PITTSBURGH -- Pirates manager Clint Hurdle benched outfielder Starling Marte for Monday's series opener with the Braves at PNC Park due to Marte's lack of effort in Sunday's 2-1 win over the Cubs.
"It's a decision that our manager made, and I respect it," Marte said through interpreter Mike Gonzalez. "I don't have a say-so over that, and I'm just going to submit to it."
Hurdle said the decision was not related to anything Marte is dealing with physically. In the third inning of Sunday's game, Marte put a ball in play and appeared to stumble out of the batter's box.