Marte, Cervelli lost to injury, but latter 'fine'

The Pirates' 7-0 pounding of the White Sox didn't come without a price.

Starling Marte exited in the first inning Tuesday night at PNC Park with what a team official called "right side discomfort," and Francisco Cervelli exited two innings later shortly after being hit by a pitch on the right forearm. Both stayed in the game briefly to run the bases, but each was replaced after the third out.

There was no immediate word on the severity of Marte's injury, though both players almost certainly will be held out of the Wednesday 12:35 p.m. finale of this two-game series with Chicago.

Cervelli told me he had X-rays and that the forearm was “fine, all good, no problem.” He had a bruise to the muscle on the inside of his forearm. It went numb for a bit, he explained, which is why he was lifted.

The lineup could ill afford to lose either for any sustained span. Marte's .308 batting average is second on the team to Corey Dickerson, and Cervelli's right behind at .302.

Marte doubled in the Pirates' four-run first inning and came around to score. He showed no ill signs on the basepaths or in the dugout afterward, so it's difficult to discern what happened.

Cervelli was hit by a 94-mph fastball from Chicago's all-over-creation starter Reynaldo Lopez, reflexively dropping his bat and sprinting around a bit in the grass before being tended to and, eventually, convincing Clint Hurdle to let him take his base.

MATT SUNDAY GALLERY