Pirates/MLB category, Page 251
Cardinals’ go-ahead grand slam sends Pirates to 8th straight loss
ST. LOUIS — In the big leagues primarily as a defensive replacement, Cardinals rookie outfielder Lane Thomas pounced with a chance to flex his hitting muscles. Thomas ripped a go-ahead grand slam in the seventh inning, Paul Goldschmidt and Dexter Fowler also homered, and St. Louis beat the Pittsburgh Pirates,...
Neal Huntington realizes Pirates’ losing stretch could put jobs on line
Neal Huntington indicated Sunday on his radio show that his job as the Pittsburgh Pirates general manager could be in jeopardy if the team continues to lose. But he added he and his staff continue to work to put the team back “in a postseason hunt” and to determine what...
Pirates continue to stumble, lose to Cardinals, 3-1Video
ST. LOUIS — Adam Wainwright got off to a rocky start when his first pitch sailed over the right-field wall. The rest of the game went a lot better. Wainwright tossed six scoreless innings after Adam Frazier’s leadoff home run, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates, 3-1,...
Pirates’ Francisco Cervelli will begin rehab assignment in Altoona as a catcher
Francisco Cervelli’s long road to recovery will reach a critical point Sunday when he begins a rehab assignment as a catcher in Double-A Altoona. Cervelli, who had been the Pittsburgh Pirates’ regular catcher since 2015, has been on the injured list since May 26 with a concussion, the sixth of...
Chris Archer solid, but Pirates succumb to Cardinals rally on roadVideo
ST. LOUIS — Paul Goldschmidt hit a tiebreaking single in the eighth inning and Marcell Ozuna followed with a two-run homer, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates, 6-2, on Friday night. Goldschmidt’s single went under the glove of Pirates shortstop Kevin Newman, scoring Dexter Fowler to break...
Pirates farm report for Friday, Aug. 9, 2019
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 57-59) lost 9-5 to Durham (Rays). LHP Brandon Waddell (1-5, 9.91) gave up seven runs in one inning pitched, including seven in the second inning, with four walks and six hits allowed in a losing effort. 3B Ke’Bryan Hayes (.255) hit a fourth-inning two-run homer. 1B Hunter Owen...
Fantasy sports podcast: How RB holdouts affect drafts; Pirates free fall
In this week’s fantasy sports podcast, Jeff Erickson of Rotowire helps guide us through draft advice. The most pressing question this year is similar to one at this time a season ago: Do I draft a holdout running back in the first round? Last year, it was Le’Veon Bell. This...
Pirates minor league report: Aug. 8, 2019
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 57-58) split a doubleheader with Norfolk (Orioles) in a pair of 3-2 games. The Indians dropped the first game. Two first-inning runs off of a wild pitch followed by an RBI single from LF Kevin Kramer (.259), gave Indianapolis a 2-0 advantage until the sixth inning, when the...
3 ways Pirates can avoid losing 100 games this season
There are some things best not discussed in polite company. The possibility of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ losing 100 games is one of them. It has happened only seven times in club history that dates to 1887. The record is 113, set in 1890. Manager Guy Hecker was not asked to...
U mad, bro?: Readers defend Mike Tomlin and the Browns, attack replay and the Bucs
This week’s “U mad, bro?” features Pirates angst, frustration over the brawl suspensions, replay rage, Mike Tomlin defense, and Browns hysteria from Cleveland. Todd is a Cleveland Browns fanboy. And he did not like the fact that I poked some fun at a little training camp turmoil surrounding his team....
Tim Benz: A lesson in hope versus blind faith for the Steelers, Pirates
I want to expand on a thought that I heard from my ESPN Radio Pittsburgh colleague Adam Crowley. And by “expand on a thought,” what I’m trying to say is, I want to steal his idea. Which I will. To be fair, I think Adam stole it from me. Because...
Pirates minor league report: Aug. 7, 2019
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 56-57) was postponed because of inclement weather. The game is to be made up Thursday as part of a doubleheader. Next: Thursday doubleheader at Norfolk (Orioles), Game 1 at 12:05 p.m. ALTOONA (Double-A, 57-58) split a doubleheader with Richmond, winning the first game 4-3 in 10 innings but...
Brewers pounce on Trevor Williams early, defeat Pirates againVideo
Trevor Williams’ Milwaukee magic couldn’t make a losing streak disappear. Williams won all off his three scoreless starts against Milwaukee last season, but the Brewers scored six times and homered twice off him Wednesday night as the Pittsburgh Pirates lost 8-3 at PNC Park. The loss was the fifth in...
Pirates notebook: Jose Osuna gets start again as role expands
Jose Osuna’s key for being a good pinch hitter is to always be ready. “Be ready in every inning,” said Osuna, who has excelled in that role this season for the Pittsburgh Pirates. “I think that’s the most important, be ready for the first pitch.” Now, he seems more than...
Pirates’ Clint Hurdle discusses grinding through giant slump
The past two dozen games, with 20 losses and only four wins, were the worst stretch Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle could remember. That’s mostly because his team still was mired in this slide. “Last year it seemed like the worst stretch I’d ever been in,” said Hurdle, whose team...
Pirates farm report for Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2019
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 56-57) lost 8-1 to Norfolk (Orioles). LHP Sean Keselica (1-6, 4.41) took the loss after allowing four runs on a hit in a third of an inning. Starting RHP James Marvel (3-0, 1.87) had a no-decision despite giving up an unearned run in four innings with four strikeouts...
Steven Brault’s solid start not enough in Pirates’ 4-3 loss to Brewers
On most occasions, Clint Hurdle doesn’t say much when he walks to the mound to pull his pitcher from the game. But he had words for Steven Brault on Tuesday night while the Pittsburgh Pirates were losing 4-3 to the Milwaukee Brewers at PNC Park. Good words. “Light-hearted,” Brault said....
Pirates notebook: No ‘touchdown’ dances for Bryan Reynolds
Bryan Reynolds allowed himself a slight smile — and nothing more — when he reached over the left field wall Monday night and robbed the Brewers’ Mike Moustakas of a home run. “I’m not going to throw my glove off and start dancing just because I made a catch,” he...
Clint Hurdle’s ‘instincts’ tell him Pirates’ Josh Bell needs to sit downVideo
There are more computers in PNC Park than hot dogs, but sometimes manager Clint Hurdle turns away from the analytics and makes a decision the old-school way. He feels it. That’s what happened Tuesday when Hurdle announced slumping slugger Josh Bell would not play Tuesday or Wednesday against the Milwaukee...
First Call: Josh Bell continues free fall; Emmanuel Sanders has camp dustup
In Tuesday’s “First Call,” we look at Josh Bell’s slump, great catches galore and a mad Emmanuel Sanders. Bell silenced Josh Bell hasn’t been ringing in the batter’s box the way he was in the first half of the season. How bad has it gotten? Since July 1, Bell is...
Pirates minor league report: Aug. 5, 2019
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 56-56) was idle. RHP James Marvel (3-0, 2.12 with Indianapolis) is expected to start for the Indians Tuesday night. Next: Tuesday at Norfolk (Orioles), 7:05 p.m. ALTOONA (Double-A, 56-57) won 6-5 over Richmond (Giants). LF Chris Sharpe (.212 with Altoona) went 3 for 4 with a fifth-inning two-run...
Jordan Lyles returns, Brewers hand Pirates yet another defeatVideo
Over the past few seasons, the Pittsburgh Pirates have seen a parade of pitchers find their form shortly after leaving the black and gold behind. From Charlie Morton to Tyler Glasnow, it’s happened more than once. It’s probably not safe to add Jordan Lyles to that list just yet, but...
Pirates’ Bryan Reynolds steals home run with highlight-reel catch
Bryan Reynolds is quickly becoming the top bright spot of the Pittsburgh Pirates season. On Monday night, Reynolds made a leaping catch at the wall to rob Milwaukee Brewers third baseman Mike Moustakas of a sure home run in the second inning, stealing the ball from a fan about to...
Pirates notebook: Jose Osuna playing featured role since trade deadline
Jose Osuna continues to be the primary recipient of the at-bats opened up when the Pittsburgh Pirates sent Corey Dickerson to Philadelphia at the trade deadline and designated third baseman Jung Ho Kang for assignment. Osuna was in the starting lineup for the third time in four games Monday night...
Pirates pitcher Dario Agrazal has chance to prove himself over season’s final 2 months
Because they opted against holding a fire sale at the trade deadline, there aren’t a whole lot of open spaces on the Pittsburgh Pirates lineup card for young players to take. There are a couple, though, and starting pitcher Dario Agrazal occupies one. When the Pirates sent Jordan Lyles to...
