Stephen J. Nesbitt of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has a heartwarming story that occurred during batting practice at PNC Park before the Pirates hosted the Reds on Wednesday evening.
As Nesbitt tells it, first baseman Josh Bell hit a bird with a batted ball in batting practice. Reliever Antonio Bastardo said the bird was “disorientated,” so he and outfielder Gregory Polanco helped it before it could potentially get hurt any more. Outfielder Starling Marte came over and petted it while calling for the team trainer.
Update: Pictures!
.@pirates pitcher Antonio Bastardo does all he can to try to save a bird's life that was injured during batting practice at PNC Park today. pic.twitter.com/tGKb89ycCB
— Matt Freed (@MattFreedPhoto) April 12, 2017
Luckily for that bird, it appears to have had a better fate with the Pirates than a pigeon had flying in front of Randy Johnson during a spring training game in 2001.
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