PITTSBURGH -- Fresh off a frustrating pair of losses in Minnesota, Pirates second baseman Josh Harrison offered a bit of good news. After going 3-for-5 at the plate and reaching on a bunt single, Harrison said Wednesday was the first day he'd been able to sprint at full speed and "play with no reservations" since the All-Star break.
"It's been a while," he said.
Harrison sustained a left hamstring strain in the Pirates' first-half finale and didn't play in the first series after the break. He admittedly wasn't at full strength upon his return, either, but Wednesday offered proof that he may be rounding back into form.
Harrison singled in each of his first two at-bats and dropped a bunt for a hit in Wednesday's 6-4 loss at Target Field. In Pittsburgh's 1-0 loss to the Cubs on Thursday at PNC Park, Harrison had a line-drive single and sprinted from first to third on Adeiny Hechavarria's hit in the fifth inning.
But Harrison knew he was in good shape on Wednesday, when he was able to tag up at second base and reach third on a flyout to right field.
"That's the most that I had really pushed my hamstring. There were times, leading up to that, that any force or trying to turn it up, I would still feel that I've got to be cautious," Harrison said. "Through the treatment and strengthening exercises that I've been doing, I can feel it getting back to where I can run.
"That's part of my game, just being able to run and play the way I do. These are things that I really hadn't had a chance to really do the past month, ever since I kind of tweaked it. But I could manage."
It's been a tough season for the 31-year-old infielder, who entered Friday slashing .261/.302/.368 a year after making his second All-Star team, and he already missed time this season due to a left hand fracture. With Sean Rodriguez (before his injury) and Adam Frazier around to spell him, Harrison was able to avoid the disabled list and play through it.
"I've spent enough time on the DL," Harrison said. "If I can manage and play, I know me being out on that field means a lot more than me being on the DL."

Apostel traded to Texas
The Pirates sent Minor League third baseman Sherten Apostel to the Rangers as the player to be named in the Keone Kela trade. Pittsburgh previously dealt Double-A left-hander Taylor Hearn to Texas on July 31.
Apostel, a 19-year-old signed out of Curacao in 2015, broke out in the Dominican Summer League last season and hit .259/.406/.460 with seven homers in 41 games for Rookie-level Bristol this season. He was not ranked among the Pirates' top 30 prospects by MLB Pipeline.
Around the horn
• Right-hander Chad Kuhl (forearm strain) played catch on Friday for the first time since going on the disabled list in June. Director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that the Pirates still hope Kuhl will pitch "meaningful innings" next month.
• Hechavarria was in the lineup at shortstop for the third straight day on Friday. Manager Clint Hurdle said there will eventually be an opportunity for prospect Kevin Newman, but while Newman adjusts to life in the Majors, it seems the Pirates prefer Hechavarria's outstanding glove and .832 OPS against left-handers this season.
"I don't want us to lose sight of the fact of why we brought in Hechavarria," Hurdle said. "If [Jordy Mercer] is not hurt, [Newman is] not here. He's earned this opportunity because of an injured player, and he's a good young prospect. You don't force playing time for him right now, in my mind. You wait for playing time to be presented and open up, and I believe it will come his way.

"I don't think we're giving enough credit to the guy playing shortstop right now. There's things to be learned, and I think we can get [Newman] some degree of comfort coming in. Then as this season goes, opportunities I do believe will come his way and I believe he'll be ready for them."