Starling Marte Homers on First Major League Pitch; July 27 Preview: at Houston Astros
In case you somehow missed it, Pittsburgh Pirates prospect Starling Marte got the call to the Major Leagues for last night’s game against the Houston Astros and it didn’t take long for him to make the most of it.
The 23-year-old started in left field and batted lead off for the Bucs, hitting a long home run to left-center field on the first pitch he saw. He became the 28th player to hit a home run on his first Major League pitch and the 13th since 2000.
Marte went 2 for 4 in the game.
Starter A.J. Burnett pitched seven scoreless innings before allowing two solo home runs in the eighth for a final line of four hits, five strikeouts and a walk over 7.1 IP.
The Pirates won the game 5-3, giving Burnett his team-high 12th win of the season. The Pirates are now 15-3 in games Burnett pitches, the best winning percentage for any team when any specific pitcher starts.
Tonight, the Pirates are in Houston again for another 8:05 game and Marte is once again in the lead off spot.
Here’s the entire Pittsburgh lineup:
1. Starling Marte, LF
2. Alex Presley, RF
3. Andrew McCutchen, CF
4. Garrett Jones, 1B
5. Neil Walker, 2B
6. Pedro Alvarez, 3B
7. Michael McKenry, C
8. Clint Barmes, SS
9. Jeff Karstens, P
News broke last night the Pirates will insert new trade acquisition left-handed pitcher Wandy Rodriguez into the starting rotation for Saturday’s game against his former Astros. Kevin Correia - winner of six straight games – will be demoted to the bullpen, leaving lefty Erik Bedard in the rotation.
Clint Hurdle on the decision to move Correia to the bullpen:
“He was disappointed, without doubt,” said manager Clint Hurdle. “First time in his career he wins six straight, and is moved to the ‘pen? I had to wrestle with that one. It’s one of the hardest decisions we’ve had to make.”
Jeff Karstens gets the start for the Pirates tonight against Jordan Lyles.
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