Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon was unable to pencil second baseman Pokey Reese's name into the lineup Wednesday night, and that is becoming a common occurrence this season.
Reese missed the game with a strained oblique muscle in his left side. He left after one inning Tuesday night because of the injury, which was sustained during batting practice Monday.
The sight of Reese in the dugout is nothing new. He spent 15 days on the disabled list in April and May with a strained right hamstring. Because of an assortment of other minor injuries and games missed because of personal reasons, Reese has appeared in only 55 of the first 83 games.
"You hate the nagging injuries that keep you out three or four days here and four or five days there," McClendon said. "We need to get him past that."
Last year, his final one with the Cincinnati Reds, Reese missed 43 starts due to a variety of injuries, including a stomach virus, cut index finger and bruised nerve in his thumb.
"We have to find a way to keep this kid on the field," McClendon said. "We're a much better team with him on the field, no question about it. I think we've all seen what he can bring to the field defensively. He's also done well from the No. 8 spot. It's frustrating for him, and it's frustrating for me that these nagging injuries come up. Hopefully, we can eliminate them for the second half."
Outfielder Brian Giles missed the first week of the season with a similar injury. How long Reese remains sidelined could be determined today when he receives another round of treatment for his injury.
"It will give us an idea whether it will be two or three days or 7-10 days," trainer Kent Biggerstaff said.
In other injury news, right-handed reliever Josias Manzanillo (right elbow surgery) was scheduled to pitch two innings last night in his injury rehab assignment with Class AA Nashville. Manzanillo will take two days off, then pitch in games Saturday and Sunday.
Also, Biggerstaff said outfielder Armando Rios (sprained right calf) won't begin an injury rehab assignment for 7-10 days.
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
The Pirates and Brewers have shared a history this year of beanball incidents, but McClendon didn't think there was any malice involved Tuesday when each team had a batter plunked.
Ruben Quevedo hit Craig Wilson to open the Pirates' second inning after Sean Lowe hit Richie Sexson with two outs in the top half of the inning. Umpire C.B. Bucknor warned both dugouts after Wilson was hit.
"That kid wasn't trying to hit Wilson. Absolutely not," McClendon said. "His control wasn't the greatest. With a 5-2 lead, I don't think they felt so comfortable that they could hit (Wilson). They're a team that's just like us, they want to win ballgames."
BULLPEN BLUES
The Pirates relief corps was stretched thin after working 81/3 innings Tuesday night. Scott Sauerbeck was pressed into duty for a fourth consecutive game and pitched the ninth after Ron Villone allowed five runs in the eighth. The Pirates also were without Mike Fetters, who was hit in the jaw by a ball during batting practice.
McClendon, who also used Mike Lincoln and Sean Lowe in the game, considered having catcher Keith Osik mop up in the ninth with the Pirates trailing 12-3.
"It was starting to get to that point," he said. "You have to think about the next two or three games as opposed to one game."
Because of the venue, McClendon decided against having Osik toe the rubber.
"On the road, you maybe have to do it, but you never want to do that at home," he said.
STEALING THIRD
Chad Hermansen was running on his own Tuesday when he was caught stealing third for the second out of the fourth inning. The Pirates were trailing 5-2 at the time.
The decision caught McClendon off guard, and he discussed the matter with Hermansen.
"At this level, you think you have everything covered from A to Z and don't leave any stone unturned," he said. "When you think they've got it, they shock you."
McClendon, however, said his talk with Hermansen was not animated.
"I'd much prefer to teach him and show him what's right and wrong," he said. "He'll get better because of it."
TRAFFIC TALK
The Clemente Bridge will be limited to pedestrian traffic beginning at 6 a.m. today until one hour after the conclusion of the 4:05 p.m. game. In addition, the Port Authority will operate two-car trains on the "T" and provide additional bus service in all major corridors from mid-afternoon until the end of service. Also, the Gateway Clipper will not runs normal shuttle service to and from the ballpark due to river closure for the Fourth of July fireworks celebration.
MINOR MATTERS
Right-hander Chris Spurling and outfielder Shawn Garrett will represent Class AA Altoona in the Eastern League All-Star Game, which will be played July 10 in Norwich, Conn. Spurling is 4-1 with 11 saves and a 2.11 ERA in 31 games. Garrett is batting .291 with eight home runs and 44 RBI in 77 games.
