got scared a lot because I felt the pain in the beginning,” Acuña said through a translator. “Hopefully, everything is going to go well.”
Jarred Kelenic went 3 for 4 in place of Acuña, a 26-year-old outfielder batting .250 with four home runs and 15 RBIs in 49 games.
Sale struck out eight and allowed one run in another impressive outing for the 35-year-old left-hander, who has regained the form that earned him seven straight All-Star selections from 2012-18 before a string of injuries.
“Just doing what I need to do,” Sale said. “We all have our part on the team. Just posting every fifth day and trying to keep runs off the board. … Take every start, you want to win. Had a couple rough ones over the last couple days. You want to end on a good note heading back home.”
Pérez allowed one run, four hits and two walks in three innings before a left groin injury. The 33-year-old left-hander was checked after Kelenic beat him to first for a one-out single in the third. He then allowed an RBI double from Ozzie Albies that tied the score 1-1.
Pittsburgh also lost catcher Joey Bart, removed after the first inning and replaced by Yasmani Grandal because of a left thumb injury.
“Very, very strange,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said of the three injuries in the first three innings. “The Acuña thing, I actually didn’t even see it happen. I watched the replay. … That was a little concerning for a guy that’s as talented (as he is) in our game, the way he went down. Then with Joey and Martín, yeah, I don’t think I’ve ever seen that.”
