Pirates/MLB category, Page 135
Pirates see rookie Oneil Cruz’s improvement at the plate as an ‘encouraging sign’
After Jacob deGrom dominated the second game of a doubleheader that left the Pittsburgh Pirates humbled, manager Derek Shelton searched for superlatives to describe the New York Mets ace. “As screwed up as it sounds, you pick the small victories,” Shelton said, accentuating the strength of deGrom’s slider in the...
Pirates farm report for Sept. 7, 2022: Termarr Johnson hits 1st homer for Bradenton
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 67-62) lost 5-4 on a walk-off sacrifice fly to Omaha (Royals). RHP Travis MacGregor (1-2, 6.99) gave up the sacrifice fly that won the game while throwing 2.2 innings and allowing two unearned runs on two hits, walking two and striking out one. RHP Cody Bolton (3.33) started...
Franco Harris’ Steelers No. 32 joins roster of Pittsburgh pro team retired numbers
No. 32 became No. 14 when it comes to retired numbers by Pittsburgh’s pro sports franchises. The announcement Tuesday that No. 32 will – officially – never be worn again by any Pittsburgh Steelers player made for an aggregate 14 uniform numbers retired by the Steelers, Pirates and Penguins. Four-time...
Pirates go quietly in twinbill against Mets
If the Pittsburgh Pirates were going to split their doubleheader with the New York Mets, they needed to fare better against the starting pitcher in the nightcap than they did in the matinee. And with a two-time NL Cy Young Award winner on the mound for the Mets, the odds...
Pirates DFA Josh VanMeter, recall Hoy Park, claim 2 players off waivers
Josh VanMeter showed his value to the Pittsburgh Pirates in his versatility by playing six positions this season, including three games as a pitcher and once as an emergency catcher. But his bat proved to be the problem. After VanMeter hit only .187 with five doubles, two triples, three home...
Pirates farm report for Sept. 6, 2022: Endy Rodriguez goes 3 for 4 in Altoona win
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 67-61) was edged out by Omaha (Royals), 8-7. RHP Austin Brice (5.98) started and allowed seven runs on six hits in 1.2 innings. LHP Cam Alldred (2.18) pitched 2.1 scoreless innings of relief, allowing one hit and striking out four. C Carter Bins (.207) went 2 for 3...
Oneil Cruz homers into river, Mitch Keller throws 6 scoreless as Pirates pound MetsVideo
The Allegheny River has served as an inviting target for Oneil Cruz, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 6-foot-7 rookie shortstop with left-handed power and Statcast record-setting exit velocities. Finally, he made a splash. Cruz crushed a 422-foot home run that cleared the right field seats and bounced into the river in an...
Tim Benz: 50 years after retirement, Bill Mazeroski uses his Pirates Hall of Fame induction to campaign for teammates
As Saturday’s master of ceremonies for the inaugural Pirates Hall of Fame inductions, team play-by-play announcer Greg Brown delivered his best line as legendary second baseman Bill Mazeroski was receiving his commemorative gold jacket. “Maz asked me to read his speech. He didn’t want to get up here to do...
Weather postpones Pirates-Mets game, doubleheader planned Wednesday
The Pittsburgh Pirates are getting Labor Day off, but they will have to work overtime Wednesday. Monday’s Pirates’ game against the New York Mets was postponed due to inclement weather expected throughout the day, the first rainout of the season at PNC Park. Instead, the teams will play a split...
Pirates farm report for Sept. 4, 2022: Bethel Park’s Justin Meis, Santiago Florez combine on 1-hitter for Grasshoppers
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 67-60) beat Louisville (Reds), 9-4. LF Travis Swaggerty (.264) smacked a solo homer, his ninth of the year, and went 3 for 3 with two RBIs and two walks. SS Hoy Park (.236) was 2 for 4 with four RBIs, including a two-run home run. 3B Kevin Padlo...
Pirates 3B Ke’Bryan Hayes takes swings in cage, ‘looking to be in there’ for Mets series
After missing two games with left shoulder soreness, Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes said he expects to return to the lineup Monday for the New York Mets series. “I’m looking to be in there tomorrow, whether it be DH or in the field,” Hayes said following the 4-3 loss...
Pirates whiff in 9th-inning rally as Blue Jays pull off 3-game series sweep
Jordan Romano started the ninth inning with a one-run lead before back-to-back singles by Jack Suwinski and Cal Mitchell put the winning run in scoring position for the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Toronto Blue Jays closer then recorded three consecutive strikeouts to finish off a 4-3 win and three-game series sweep...
Steve Blass pays homage to former mentor Bill Mazeroski at Pirates’ Hall of Fame ceremony
In May 1964, a wide-eyed rookie pitcher named Steve Blass entered the Pittsburgh Pirates clubhouse at Forbes Field after being called up from the team’s Triple-A affiliate, the Columbus Jets. While the Pirates went 80-82 that season, they retained many key players who had contributed to the 1960 World Series-winning...
Pirates farm report for Sept. 3, 2022: Nick Gonzales homers, Quinn Priester earns win for Altoona
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 66-60) beat Louisville (Reds), 4-1, in a game shortened to seven innings by rain. RHP Osvaldo Bido (3-7, 4.48) started and pitched six scorless innings, allowing one hit and one walk and striking out seven. RHP Cody Bolton (3.06) gave up a solo home run in the seventh....
Bo Bichette’s 3-run double leads Blue Jays past Pirates in Hall of Fame game
On the night the Pittsburgh Pirates celebrated their history by inducting their inaugural hall of fame class, it was the Toronto Blue Jays who brought PNC Park alive with cheers. The chants of “Let’s go Blue Jays!” grew louder with the bases loaded in the seventh inning when Bo Bichette...
As Pirates honor inaugural 19-member Hall of Fame class, ceremony disrupted by protester
The Pittsburgh Pirates celebrated their 135-year history Saturday afternoon by inducting their long-awaited hall of fame, which involved the historic gesture of signing four Negro Leagues players to honorary contracts and including them in the inaugural class. The Pirates unveiled plaques for each honoree on the wall inside the Roberto...
Pirates farm report for Sept. 2, 2022: Travis Swaggerty drives in a pair for Indianapolis
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 65-60) defeated Louisville (Reds), 8-7. Indianapolis pounced early with five runs in the first inning. 2B Ji-hwan Bae (.301) had an RBI single, RF Travis Swaggerty (.258) knocked in a run with a triple and LF Blake Sabol (.300) smashed a three-run homer, his first, and ended the...
Blue Jays shut out Pirates, who clinch 4th consecutive losing season
It wasn’t quite a backyard brawl – even though a West Virginia product was pitching against the Pittsburgh Pirates – but the cheers and sing-son chants of boisterous Toronto Blue Jays fans drowned out their counterparts and only made the result harder to swallow. Behind 7 1/3 shutout innings by...
Tigers’ Austin Meadows reveals mental health struggles
DETROIT — Detroit Tigers outfielder Austin Meadows revealed on Friday he has been dealing with mental health issues along with physical ailments and will not play again this season. “This season has been an unfortunate struggle with a series of injuries and illness, from dealing with vertigo early on, then...
Mark Madden: Dave Parker is being honored by Pirates, but he deserves more
Saturday is that rarest of days in Pittsburgh: A time when baseball can legitimately be celebrated, as opposed to convincing ourselves it’s OK to rarely make contact with the ball as long as it travels over 110 mph when you do, even if it’s caught. Not only is it OK,...
Pirates farm report for Sept. 1, 2022: Endy Rodriguez homers from both sides of plate in Curve win
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 64-60) scored three runs in the seventh inning to beat Louisville (Reds), 3-2. RF Bligh Madris (.286) went 2 for 5 with two doubles and a stolen base and reached on an error on the play that drove in the winning run. CF Travis Swaggerty (.256) went 1...
RHP Johan Oviedo to make Pirates debut in start against Blue Jays on Friday night
Johan Oviedo, the 24-year-old right-handed pitcher acquired from St. Louis in the Jose Quintana trade, will make his Pittsburgh Pirates debut when he starts Friday night against the Toronto Blue Jays. The Pirates announced the 6-foot-5, 245-pound Oviedo will start Friday, right-hander Roansy Contreras on Saturday and right-hander JT Brubaker...
First Call: Steelers tried to get a different lineman before Jesse Davis; ex-Steelers QB has a new home
Thursday’s “First Call” has a backstory to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ latest offensive line acquisition. An ex-Steelers quarterback has a new home. Baker Mayfield is doing damage control about an alleged quote involving the Cleveland Browns. Plus, we look at this weekend’s Pirates-Blue Jays series at PNC Park. Plan B? As...
U mad, bro?: Fans say stop being so hard on Mike Tomlin, Oneil Cruz — but get tougher on Pirates, Steelers
I’m not hard enough on the Pittsburgh Pirates. But I’m too mean to Oneil Cruz. The Steelers didn’t get better during the preseason. But I should stop giving Mike Tomlin a hard time. Dang it! I can’t get anything right. That’s why I post “U mad, bro?” every week, just...
Pirates’ Zach Thompson finding some success in hybrid pitching role
Since the middle of August, Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Zach Thompson has navigated through uncertainty with his role on the staff. After going through the bulk of the season as a starter, Thompson was relegated to the bullpen a few weeks ago, making his first relief appearance Aug. 18 against the...
