Pirates/MLB category, Page 149
Pirates snap 9-game losing streak behind Bryan Reynolds’ homer, David Bednar’s 8-out save
After the Pittsburgh Pirates lost their ninth consecutive game, manager Derek Shelton hoped aloud that someone would come through with a big hit and execute a pitch to stop the slide. The best bets to do that were Bryan Reynolds and David Bednar. Both delivered in a big way. Reynolds...
Mark Madden: Super-size athletes can make extra large impact
Fat has come to the forefront of the Pittsburgh sports scene. Excuse me, did I say fat? I meant to say beefy, big-boned, heavyset, stocky or any of the other terms that patronizingly substitute but are no less aggravating to us fatsos. The Pittsburgh athlete who recently made fat where...
First Call: Former Steeler makes ‘All-Underrated’ list; Derek Shelton on near no-hitter; ex-Penguin’s coaching achievement
Wednesday’s “First Call” features some praise for a few current Pittsburgh Steelers and a former Super Bowl champion. Derek Shelton reflects on Cal Mitchell’s at-bat to break up last night’s no-hit bid in St. Louis. And a former Penguin hauls in a coaching honor. No complaints here Former Steelers linebacker...
Pirates OF Canaan Smith-Njigba, C Jason Delay have unforgettable moments in MLB debuts
Canaan Smith-Njigba had prepared his whole life for his major league debut, so he wasn’t going to complain about spending nearly two games in the Pittsburgh Pirates dugout before getting in a game. When he got the call to pinch hit for Yu Chang with two outs in the ninth...
Pirates farm report for June 14, 2022: Quinn Priester, Mike Burrows roughed up
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 30-29) was beaten by Gwinnett (Braves), 8-2. RHP Miguel Yajure (3.52) started and worked three innings, allowing one unearned run on one hit and one walk with two strikeouts. LHP Joe Jacques (0-1, 40.50) took the loss, allowing three runs, two earned, on one hit and two walks...
Cal Mitchell breaks up no-hit bid by Miles Mikolas in 9th as Cardinals crush Pirates
The outcome was long decided when Miles Mikolas reached the 100-pitch mark, yet the St. Louis Cardinals had no intention of pulling the 33-year-old right-hander from the game. Mikolas was one out away from making history when Pittsburgh Pirates rookie Cal Mitchell hit a 2-2 curveball for a double over...
Crazy plays, errors plague Pirates against Cardinals in 8th consecutive loss
Just when the Pittsburgh Pirates appeared run down during a seven-game losing streak, the St. Louis Cardinals made them chase them around the diamond in a rundown for the ages. Score it a fielder’s choice 6-4-2-5-6-2. That was part of a sequence of wild plays in the fourth inning of...
Mitch Keller shows growth by expanding pitch portfolio, diversifying usage
It’s probably too early to say that Mitch Keller is “reinventing himself.” Based on his struggles at the Major League level (9-22 career record, 5.79 ERA), it’s easier to argue that the first edition of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher has never been a completely finished product. But the 26-year-old right-hander...
Pirates blow 5-run lead to Cardinals to suffer 7th consecutive defeat
When Mitch Keller walked off the mound at Busch Stadium, the right-hander had tossed five scoreless innings and the Pittsburgh Pirates were holding a five-run lead over the St. Louis Cardinals. Then came the collapse. Dylan Carlson hit a three-run home run as the Cardinals rallied with a five-run sixth...
Pirates recall IF Hoy Park, OF Canaan Smith-Njigba, RHP Bryse Wilson
The Pittsburgh Pirates made roster moves that increased the number of position players available for their four-game series at St. Louis — which includes a doubleheader Tuesday — but leaves their bullpen short. The Pirates recalled infielderHoy Park and outfielder Canaan Smith-Njigba from Triple-A Indianapolis before Monday’s game at St....
Pirates rookie Tucupita Marcano providing pop at top of order, solid defense at 2B
Tucupita Marcano has found himself in new positions for the Pittsburgh Pirates, playing left field when there was a shortage of outfielders before moving to second base when the infield was in need. Against Atlanta, it was at the top of the order. Batting leadoff just ahead of Bryan Reynolds...
Pirates farm report for June 12, 2022: Ernny Ordonez, Fabricio Macias carry Greensboro to win
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 30-28) dropped an 11-5 decision to Columbus (Guardians). SS/RF Hoy Park (.250) went 3 for 5 with two runs scored from the leadoff spot. CF Ji-hwan Bae (.303) was 2 for 5 with an RBI. 3B Rodolfo Castro (.232) hit a two-run home run and had three RBIs....
Adam Duvall homers twice as Braves sweep Pirates, who lose 6th straight
Where Bryan Reynolds found his groove in Atlanta, the Pittsburgh Pirates dug a ditch. Reynolds rediscovered his swing and homered in back-to-back games, but Adam Duvall hit two home runs as the Braves went deep four times in a 5-3 win Sunday afternoon at Truist Park to sweep the four-game...
Pirates farm report for June 11, 2022: Oneil Cruz drives in 3 runs in Indy win
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 30-27) used a nine-run third inning to beat Columbus (Guardians), 12-7. SS Oneil Cruz (.232) went 2 for 5 with a triple, two runs scored and three RBIs. LF Canaan Smith-Njigba (.278) went 3 for 5 with a double, triple and three RBIs. CF Ji-hwan Bae (.301) went...
Ozzie Albies hits grand slam to cap 8-run 7th inning as Braves rally past Pirates
The Atlanta Braves had turned a two-run deficit into a two-run lead when Ozzie Albies came to bat with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh against the Pittsburgh Pirates. After falling behind to an 0-2 count, Albies fouled off three Chris Stratton pitches before connecting on a...
Diego Castillo embracing role as Pirates shortstop, even if it’s temporary
The surprise of spring training, Diego Castillo earned a spot on the Opening Day roster in part because of his bat. Now he’s the Pittsburgh Pirates’ starting shortstop, even if only temporarily, thanks to the consistency of his glove. Only 47 games into his major-league career, the 24-year-old super-utility player...
Pirates farm report for June 10, 2022: Aaron Shackelford hits 8th homer but Curve fall short
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 29-27) edged Columbus (Guardians), 5-4. C Carter Bins (.196) smacked two doubles and had two RBIs. LF Oneil Cruz (.227) was 1 for 3 with an RBI. RF Canaan Smith-Njigba (.269) had an RBI triple. 3B Hoy Park (.214) also went 1 for 3 with an RBI double....
Spencer Strider shines as Braves win 9th consecutive, hand Pirates 4th straight loss
It’s not often that Roansy Contreras isn’t topping the Statcast pitch velocity chart, as the Pittsburgh Pirates rookie right-hander throws a four-seam fastball that sits at 96 mph and hits the high 90s. The top five velocities Friday night, however, all belonged to Spencer Strider. The Atlanta Braves rookie right-hander...
Pirates bats go silent, but Bryan Reynolds, Jack Suwinski, Travis Swaggerty have their moments
The first single left Bryan Reynolds’ bat at 77.7 mph, but it counts just as much in the box score as if the cover flew off the baseball. The second also was a mere one-bagger, but it was much weaker (50 mph in the infield). The third was legit, a...
Pirates farm report for June 9, 2022: Quinn Priester, 3 relievers throw no-hitter for Bradenton
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 28-27) stole one against Columbus (Guardians), 6-5. After Indianapolis allowed Columbus to tie the score in the top of the ninth, CF Jared Oliva (.220) doubled in the bottom of the inning, went to second on a SS Oneil Cruz (.225) ground out and stole home to give...
JT Brubaker goes 7 innings, but Pirates show no support in loss to Braves
Derek Shelton wanted to see the look in JT Brubaker’s eyes. He also hoped to hear those words every manager wants to hear: “Yeah, I got him.” The seventh inning at Atlanta’s Truist Field provided an instructive moment for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Shelton and Brubaker on Thursday night. Too bad...
After ‘trials and tribulations,’ Travis Swaggerty finds perfect timing for Pirates debut
Amid the hoopla surrounding his arrival with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Travis Swaggerty took time Sunday afternoon in the home dugout at PNC Park to reflect on his road to the major leagues. In that moment, Swaggerty thought about what he calls the “trials and tribulations” of his professional baseball career...
U mad, bro: Pirates fans are pouting; Steelers fans sour over Stephon Tuitt’s retirement; Pens fans pontificate
Pittsburgh Steelers minicamp is done. The 2021-22 Penguins season has long since ended. So it’s time for the Pirates to resume their rightful place. Atop the heap of your fan complaints in our weekly “U mad, bro?” post. That’s not to say the Steelers and Penguins escaped unscathed, though. Do...
Pirates farm report for June 8, 2022: Mike Burrows throws 5 scoreless for Curve
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 27-27) was humbled by Columbus (Guardians), 11-3. RHP Miguel Yajure (0-1, 5.79) started and gave up one run on two hits in two innings. RHO Osvaldo Bido (4.61) gave up five runs, none of them earned, on two hits and five walks in 1.2 innings. SS Ji-hwan Bae...
Mitch Keller makes strong start but Tigers score 2 runs off bullpen to beat Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates got what they needed from Mitch Keller, even if the right-hander didn’t get what he wanted. Despite making a second consecutive strong start, Keller left a tied game after six innings and didn’t get a decision when a Pirates victory would have marked the first back-to-back wins...
