Pirates/MLB category, Page 190
Joc Pederson homers twice to lead Cubs past Cody Ponce, Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates snapped out of a first-inning funk by scoring two runs against the Chicago Cubs. It was the third and fifth innings that proved to be problems. And Joc Pederson served as the antagonist in both, as the left fielder homered twice off Cody Ponce to lead the...
Pirates notebook: Kevin Newman takes a 1st step in right direction with error-free play at SS
When it comes to playing defense this season, it is no accident Kevin Newman looks like a new man. The Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop is the only major league player at his position without an error this season, a 40-game streak that is more impressive when considering 2020 NL Gold Glove...
Tim Benz: Beatdown from Braves a warning of what’s to come for Pirates
Even when the 2021 Pirates got off to a surprisingly decent start by going 12-12 in their first 24 games, there was a tangible sense in Pittsburgh of, “Is this as good as it is going to get?” Well, the way things have gone lately, the answer appears to be...
Pirates farm report for May 23, 2021: Ke’Bryan Hayes homers for Indianapolis
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 11-6) lost 5-4 to St. Paul (Twins). 3B Ke’Bryan Hayes (.200), playing the second game of a rehab assignment, had a double and home run with two strikeouts. Hayes had been out with a wrist injury since the second game of the season. The Indians rallied with three...
After others helped him become a pro, Pirates’ Cole Tucker now paying it forward
When Cole Tucker was working his way through the Pittsburgh Pirates’ farm system, unsure of how a professional baseball player should act, veterans such as utility man Sean Rodriguez were happy to show him the way. Separated by nine years of age, Tucker and Rodriguez often were seen inside the...
Braves smack 3 home runs to beat Pirates, set record for most homers in a series
JT Brubaker suspects opponents are attempting to ambush the Pittsburgh Pirates early, knowing their anemic offense is practically powerless to recover from large deficits. The Atlanta Braves opted for an aerial attack, as Austin Riley homered twice and Dansby Swanson once off Brubaker in a 7-1 victory Sunday afternoon before...
Pirates farm report for May 22, 2021: Ke’Bryan Hayes starts rehab assignment, goes 1 for 2
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 11-5) beat St. Paul (Twins), 5-1. 3B Ke’Bryan Hayes began a rehab assignment, going 1 for 2 with a first-pitch single through the right side of the infield in his first at-bat and a strikeout in his second. He played three innings in the field. Hayes has been...
Mitch Keller allows 2 home runs in Pirates’ loss to Braves
While the Pittsburgh Pirates were losing for the 14th time in 20 games this month, there were brief moments of encouragement Saturday. • Michael Perez hit a home run to stop an 0-for-26 streak. It only raised his batting average to .096, but it was something. • Relief pitcher Chris...
Pirates place Trevor Cahill on injured list; Ke’Bryan Hayes starts rehab in Indianapolis
The Pittsburgh Pirates lost a starting pitcher and gained a reliever Saturday when Trevor Cahill went on the 10-day injured list with a left calf strain and Kyle Crick was activated from the IL. Cahill (1-5) left his most recent start Wednesday night in St. Louis after one inning. He...
Richard Rodriguez rides fastball-heavy approach for success as Pirates closer
Derek Shelton isn’t a fan of labels, so it’s no wonder the Pittsburgh Pirates manager is as reluctant to call Richard Rodriguez’s fastball a four-seamer as he was to name him the club’s closer. Even though batters know it’s coming — Rodriguez throws his fastball on 91.3% of his pitches,...
Pirates farm report for May 21, 2021
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 10-5) beat St. Paul (Twins) 6-4 in 10 innings. SS Kevin Kramer hit a two-out, two-run home run in the top of the 10th and RHP Jandel Gustave held St. Paul scoreless in the bottom of the inning. It was Kramer’s second home run of the season. He...
Braves smack 7 home runs, including 2 grand slams, to pummel Pirates
Anderson v. Anderson sounds more like a legal matter than a pitching duel, and Atlanta Braves righty Ian was brokering a hostile takeover while Pittsburgh Pirates lefty Tyler was filing for bankruptcy. The Braves smacked seven home runs, including a pair of grand slams, in rolling to a 20-1 win...
Mural honoring baseball great Josh Gibson unveiled in Homestead
When Sean Gibson sees the mural of his famous great-grandfather — all 27,000 square feet of it — he believes one of baseball’s greatest players is coming to life right there on E. 9th Avenue in Homestead. “It is just like Josh is coming out of the wall,” Sean Gibson...
Pirates recall SS Cole Tucker from Indianapolis, place OF Ka’ai Tom on 10-day IL
Cole Tucker is back in the big leagues and the Pittsburgh Pirates have plans to keep him in the infield — at least for now. The 2014 first-round pick, a natural shortstop who played 32 games in the outfield last season, was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday to replace...
Sam Howard’s Atlanta homecoming comes at perfect time for Pirates’ lefty reliever
Eevn though Sam Howard grew up an Atlanta Braves fan, he intentionally avoided going to Truist Park until this weekend. Howard even declined invites for social gatherings at The Battery, the stadium’s surrounding entertainment scene. After enduring ups and downs of a baseball career that began at Cartersville High School...
Adam Frazier follows superstitions to find groove, as Pirates 2B leads majors in hits
Adam Frazier always has the same explanation for his hitting groove, one that doesn’t defy logic so much as it shows his superstitious nature. Knock on wood. The Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman got plenty of knocks in the 6-4 win over the Atlanta Braves in 10 innings on Thursday night,...
Pirates farm report for May 20, 2021: Plum’s Kirilloff homers against Indy
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 9-5) fell 3-2 to St. Paul (Twins) in the resumption of a suspended game from Wednesday and won 7-3 in the scheduled game on Thursday. Plum native Alex Kirilloff, down from Minnesota on a rehab assignment as he recovers from a wrist injury, homered in both games for...
Pirates rely on bullpen, 2-run rally in 10th to beat Braves, snap 3-game skid
After blanking the Atlanta Braves over the final four frames in front of the biggest crowd the Pittsburgh Pirates have seen this season, Derek Shelton didn’t hesitate to call his bullpen’s performance “outstanding.” “I would say it’s right near the top,” the Pirates manager said. In a game filled with...
Jury finds Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Vazquez guilty of sexual assault of a teen girl
A Westmoreland County jury late Thursday found former Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Felipe Vazquez guilty of sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl. The jury found Vazquez guilty on 15 counts, including the most serious charges of statutory sexual assault, unlawful contact or communication with a minor, indecent assault and corruption of...
First Call: Injury preventing Antonio Brown from finalizing Tampa contract; trio of dominance from ex-Pirates pitchers
Thursday’s “First Call” features a snag in Antonio Brown’s contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. We celebrate a happy anniversary with Evgeni Malkin. You can already bet on who may be next year’s Trevor Lawrence in the NFL Draft. And a trio of former Pirates dusted their competition. A.B.’s knee...
By working to shorten swing, Gregory Polanco becoming more productive for Pirates
Gregory Polanco picks up on tendencies, so when St. Louis Cardinals starter Jack Flaherty got him to ground into a forceout, the Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder knew what pitch to expect his next time up. So Polanco was expecting Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina to call for a fastball from Flaherty....
Pirates farm report for May 19, 2021
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 8-4) had its game with St. Paul (Twins) suspended in the eighth inning with the score tied 2-2. It will resume at 7:05 p.m. Thursday. Next: Thursday at St. Paul (Twins), 8:05 p.m. ALTOONA (Double-A, 8-5) was blanked 2-0 by Harrisburg (Nationals). Travis MacGregor started and pitched five...
Starter Trevor Cahill injured in 2nd inning as Cardinals thump Pirates for 2-game sweep
Derek Shelton doesn’t have a crystal ball, so the Pittsburgh Pirates manager couldn’t have predicted the bases-loaded predicaments his starting pitcher would face in the second inning at St. Louis. The Cardinals intentionally walked a batter to get to Trevor Cahill, only for Jack Flaherty to strike him out to...
Pirates’ Ildemaro Vargas hopes to take advantage of his versatility
The first conversation Ildemaro Vargas had with manager Derek Shelton upon joining the Pittsburgh Pirates was about which position he is most confident and comfortable playing. The Pirates value versatility above all and claimed Vargas off waivers from the Chicago Cubs because he is a switch hitter who can play...
Pirates’ Ke’Bryan Hayes will start rehab assignment at Triple-A in ‘next day or so’
Pittsburgh Pirates rookie third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes is the closest he has been to returning to play since going on the injured list April 4 with a wrist injury. Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Hayes is “responding well” to participating in a simulated game in...
