Marlins at Pirates
Pittsburgh outfielder Bryan Reynolds is enjoying a rookie campaign that could ultimately be a historic one and tries to continue on that path when the Pirates host the Miami Marlins on Thursday in the rubber match of their three-game series. Reynolds, who is bidding to become the first rookie in the modern era to win the National League batting title, delivered a walk-off, two-run single in the ninth inning Wednesday in Pittsburgh's 6-5 victory.
Reynolds (.332) is hitting .381 in his last 14 games and trails only Washington's Anthony Rendon (.338) in the NL batting race. He also recorded his 33rd double of the season Wednesday - two shy of the club rookie record set by Hall of Famer Paul Waner in 1926 - in helping the Pirates win for the fifth time in six games and nine of 12. Miami's Starlin Castro on Wednesday continued to assault Pittsburgh pitching by going 4-for-5 with a home run and three doubles - his 37th multi-hit game in 107 contests against the Pirates, raising his average to .321 against them. Pittsburgh's Dario Agrazal takes the ball Thursday as his promising rookie season continues opposite Elieser Hernandez, who is 2-1 in his last five starts.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FS Florida (Miami), AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh
PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Elieser Hernandez (3-5, 5.06 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Dario Agrazal (4-3, 4.50)
Hernandez picked up a no-decision after allowing four runs, six hits and two walks in six innings of Miami's 7-6 loss at Washington on Friday. The 24-year-old Venezuelan has pitched six innings in four of his last five starts after doing so once in his first seven turns of the season. Hernandez yielded an RBI double to Starling Marte in one inning of relief last season in his only appearance against Pittsburgh.
Agrazal permitted three runs and nine hits over five innings in a 9-4 victory at Colorado on Friday. The 24-year-old Panamanian, who has 27 strikeouts in 54 innings, has won his last two starts although his ERA rose 0.41 during that span. Agrazal made his major league debut against Miami on June 15, allowing three runs (two earned) and six hits in four innings of the Pirates' 4-3 loss at Marlins Park.
WALK-OFFS
1. Pittsburgh SS Kevin Newman on Wednesday did not start for the third straight game because of a hip injury. He flied out as a pinch-hitter.
2. Pirates rookie OF Jason Martin will miss the rest of the season after dislocating his left shoulder during Tuesday's contest.
3. Pittsburgh extended its season-high home run streak to nine games Wednesday when C Elias Diaz recorded his second blast of the season - a solo shot leading off the ninth inning.