The Pirates started the seven-game homestand with a win on Memorial Day against the Chicago Cubs.
Joe Block Reports.
For the second time in three games, Pirates manager Don Kelly was ejected by the umpiring crew. This came after Konnor Griffin took a fastball up and inside that looked to graze him. The umpires said that the ball did not touch him and the call was challenged by Kelly. The call stood under review and Griffin did not get the walk to first. When Kelly came out to argue, umpire Mark Ripperger threw him out immediately as a manager is not allowed to argue a call that has been reviewed. Kelly was also tossed on Saturday in Toronto after arguing multiple check-swing calls. he last time a Pirates manager was ejected multiple times in as short of a span was in 2017, when Clint Hurdle was tossed in back-to-back games on May 22 and 23.
The two teams are back in action tonight. The Pirates will send Braxton Ashcraft to start tonight. (3-2, 2.89 ERA, 65 k’s) The Cubs are countering with Jordan Wicks, who is making his debut tonight. Air time is 6:15 on WCCS.
