Pirates’ Tabata out with flu-like illness

Photo

Photo by: Associated Press

Pittsburgh Pirates’ Jordy Mercer, right, is congratulated by third base coach Nick Leyva after hitting a solo home run during the second inning of a game against the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday in St. Louis. The game was not completed in time for this edition.

Associated Press

ST. LOUIS

The Pittsburgh Pirates scratched Jose Tabata due to flu-like symptoms and plugged in call-up Andrew Lambo, who has hit 31 homers in the minors this year, to make his major league debut against the Cardinals on Tuesday night.

The 25-year-old Lambo, recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis, replaced Tabata in right field and was batting seventh Tuesday night. He was hitting .278 with 17 homers and 51 RBIs in 59 games at Indianapolis after hitting 14 homers with 46 RBIs in 58 games at Double-A Altoona.

Tabata was batting .256 with three homers and 14 RBIs.

The Pirates and Cardinals were tied at 3 in the 11th at press time late Tuesday night.