One day after he earned his first career victory in his first major-league start, the Pittsburgh Pirates optioned right-hander Cody Ponce to their alternate training site in Altoona, according to the MLB transactions page.
The Pirates have yet to announce the move.
Ponce threw 5 2/3 scoreless innings in the second game of the seven-inning doubleheader at St. Louis on Thursday, a 2-0 victory in which he allowed five hits and two walks with two strikeouts. Ponce had previously pitched twice in relief for the Pirates before being sent to Altoona to stretch out for his start against the Cardinals.
“He stepped up and pitched his butt off,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said. “That’s a good lineup. The Cardinals are a good team and he went after people. He attacked them. I thought he did a hell of a job.”
The Pirates were permitted to carry an extra player on their 28-man roster for the doubleheader.
