The Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the San Francisco Giants by a 5-2 score Sunday night to take three games out of the four-game series. “There were a lot of different things that happened out there tonight that complicated things at times but we were able to stay in front of it, get outs when we needed them and add on runs when we needed them," manager Clint Hurdle said. It was an up and down day for Pedro Alvarez. Alvarez was responsible for two errors and was an official scorer decision ... Read More
Pirates pregame 8/23: Mercer rejoins Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates hope to continue its momentum from yesterday's 3-2 bottom of the ninth victory against the San Francisco Giants. Yesterday's win marked the second time that the Pirates won a game by scoring at least three runs, each on a solo home run. The other one came in 1949. Tonight, Francisco Liriano [8-6 3.35 ERA] will face Ryan Vogelsong [9-8 3.93 ERA]. Liriano is 3-1 with a 3.75 ERA in four career starts against the Giants. He won a 5-2 decision earlier this season ... Read More
Kang, Marte power Pirates to win
No more than 30 minutes earlier Starling Marte played hero hitting a game-winning home run, however he quickly tried to deflect the credit. "You should be talking to Jung Ho [Kang]," Marte said. "He hit two home runs, he was the real hero today." Marte's 15th home run of the season, his second career walk-off allowed the Pittsburgh Pirates to defeat the San Francisco Giants by a 3-2 score. “I was looking for a fastball away because it was tied in the ninth inning and that’s what ... Read More
Pirates pregame 8/22: Kang continues to progress with his English
It was a night to forget for Jeff Locke as the Pittsburgh Pirates fell to the San Francisco Giants by a 6-4 score last night. Locke surrendered a career-high 11 hits in five innings of work. He missed in location repeatedly early in the game and the Giants made him pay. The most notable hit was a 418-foot home run hit by his mound counterpart, Madison Bumgarner, his fifth of the season. This afternoon Gerrit Cole [14-7 2.61 ERA] will face Mike Leake [9-6 3.52 ERA]. Cole is 3-0 with a ... Read More
Pirates look to come through in a pinch
Despite making the playoffs in 2013, the Pittsburgh Pirates knew its biggest deficiency was pinch-hitting so immediately assistant hitting coach Jeff Livesey was tasked with putting a change to this. Pinch-hitting is by no mean an easy art to master. Essentially a batter is coming in cold to a pitcher that sometimes is very locked in or at the very least has thrown many pitches. The batter is then tasked with making a contribution that can help his team. Last season, Travis Snider found ... Read More
Byrd, Giants rough up Locke; even series
Pittsburgh Pirates fans remember Marlon Byrd for his time with the team in 2013 and more recently, for being one of the instigators in a benches clearing incident with the Cincinnati Reds earlier this season. Though fans booed him loudly, he had a single, double and home run five innings, helping he new team, the San Francisco Giants, beat his old team 6-4 on Friday night. Giants starter Madison Bumgarner [15-6] went 6.1 innings and threw 102 pitches while allowing three runs. It was first time ... Read More
Pirates pregame 8/21: Harrison excited about opportunity to rejoin team
The Pittsburgh Pirates won the first game of their four-game series against the San Francisco Giants by a 4-0 score Thursday night to go a season-high 25 games over .500. Jeff Locke [6-7 4.31 ERA] will start tonight for the Pirates. He is 0-0 with an 8.68 ERA in two career starts against the Giants. In his last start, he allowed one run on four hits in 5.1 innings against the New York Mets in a no-decision. Locke has not pitched six innings since July 19 against the Milwaukee ... Read More
Harrison recalled from rehab assignment
Prior to Friday night's contest against the San Francisco Giants, the Pittsburgh Pirates recalled Josh Harrison from his rehab assignment with Triple-A Indianapolis. The corresponding move for Harrison was to designate Josh Wall for assignment. Harrison was placed on the disabled list July 6 with left thumb surgery and the Pirates posted a 25-13 record in his absence. Wall never had the opportunity to pitch for the Pirates through he did throw in the bullpen during the ninth inning of ... Read More
Alvarez making improvements in becoming two-way player
No Pirates player gets more reaction for better or worse than Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Pedro Alvarez. It isn't for lack of trying. One of the first things that come to mind when Alvarez's name comes up with players and coaches on the team is how hard he works. “His work ethic is as good as anybody that’s been around," hitting coach Jeff Branson said. "It’s nothing any different, he’s just simplified his plan and his sights of where he wants pitches. All of the drill work he does every ... Read More
Pirates shutout Giants in series opener
Charlie Morton came into Thursday night's game against the San Francisco Giants having not lost a game since July 22, and after a 4-0 victory, that streak continued. “I think we’re watching Charlie develop into more of a complete pitcher with a sinker ball rather than a single ball pitcher," manager Clint Hurdle said. The Pirates are now a season-high 25 games over .500. Morton [8-4] used his off-speed pitches to overwhelm the Giants offense. Unlike previous games, this start was not so ... Read More