Pittsburgh Pirates lose Andrew McCutchen and Oneil Cruz due to injury

PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh Pirates ended a 10-game losing streak on Friday night, but still lost two of their key players to injury.

Outfielder/designated hitter Andrew McCutchen and shortstop Oneil Cruz both left Friday night's game against the Seattle Mariners due to injuries. The Pirates reported that they took McCutchen out of the game because of left knee discomfort and Cruz out of the game because of left ankle discomfort. They also announced that the two players are being evaluated and treated by medical personnel.

McCutchen hit a single in the bottom of the seventh inning, but when he reached first base, he grimaced in pain and could barely move. The Pirates replaced McCutchen with Ji Hwan Bae as the reliever.

Cruz took a ball below his knees and drove it into right field, where it bounced right off Mariners right fielder Dominic Canzone, allowing center fielder Michael A. Taylor to score from third base and Bae to score from first base and extend the Pirates' lead to 5-2.

After Cruz ran past second base, he stopped and slipped before slowly coming back safely. Pirates manager Derek Shelton and a trainer came out to check on him, and they would take him out of the game, with Jared Triolo coming in as the relief runner.

McCutchen missed a few games earlier this season due to left leg injuries, but did not appear on the injured list. He has a batting average of .235/.336/.406 with 89 hits in 378 at-bats, 14 doubles, 16 home runs, 40 RBIs and 51 walks with 114 strikeouts.

Cruz has played 108 games for the Pirates this season, compiling a batting average of .260/.315/.467 with 106 hits in 407 at-bats, 26 doubles, two triples, 18 home runs, 61 RBIs and 32 walks with 143 strikeouts.

He hasn't struggled with injuries much this season after missing almost all of last season due to a fractured left ankle sustained after a collision with an opposing catcher in early April 2023.

The Pirates hope to have both players back for the remainder of the series, as they face the Mariners on Saturday at 1:05 p.m. and Sunday at 1:35 p.m.

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