MILWAUKEE -- As the saying goes, having Mark Melancon and Jason Grilli in their bullpen is allowing the Pirates to shorten games to seven innings. The rest of the National League only wishes that were true. Even the dreaded Brewers. Without an eighth inning, there'd be no Ambush Alley and not many wins. Again, the Pirates came alive Wednesday afternoon with four runs in the eighth off another bullpen in their bull's eye to interrupt their Miller Park misery. Can't say that the Bucs' 6-4 ... Read More
Pirates led by Martin, Jones and Locke in blowout win over Cardinals
ST. LOUIS -- Clint Hurdle always calls baseball, alternately, a funny or a wonderful game. This episode probably qualifies as both. Jeff Locke began the season as the Pirates' No. 5 starter, and now is riding a scoreless streak of 13 innings after going the first seven on Sunday as the Bucs downed the Cardinals, 9-0, to vault over St. Louis in the National League Central. It can be reasonably assumed that Locke has earned a promotion to the No. 4 slot, previously occupied by Jonathan ... Read More
Contreras mentors staff with passion for baseball in return
In the past year, the Pirates added the veteran leadership of A.J. Burnett and Wandy Rodriguez to their clubhouse. In one of the more under the radar moves this offseason, the Pirates signed veteran Jose Contreras to a one-year deal, but Contreras has yet to make his Pirates debut because of injury. Contreras is in Altoona and appeared in Saturday's game, throwing eight pitches through one inning. The 41-year-old pitcher is coming off of Tommy John surgery, but Pirates Manager Clint Hurdle said ... Read More
Pirates answer questions en route to 3-1 victory
Oh how the storylines were in abundance Saturday night in PNC Park. Former Pirates starter, Paul Maholm, returned to Pittsburgh as one of the best pitchers in baseball this year. No, really. Maholm sported a record of 3-0 and had yet to give up a run. Then you have Mr. Jekyll and Hyde (on the field that is) in James McDonald for the Pirates. In some instances, he looks brilliant, but at other times, he's a disaster. "There's two guys. There's the guy that everyone wants to play behind," ... Read More
Martin’s start at third isn’t foreign territory
The Pirates knew that they were getting a sure-handed catcher when they signed Russell Martin to a two-year deal in the offseason. While Martin has done a great job on the receiving end of a relatively shaky pitching staff, his defensive prowess stretches past the catcher position. Martin will get the start tonight at third base, which is a position that Martin said he has a lot of experience at. "It’s [confidence] pretty high. Fielding ground balls and making throws across the diamond, it’s ... Read More
Wandy’s marvelous in return; Pirates face minimum 27 in 6-0 over Braves
PITTSBURGH -- Pitching on a healthy left hamstring, Wandy Rodriguez hamstrung the Atlanta Braves. Jumping back into the fray after having to skip one turn due to a strain of his left hamstring muscle, Rodriguez utterly silenced the team with the Majors' best record and most home runs, holding them to one hit through seven innings of the Pirates' 6-0 victory at PNC Park. In becoming the second Pirates starter in three days to hurl seven innings of one-hit ball -- allowing only a ... Read More
Pittsburgh Passion Show their Name in Pittsburgh Sports
PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh Passion bring home a win to a great night of Pittsburgh Sports. The Passion beat the Toledo Reign 42 – 0 on the road last night. Passion Kicker, Amy Fallon became the Passion all-time extra point leader with 73 career PATs. Fallon’s first extra point after touchdown was back on April 17, 2010 against Philadelphia. She passed former Passion all-star Lauren Bracco. Amy is already the Passion leader with the most career field goals with six made field goals. The ... Read More
Reds can’t capitalize as Pirates take game two of three-game set
It wasn't that the Pirates outplayed the Reds on Saturday night. Actually, it was anything but. If you watched the game, the Pirates were outplayed in every facet. Fortunately for the Pirates and the fans, the Pirates were able to win the only category that mattered in a 2-1 victory. Looking at the match up, it wasn't in the Pirates favor as they entered PNC Park. Johnny Cueto, one of the top pitchers in baseball, was going for the Reds. Jeff Locke, a mystery at this point, was taking the ... Read More
Baseball is his love, but Russell Martin is no stranger to hockey
Baseball is known as America's pastime. The game was the most popular sport in America in the 19th and 20th century. Regardless of football's popularity in our country today, America will always be represented by baseball. As you may have heard, in the Great White North of Canada, hockey rules all. Hockey has caught on in a big way in the United States, while baseball has made its mark on Canada as well. The Pirates new catcher, Russell Martin, is one of many Canadians that enjoy both. Growing ... Read More
Pirates unable to sweep D’backs, lose 10-2
Tom Singer - Sometimes you're the broom, and sometimes you're the mess. The Pirates had no trouble deciding which they were on Wednesday, when they entered Chase Field hoping to sweep the D-backs and instead were whisked out of town. With Jonathan Sanchez looking nothing like the left-hander who impressed in Spring Training and in his first start of the season, the Bucs took a 10-2 series-ending loss on the chin. The haymakers were delivered by A.J. Pollock, who drove in four with a ... Read More