Bucs option RHP Steven Jackson to Triple-A; RHP Jose Ascanio called up

Following Thursday’s 11-6 loss to Arizona, the Pirates optioned right-hander Steven Jackson back to Triple-A and called up righty Jose Ascanio to take his place.

Manager John Russell cited the need for a fresh arm as the primary reason for the roster move, though the move came immediately after Jackson allowed five runs (four earned) on five hits and three walks in two innings of relief. He took the loss in Thursday’s extra-inning affair.

“Unfortunately, that happens when you have to juggle your roster a little bit,” Russell said. “It’s no slight on Steven, but we needed to get a fresh arm up here.”

The bullpen has logged 13 innings in the last three games and has struggled tremendously as of late.

Jackson had just been called back up from Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday, and Thursday was only his third appearance. Before this final outing, Jackson had made two scoreless relief appearances for Pittsburgh in what was his second stint with the big-league club this year.

After Thursday’s game, Jackson asked a Pirates spokesperson to inform members of the media that he said he did not want to speak to them.

Ascanio joins the Pirates one week after the organization landed the right-hander in a five-player trade with the Cubs. Ascanio, 24, was put into the Triple-A starting rotation initially and made his first start for the organization last Saturday. Ascanio took the loss in the outing but gave up only two earned runs in 6 2/3 innings. He struck out nine.

He was scheduled to make his next start on Saturday, meaning that he will be fresh enough to offer the Pirates multiple innings of relief if need be. Ascanio made appearances in the Majors in parts of the last three seasons. Combined, he is 1-2 with a 4.86 ERA in 33 relief appearances.

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