Coming into Wednesday night's start, Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Gerrit Cole had not allowed more than three runs in a game this season. That all changed 21 minutes into the game as a four-run and 38-pitch first inning allowed the Cincinnati Reds to win 5-2. The outing was the shortest of Cole's season and also the shortest since June 28 against the New York Mets when he went four innings. “I didn’t bring out a good delivery tonight the stuff was a little flat," Cole said. "I didn’t make ... Read More
Pirates pregame 6/24: Volstad called up; Hart to DL
A roller coaster game Tuesday night ended in the Pittsburgh Pirates favor as it won a 7-6 game against the Cincinnati Reds. “We lost three in a row on the road so we want to win at home," Andrew McCutchen said. "To lose how we did against the Nationals, we were pretty amped up for playing in front of a home crowd.” The Pirates will look to make it two wins in a row when they take on the Reds once again. Gerrit Cole will start for the Pirates attempt to become the fifth Pittsburgh ... Read More
Seven-run fourth inning propels Pirates to victory
With the Pittsburgh Pirates leading the Cincinnati Reds by one, Todd Frazier came to the plate against Arquimedes Caminero. Frazier came into the contest batting .375 against the Pirates in 2015 and hit a sinking liner. Starling Marte came in and dove headfirst to record the third out of the seventh inning stranding Billy Hamilton. Caminero celebrated with a fist pump and Frazier slammed his helmet in disgust. “I didn’t know he was so shallow," Caminero said. "When I saw that play it was ... Read More
Pirates pregame 6/23: Locke regains confidence
It is the start of another home stand for the Pittsburgh Pirates as the team returns to town to face the Cincinnati Reds. The Pirates are 1-5 against the Reds this season and 1-2 at PNC Park. Locke goes back to basics Jeff Locke gets the start for the Pirates and is 1-0 in his last three starts. He also has not allowed a run at PNC Park in his last 16.2 innings pitched. Locke was a winner in his last start which was Wednesday against the Chicago White Sox. He allowed two runs on three ... Read More
Dugout advice saves Hughes’ career
It was the middle of another long season in the minor leagues, and in the Altoona, Pa. dugout, Jared Hughes was talking with his catcher Kris Watts. Hughes was frustrated with his progress in Altoona and was struggling to find answers. Watts decided this was the time to approach his teammate and motivate him to become the fearless pitcher he remembered. "We've got half a season left, let it all out on the table. Don't worry about mechanics or anything, just have fun, play hard and play any ... Read More
Pirates winning streak a season high after victory
Pedro Alvarez has had his struggles against left-handed pitching this season going 2-for-20 on the season, however his single helped the Pittsburgh Pirates score the game-winning run in a 3-2 victory against the Chicago White Sox.This victory game the Pirates a major league leading eighth sweep of the season. They had five sweeps all of last season. The Pirates also earned its eighth consecutive win, a season high."We're playing very good baseball," manager Clint Hurdle said to assembled media ... Read More
Kang homers; solid pitching continues in Pirates victory
The Pittsburgh Pirates won its seventh consecutive contest Wednesday night after defeating the Chicago White Sox by a 3-2 score. The Pirates now have tied their season high winning streak and are 20-5 in their past 25 games. Jeff Locke [4-3] came into the contest with a 2.82 ERA in seven career Interleague starts and backed that up allowing two runs on three hits over six innings. Locke also walked two batters while striking out a season high eight. This was his highest total since he struck ... Read More
Pirates use long ball to win game; series
The Pirates combined timely hitting with a solid Charlie Morton outing, winning Tuesday night by a 3-0 score over the Chicago White Sox. In the two games the Pirates hosted at home, their outhit the White Sox 28-6. Morton earned his fifth win of the season in as many starts. He threw seven scoreless innings allowing four hits on 94 pitches and 65 were strikes. Morton retired 13 batters on three pitches or less and had 12 ground ball outs. Morton's main trouble came in the first inning when ... Read More
Pirates pregame 6/16: Hayes signs with Pirates; Bastardo glorious of late
An eight-game homestand concludes tonight when the Pittsburgh Pirates face the Chicago White Sox. In last night's game the Pirates tied a season high scoring 11 runs in a shutout victory against the White Sox. Francisco Liriano struck out 12 batters which also tied a season high. Tonight’s starters: The Pirates will send Charlie Morton to the mound to face Jose Quintana. Morton is 2-6 with a 5.00 ERA in 10 career Interleague starts. He pitched 7.1 shutout innings allowing three hits ... Read More
Loyalty in baseball conflicts with ‘the line’
Loyalty is a concept that can take a lifetime for many people to perfect. In baseball, however, it is extremely complicated and can come in between winning. Many can see loyalty in the sport a different way which makes it all the more complicated. Take Pirates reliever Jared Hughes for example. He has been on both sides of the coin where he was kept on the roster and early in his career had stints in both the major and minor leagues. For Hughes, the loyalty is about the battle and the ... Read More