Pirates/MLB category, Page 256
Pirates minor league report for July 18, 2019
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 47-48) lost 15-5 to Syracuse (Mets). RHP Eduardo Vera (5-8, 6.64) gave up seven runs in four innings, including two home runs, to earn the loss with three strikeouts, four walks and nine hits allowed. LF Darnell Sweeney (.292) went 2 for 3 from the plate with a...
Paul Goldschmidt’s homer sends Pirates to 5th loss in 6 games
ST. LOUIS — Paul Goldschmidt was looking for a single. He ended up getting a whole lot more. And it was more than the Pittsburgh Pirates could overcome. Goldschmidt hit a go-ahead, three-run homer off Michael Feliz in the seventh inning, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Pirates, 6-5...
Documentary highlights Team Israel’s journey to 2017 World Baseball Classic
From Tel Aviv to Jerusalem to Seoul, South Korea, Team Israel made history in 2017 by qualifying for the World Baseball Classic for the first time in its nation’s history. The team’s underdog journey to the world stage inspired the making of a documentary “Heading Home, the Tale of Team...
Tim Benz: Pirates better off ‘living in the past’ than the present
If current Pittsburgh Pirates players are upset about their organization living in the past, I have an idea to fix that. Do something worth remembering in the present! A recent report stated some Pirates players asked management to stop showing a promotional video that was geared around them watching Willie...
Pirates score twice in the ninth, beat Cardinals 3-1
ST. LOUIS — Colin Moran wanted to hit the ball hard, and in the air, with two on in the ninth inning of a tied game. He didn’t, but it turned out well anyway. Moran drove in the go-ahead run with an infield single and the Pittsburgh Pirates scored twice...
Pirates farm report for July 16, 2019
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 47-46) was too late for this edition. RHP Eduardo Vera (5-7, 6.27) is expected to start for the Indians on Wednesday night. Next: Wednesday vs. Syracuse (Mets), 1:35 p.m. ••• ALTOONA (Double-A, 49-42) lost 4-2 to Trenton (Yankees) despite outhitting the Thunder, 13-7. Eight of nine Curve batters...
Josh Bell wins Pirates’ Heart and Hustle Award
Josh Bell continues to gain recognition beyond the All-Star Game. The Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association announced Tuesday that Bell is the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 2019 Heart and Hustle Award winner. The award honors active players who demonstrate “a passion for the game of baseball and best embody the values,...
Pirates drop 4th straight in shutout loss to Cardinals
ST. LOUIS — Miles Mikolas scuffled in the first half of the season and wanted a fresh start after the All-Star game. His got it. Mikolas pitched an eight-hitter and Tyler O’Neill hit a pair of two-run homers, leading the St. Louis Cardinals to a 7-0 win over the Pittsburgh...
Pirates farm report for July 15, 2019
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 47-46) lost 20-1 to Syracuse (Mets). The Indians were outhit 22-7. Three of the six Indianapolis pitchers gave up at least five runs. LHP Cam Vieaux (2-1, 5.53) gave up six runs in three innings, with four strikeouts, a walk and six hits, including three home runs. LF...
Mark Madden: Pirates in race to trade deadline, not postseasonVideo
This year, like last year, the Pittsburgh Pirates are in the race. But it’s a different kind of race. The Pirates’ payroll is $71 million, their lowest since 2012. Given that picayune amount, the Pirates aren’t really trying to contend. But they want to create the illusion of contending so...
Are Pirates’ pennant hopes gone? Here’s why they are, and why there’s hope
There is an argument to be made that the Pittsburgh Pirates’ playoff hopes disappeared during the three-game sweep by the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. The Pirates never have been more than five games over .500 this season, and that was April 20. Even after winning eight of 12 leading...
Tim Benz, Mark Madden discuss Pirates disaster vs. Cubs, Penguins chemistry, NFL schedule
In this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, Tim Benz and Mark Madden take a look at what went wrong with the Pirates during their disastrous series in Chicago to start the second half of the season. Not only did the Pirates come out of the All-Star break cold, they helped the...
Pirates squander short-lived lead, get swept by CubsVideo
CHICAGO — This wasn’t the way the Pittsburgh Pirates wanted to come out of the All-Star break. The Pirates entered the break a game under .500 (44-45) and 21⁄2 games behind the first-place Chicago Cubs. A sweep would vault the Pirates into first place in the NL Central. But the...
Jordan Lyles pulled in 1st, Starling Marte homers twice in Pirates lossVideo
CHICAGO — Jon Lester showed he still has it all going on in his 14th major league season. Lester homered, tied a career high with three RBIs and pitched effectively into the seventh inning to lead the Chicago Cubs past the Pittsburgh Pirates, 10-4, on Saturday. All-Star catcher Willson Contreras’...
Pittsburgh athletes trying to find ways to avoid social media messes
On many summer nights, 25 ticking time bombs can be located on the ground floor of PNC Park. In the fall, 53 incendiary devices can be found Sundays at Heinz Field. In the winter, there often are 23 potential explosives on the premises at PPG Paints Arena. In the era...
Pirates farm report for July 12, 2019
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 45-45) fell 9-1 to Columbus (Indians). The Indians gave up all nine runs in the first two innings. RHP Eduardo Vera (5-7, 6.27) took the loss after allowing nine runs in 1 2/3 innings with two strikeouts, a walk and nine hits surrendered. SS Cole Tucker (.287) knocked...
Pirates’ Francisco Cervelli says he hopes ‘to catch again’
Francisco Cervelli, who hasn’t played since May 25 after suffering a sixth concussion, posted on Instagram on Friday that his catching career is not over. “Saying that I quit from my catcher responsibilities is inaccurate,” he wrote. “My hope is to catch again.” View this post on Instagram “Saying that...
Column: Cubs win battle, but Pirates can’t be overlooked in wild NL Central race
CHICAGO — When the Pirates acquired Chris Archer last July for some of their top prospects, it was viewed as a statement that management was ready to go for it again after having traded stars Andrew McCutchen and Gerrit Cole the previous winter. “The ownership and front office stepped up...
Pirates drop opener against Cubs on Jason Heyward’s 2-out, 8th-inning hitVideo
CHICAGO — Jason Heyward and Kris Bryant rescued the Chicago Cubs with a clutch swing and some nifty baserunning. Heyward hit a tiebreaking RBI single with two out in the eighth inning, and the Cubs edged the Pittsburgh Pirates, 4-3, on Friday in their first game after the All-Star break....
Pirates farm report for July 11, 2019
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 44-44) defeated Columbus (Indians), 5-4. RHP Mitch Keller (7-3, 3.07) threw six scoreless innings with eight strikeouts, three walks and two hits en route to the win. PH/LF J.B. Shuck (.288) had two RBIs. SS Cole Tucker (.292) was 0 for 3 with a run and an RBI....
Tim Benz: Cubs’ Joe Maddon hints at tense series vs. Pirates. Do they deserve it?
There’s a growing opinion about the Pirates across the National League. They throw up-and-in too much. This isn’t really a new thing. That reputation has been attached to the Pirates for a while. Going back years. There was the beanball war with Arizona in 2018. And there was one between...
What are Pirates’ 2nd-half needs as postseason push continues?
You can do the math, but you may not like how it adds up. The Pittsburgh Pirates will be contenders for a National League postseason berth when they resume their quest Friday at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs. But claiming one of the five playoff spots won’t be easy....
First Call: Pirates’ price for Felipe Vazquez becoming clear; robot umpires debut
In “First Call” Wednesday, we catch wind of what the Pirates’ asking price is for Felipe Vazquez. It’s “Tacko Time” in Boston. And robot umpires make their debut. Fishing for Felipe We’ve talked about what it would take for the Pirates to get Madison Bumgarner if they stay in the...
Tim Benz: What Pirates could offer to get Madison Bumgarner
Picture it. Madison Bumgarner pitching at PNC Park in October again. I mean, for the hometown team this time. You might remember him from the wild-card game five years ago as a member of the eventual World Series champion San Francisco Giants. Right. That guy. Well, the 2014 World Series...
Podcast: MLB’s weak explanation on baseballs; Pitt’s Kenny Pickett bulks up
A lot happened during Major League Baseball’s All-Star week in Cleveland. Much of it had nothing to do with the game. Our Jerry DiPaola was on hand to cover all the angles. He’s back in Pittsburgh after the American League’s 4-3 win. We discuss commissioner Rob Manfred’s double talk...
