight games since the getting the call.

In his last two starts combined, Sanchez has put forth a really good stat line. In 12 innings pitched, Sanchez allowed 10 hits, three earned runs, one walk, and struck out 11.

Sanchez offers a three-pitch mix with a sinker (49.8%), changeup (30.1%), and a slider (20.1%). In addition, Sanchez’ sinker has an average launch angle of four, so expect a lot of groundballs.

Sanchez faced the Pirates one time (relief appearance) and holds an 0-0 record with an ERA of 0.00 in two innings pitched.

Phillies Hitters vs. Hill

Kyle Schwarber: 2-12 with a homer and three strikeouts
Nick Castellanos: 0-12 with four strikeouts

Pirates Hitters vs. Wheeler

Josh Palacios: 1-1
Bryan Reynolds: 0-1

Tidbits

Alika Williams has now been a part of four double plays in four games. Only three other Pirates players in the last 50 years have achieved this accomplishment.
In addition, Williams’ first major league hit and RBI occurred in the same at-bat.
Endy Rodriguez’ bases clearing triple is the first Pirates rookie to achieve this since 2019 when Bryan Reynolds did it.
In addition, Rodriguez is just the sixth Pirates rookie to have a bases clearing triple dating back to 1974.