PITTSBURGH -- Before Thursday's game, Pirates manager Clint Hurdle recalled a recent conversation with Pedro Alvarez. The Bucs have been trying to get their first baseman back "in the productive place that we've seen him," Hurdle said, even as his name continues to pop up in trade rumors.
Alvarez has been back in that productive place the last two days. A night after homering to left field, Alvarez launched a two-run shot off Nationals ace Max Scherzer all the way out of PNC Park in right-center on Friday and bounced it into the Allegheny River, giving the Pirates a 2-0 lead in the second inning.