Pirates Notebook: Cedeno out with concussion
WASHINGTON — The Pirates placed Ronny Cedeno on the seven-day disabled list Saturday because of a concussion.
They recalled infielder Pedro Ciriaco from Class AAA Indianapolis to take his place.
Cedeno got the concussion trying to break up a double play at second base Friday night in the fourth inning. The Pirates said he did not have many symptoms initially but felt worse as the night progressed. He had a 10-game hitting streak before he was injured.
Major League Baseball instituted the seven-day disabled list before this season specifically for players who have concussions.
Ciriaco has played in six games for the Pirates this season. He joined the team when Pedro Alvarez went on the disabled list and returned to Indianapolis when the Pirates recalled outfielder Alex Presley earlier this week.
The Pirates made an expected roster switch, too: they recalled Brad Lincoln from Class AAA Indianapolis to start the second game of the doubleheader and optioned Tim Wood to Indianapolis.
“I’m looking forward to seeing him pitch,” manager Clint Hurdle said.
Lincoln pitched in 11 games for the Pirates in 2010 and went 1-4 with a 6.66 ERA. This season at Indianapolis, he was 6-7 with a 4.14 ERA in 14 starts. He struck out 72 in 822/3 innings.
Wood had a 5.63 ERA in 13 games with the Pirates this season. He took the loss Friday night, allowing a walk-off single to Matt Stairs in the ninth inning.
Both Ciriaco and Lincoln were on the 40-man roster.
Garrett Jones‘ home run against Nationals left-hander Sean Burnett was his first against a southpaw since Aug. 7, 2010, when he connected against Colorado’s Randy Flores.
“It definitely feels good to get one off a lefty,” Jones said. “I saw the ball well.”
Jones went 3 for 4 with a double and two RBIs in the opener Saturday. Burnett left a fastball over the middle of the plate that Jones took advantage of.
“I just tried to take a nice smooth swing,” he said. “I got the good part of the bat on it. It came off the bat great.”
James McDonald allowed two runs in 61/3 innings in the first game Saturday and displayed great control during the early innings.
He credited the improved control to increased focus while warming up in the bullpen, a suggestion from pitching coach Ray Searage.
“[I went] into the pen with a more game-like attitude to bear down on hitters and get that feel going,” McDonald said.
McDonald struck out a Nationals batter to end an inning with runners in scoring position twice, including a bases-loaded jam in the fifth.
“Make my pitch,” he said of his thought process. “Don’t really panic and think you got to do something special, just make my pitch.”
Joel Hanrahan recorded his 24th save in 24 opportunities, tying Mike Gonzales for the Pirates’ consecutive saves record without blowing one. Gonzalez had 24 in a row from April 11 to Aug. 24, 2006.
The Pirates and Colombian outfielder Harold Ramirez, 16, agreed on a $1,050,000 signing bonus, Baseball America reported. The contract was the second-highest amount the Pirates have spent on an international signing bonus. They gave pitcher Luis Heredia $2.6 million one year ago.