Brault’s approach to consistency a hit
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pitchers and coaches speak often of a pitcher’s need to repeat his delivery — making the body do the same thing every pitch to improve consistency, command and control. Steven Brault is taking a different route.
“Basically, it comes down to the fact that I just decided that I’m just going to let it go however it wants to go,” he said Thursday after striking out three in 2⅓ scoreless innings. “It works better for me. I’m not a guy that needs to be perfect delivery or everything like that, I’m not going to release the ball from the [same] place every time.”
Since returning to the bullpen May 2, Brault has allowed a run in one of the five games in which he appeared, a one-inning, tworun outing May 11 against the San Francisco Giants. Every other appearance, which has stretched from a 2⅓-inning appearance Thursday to one batter May 5, has been scoreless.
“His stuff is playing up out of the bullpen,” said Chad Kuhl, whom Brault relieved Thursday. “I think he’s doing an awesome job.”
The jam Brault inherited initially obscured the fact that he was facing the San Diego Padres, his hometown team, for the first time.
“I kind of forgot about that part because I had enough nerves going on for the actual situation,” the La Mesa, Calif., native said. “Now, reflecting on that, it’s pretty sweet. It’s pretty sweet to see the Padres uniform on the team I’m playing against.”
Musgrove rehab
Joe Musgrove allowed six runs and 10 hits in five innings in his rehabilitation start Friday night with Class AAA Indianapolis.
Musgrove threw 96 pitches. The Pirates had him scheduled for six innings or 100 pitches.
Musgrove allowed four extra-base hits, and gave up three runs in the second and three in the fourth. He is working his way back from a strained right shoulder and could make his Pirates debut as early as next week.
Cervelli sits
Francisco Cervelli did not start the game Friday after jamming his finger while diving into a base Thursday night, manager Clint Hurdle said. Cervelli stayed in the game, but his finger swelled.