Things have gone from bad to worse for Pirates starting pitcher A.J. Burnett.
Advertisement
Burnett, who allowed seven earned runs in 4 1/3 innings during Thursday’s 15-5 loss to the Cincinnati Reds, was placed on the disabled list with right elbow inflammation. In 21 starts (124 1/3 innings) with Triple-A Indianapolis, he went 8-8 with a 3.98 ERA and 95 strikeouts.
On the year Happ is 4-6 with a 4.64 ERA and 82 strikeouts in 20 starts for the Mariners. He will step into Burnett’s spot in the rotation. “If he continues to scuffle, we’ll have a decision to make moving forward”. The team acquired first baseman/outfielder Michael Morse from the Dodgers for outfielder Jose Tabata, and left-hander J.A. Happ from the Mariners for minor league righty Adrian Sampson, the teams announced. Guerra gave up a pair of three-run homers by Brandon Phillips on Thursday night. He will serve as a right-handed complement to Pedro Alvarez at first base.
The Pirates acquired Soria in a trade with the Detroit Tigers on Thursday and grabbed right-hander Joe Blanton from the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday.
Sampson, 23, is from Redmond and played at Skyline High School and Bellevue College. He’s 1-1 with a 2.72 ERA in 42 appearances for Indianapolis this season. His at-bats had declined in each of his six seasons with the Pirates. He was called up one time previously this season and threw a scoreless inning at Philadelphia on May 14.
Advertisement
The Dodgers are now in first place by a half-game in the NL West, while the Pirates are atop the NL Wild Card race.
