PITTSBURGH (AP) -Reliever Josh Sharpless was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday to make room on the roster for starter John Van Benschoten.
Manager Jim Tracy had announced Thursday that Van Benschoten would start Saturday’s game against the Chicago White Sox but no official roster move was made. The team had nine relievers available during Thursday night’s 6-0 loss to the Texas Rangers.
Van Benschoten, the team’s first-round pick in 2001 who has had reconstructive surgery on each shoulder during the past two years, arrived in Pittsburgh on Friday. The Pirates wanted him in uniform the evening before he was to make his season debut.
Sharpless was recalled May 27 and was 0-1 with a 12.46 ERA in six appearances.
Van Benschoten, who appeared in six games with Pittsburgh in 2004, was 6-4 with a 2.73 ERA in 12 starts with Indianapolis this season.
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