There weren’t too many bright spots in the Pirates’ 3-0 loss Monday night to the Milwaukee Brewers at PNC Park.
Enter A.J. Schugel, who performed triage on Jameson Taillon’s sixth inning. Schugel entered the game with Brewers at the corners and no outs and managed to get out of the jam. The 28-year-old right-handed reliever quietly has become one of the most reliable members of the bullpen.
“That’s proven to be one of his strengths,” manager Clint Hurdle said of Schugel’s ability to clean up a messy inning. “We’ve gone to him multiple times already this season in that role.