Lambo continues power surge at Triple-A

PITTSBURGH -- Pedro Alvarez hit it on a slightly bigger stage, but he was not the only member of the Pirates' organization to clock his 27th homer of the season Monday night.

So did Andrew Lambo, who did it for Triple-A Indianapolis, seemingly on cue after a new round of questions about the Bucs' reluctance to give him a call.

The latest outcry followed the recall of outfielder Alex Presley from the Indians on Monday. But as manager Clint Hurdle explained, the transaction gave the Bucs another left-handed hitter for an 11-game stretch during which they are scheduled to face nine right-handed starters.

Like Presley, Lambo also plays the same position and is a left-handed hitter, but with considerably more thunder. Between Double-A Altoona and Indianapolis, in addition to the 27 homers, he has driven in 85 runs in 104 games. The average (.289) and slugging percentage (.576) are solid, though he is as strikeout prone (110) as typical young sluggers.

Hurdle acknowledged that Lambo, indeed, had been one of the alternatives considered in internal discussions that led to Presley's recall. Lambo, who accompanied James McDonald in the mid-2010 deal with the Dodgers for Octavio Dotel, may have been tripped up by red tape: He is not on the club's 40-man roster.

"He was a couple of years ago, when it didn't pan out very well," Hurdle said. "He's dealt with some things professionally, has worked his way back and is doing everything he can to make sure we're aware that he's playing good ball and swinging the bat. So definitely there's still interest in Lambo."