Lowe avoids serious injury after Saturday HBP, gets pinch-hit double in Atlanta finale

ATLANTA -- Ahead of Sunday’s series finale against the Braves, there was speculation about a potential IL stint for Brandon Lowe.

Lowe left Saturday’s 6-3 loss to Atlanta in the top of the ninth inning after he fouled a pitch off his right knee, then he was not in the starting lineup on Sunday.

Lowe’s X-rays came back negative and he did running drills ahead of Sunday’s 1:35 p.m. ET first pitch.

Pirates fans can now breathe a sigh of relief, as their most productive hitter -- who entered the game with a team-leading .848 OPS -- came into the game in the top of the ninth as a pinch-hitter and doubled on the first pitch he saw. Lowe was pinch-run for by Oneil Cruz, but he seemed to have no trouble running to second base.

“Yesterday, I used Therabody compression boots,” Lowe said. “I was in there for an hour after the game and before I went to bed. I used them probably three times before the game [Sunday] working with [associate head athletic trainer] Joel [Harris] in the training room just to stay on top of the swelling. I felt like if I could manage the pain and do things, I’d be fine.”

The Pirates have Monday off before their gauntlet of facing MLB’s top two teams in back-to-back series begins on Tuesday against the Dodgers in Pittsburgh. Lowe could be back in the starting lineup for that series.

“This off-day lining up the way that it is is probably the best timing I could have ever hoped for, following something like this,” Lowe said. “Hopefully, my kids take it easy on me tomorrow and we show up on Tuesday ready to rock.”