Pirates/MLB category, Page 175
Mitch Keller delivers strong start as Pirates take advantage of error to shut out Cardinals
Mitch Keller’s season has been a head scratcher, especially for the Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander, so trying to make sense out of his mastery of the St. Louis Cardinals is something of a mystery. Where Keller’s struggles with his fastball command got him demoted to the minors midseason, he was at...
Pirates notebook: RHP Chad Kuhl returns from covid list, will work out of the bullpen
After a bout with covid-19, Chad Kuhl is back with the Pittsburgh Pirates but the right-hander will be used in a new role. Pirates manager Derek Shelton said Kuhl, reinstated to the active roster on Friday after being out since Aug. 2, will pitch out of the bullpen “as of...
Mark Madden: How would Roberto Clemente have fared in a few more seasons with Pirates?
Roberto Clemente’s birthday was this past Wednesday. If Clemente were still alive, Gregory Polanco would be his superior in right field, but only marginally. Keep in mind Clemente would be 87. Clemente’s birthday sparked debate over how the Pirates might have fared had Clemente not been killed in that New...
First Call: Under-the-radar Steelers pass rushers draw national praise; Antonio Brown’s practice fight; Pirates’ familiar foe
Friday’s “First Call” puts stats behind some impressive Pittsburgh Steelers pass rushing efforts so far this preseason. Antonio Brown gets into a practice fight with a Tennessee Titans player. The Pirates try to find some solid ground in St. Louis. More news on Robert Morris ice hockey transfers. And Pittsburgh’s...
U mad, bro?: Readers express doubts about Dwayne Haskins, Joe Schobert; the Pirates’ rebuilding plan
If you were mad that this week’s “U mad, bro?” was delayed by a day, I apologize. I was at a work function in Las Vegas for two days. However miffed you may have been doesn’t even approach my level of anger with some of the cards I got on...
Pirates farm report for Aug. 19, 2021: Miguel Yajure strikes out 6 in Indy rehab start
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 43-49) lost to Toledo (Tigers), 5-2. RHP Miguel Yajure (.343) is continuing a rehab stint in the minors for a forearm injury and got the start after being reinstated from the 60-day IL. He allowed one run on two hits with six strikeouts and a walk in four...
‘We’re trying to win ballgames’: Pirates endure brutal start to August, losing 15 of 17 games
There wasn’t much promise in the post-trade deadline Pittsburgh Pirates, and they didn’t make any after dealing away their All-Star second baseman, a starting pitcher and three relievers, including the closer. The Pirates won their final two games of July to finish the month with an 11-14 record, their best...
Dodgers hit JT Brubaker hard, pound Pirates for 4 home runs to sweep series
JT Brubaker watched in disbelief as the ball sailed over the left field wall at Dodger Stadium, courtesy of Max Muncy muscling a sinker on the outside corner only four pitches into the bottom of the first inning. It was the first of four home runs the Los Angeles Dodgers...
Pirates farm report for Aug. 18, 2021: Daniel Amaral hits walk-off bomb for Altoona
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 43-48) was held to three hits in a 6-0 loss to Toledo (Tigers). 3B Erik Gonzalez (.174) went 1 for 2 with a double and a walk and made an error. CF Jared Oliva (.212) and C Taylor Davis each went 1 for 3. SS Cole Tucker (.228)...
Chad Kuhl, Anthony Alford, Sam Howard take steps toward returning to Pirates from IL
Lefty reliever Sam Howard started his minor-league rehabilitation assignment, but right-hander Chad Kuhl and outfielder Anthony Alford are on track to return to the Pittsburgh Pirates first. Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Kuhl (3-6, 4.43 ERA in 14 starts), who went on the covid-19 injured list Aug....
After smashing start, Pirates rookie 2B Rodolfo Castro struggles
Derek Shelton never considered benching Rodolfo Castro for his baserunning blunder against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday. Instead, the Pittsburgh Pirates manager treated it as a teaching moment. When Castro failed to tag up at third on a Hoy Park lineout to left field, Shelton didn’t hesitate to note...
Dodgers lean on doubles to defeat Pirates, whose late rally falls short
Wil Crowe was looking to get the Los Angeles Dodgers to make soft contact, a game plan that was working for the Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander. What went wrong is how the ball kept landing in gaps. The Dodgers hit leadoff doubles in four of the first eight innings on their...
Pirates farm report for Aug. 17, 2021: Henry Davis hits 1st home run for Greensboro
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 43-47) was blasted by Toledo (Tigers), 7-1. 1B Michael Chavis (.280) went 3 for 4 with a double. DH Hunter Owen (.236) went 1 for 3 with an RBI. RF Bligh Madris (.265) was 1 for 3 with walk and a run scored. SS Cole Tucker (.232) went...
Former Pirates pitcher Felipe Vazquez sentenced to up to 4 years in prison for sex assaultVideo
Former Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Felipe Vazquez was sentenced Tuesday to serve up to four years in prison for the sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl. Vazquez, 30, was convicted in May by a Westmoreland County jury of 15 offenses in connection with a sexual relationship he had with a Scottdale...
Pirates ‘extremely proud’ to see Baseball America ranks their farm system No. 4 overall
When the Pittsburgh Pirates hired Ben Cherington as general manager, he made the acquisition of talent his top priority. Through trades and the draft, Cherington has his fingerprints all over their foundational rebuild. Where the Pirates have plodded through this season with one of the worst records in majors, their...
Billy McKinney, Max Muncy homers boost Dodgers past Pirates after Steven Brault’s strong start
The Pittsburgh Pirates made three mistakes that proved costly against the Los Angeles Dodgers, and only two of them came on swings by left-handed batters against lefty relievers. A baserunning gaffe by Rodolfo Castro, who failed to tag up at third, prevented the Pirates from scoring a run in the...
Pirates sign Yoshi Tsutsugo, designate John Nogowski, Ka’ai Tom for assignment
The Pittsburgh Pirates officially signed Yoshi Tsutsugo to a major league deal and made the first baseman/outfielder active for Monday’s game at the Los Angeles Dodgers. To make room on the roster for Tsutsugo, the Pirates on Monday designated outfielder Ka’ai Tom and first baseman John Nogowski for assignment. Tsutsugo...
Despite struggles at major-league level, Yoshi Tsutsugo could bring power bat to Pirates
Yoshi Tsutsugo has not lived up to his billing since leaving his native Japan to play professionally in the United States. The Pittsburgh Pirates became the third major-league organization to take a shot at unlocking Tsutsugo’s talent after the infielder/outfielder washed out with the Tampa Bay Rays and Los Angeles...
Pirates farm report for Aug. 15, 2021: Will Matthiessen’s 8 RBIs lift Greensboro to 2 wins
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 43-46) was shut out 8-0 by St. Paul (Twins). LF Ka’ai Tom (.278) was 2 for 4. 3B Tucupita Marcano (.238) also had a hit. Catcher Taylor Davis (.273) and CF Chris Sharpe (.206) each doubled. RHP Max Kranick (1-3, 5.91) allowed five runs (one earned) on five...
Dillon Peters impresses in Pirates debut, but Brewers win series finale
Dillon Peters was solid in his Pittsburgh Pirates debut. Yet it wasn’t enough to keep the Pirates from losing 2-1 to the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday at PNC Park. Peters (0-1) took the loss after being recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis before the game. The left-hander gave up two runs (one...
Neil Walker draws rave reviews after Pirates broadcasting debut
By all accounts, Neil Walker’s debut as a Pirates broadcaster was a success. Walker drew rave reviews on social media for his work behind the microphone Saturday when the Pirates split a day-night doubleheader with the Milwaukee Brewers at PNC Park. The team also was pleased with his performance. “It...
Pirates notebook: Lefty Dillon Peters makes Bucs debut; Bryse Wilson, Anthony Alford go on IL
The Pittsburgh Pirates made a flurry of roster moves Sunday. The most notable of the five was recalling left-hander Dillon Peters from Triple-A Indianapolis. He was the starter and loser as the Pirates fell 2-1 to the Milwaukee Brewers at PNC Park, though he allowed just two runs (one earned)...
Pirates farm report for Aug. 14, 2021: Altoona’s Mason Martin hits 20-homer mark
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 43-45) scored four in the seventh and three in the eighth to rally past St. Paul (Twins), 7-4. LF Chris Sharpe (.203) went 1 for 3 with a bases-clearing double in the eighth. 1B Phillip Evans (.400) went 1 for 4 with a two-run double in the seventh....
Brewers belt 12 hits, including 2 home runs, to beat Pirates in doubleheader nightcap
After being blasted for 19 hits by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first game of a doubleheader Saturday, the Milwaukee Brewers answered with a double-digit hit show in the nightcap. The Brewers belted 12 hits, including home runs by Rowdy Tellez and Avisail Garcia, in a 6-0 win in the...
Pirates GM Ben Cherington hoping to strike balance when making September call-ups
Ben Cherington will be wielding a double-edged sword when it comes to promoting prospects in September, even though the Pittsburgh Pirates are interested in seeing some of their newly acquired talent. MLB rules changes have limited roster expansion from 26 players to 28, instead of the previous allowance of any...
