PITTSBURGH -- The Pirates made several roster moves on Saturday to accommodate their need for fresh arms, recalling left-hander Cory Luebke and selecting right-hander Curtis Partch from Triple-A Indianapolis.
Right-handers Wilfredo Boscan and Rob Scahill, who both pitched in Friday's 9-2 loss to the Angels, were optioned to Indianapolis. Boscan had a 2.92 ERA in 12 1/3 innings and Scahill had a 3.18 ERA in 11 1/3 innings.
Pirates manager Clint Hurdle made it clear the move was not due to Boscan's or Scahill's performance, but simply predicated on the team's need for fresh arms in the bullpen.
"It's one of the harder things of the demands of the job you've got to meet," Hurdle said. "They hear, and they understand, but nobody needs to like it. That's the hard part of it. And I told them the reality is just that, we need men available to pitch today and tomorrow and neither one of those is you."
To make room for Partch on the 40-man roster, the Pirates transferred right-hander Ryan Vogelsong to the 60-day disabled list. Vogelsong was hit in the face by a pitch on May 23 and underwent surgery to repair several facial fractures on Thursday.
Injury updates
Catcher Francisco Cervelli and infielder David Freese were out of the lineup again after being hit by pitches in Thursday's game vs. Miami. Shortstop Jordy Mercer, though hit by a pitch and sustaining a left elbow injury Thursday, returned to the lineup for Saturday's game.
Freese, who took a fastball to the right hand, said there was no structural damage to his hand but the bruising made it difficult to grip a bat. The bruising has improved since Thursday, though.
Chris Stewart started in place of Cervelli, even though Hurdle said Stewart got hit by one of Boscan's pitches on Friday. Cervelli has a bruised right foot.