At the end of the 2013 campaign, the Pittsburgh Pirates cleaned up when it came to collecting season ending awards. They have a chance to do so again this season. Both Andrew McCutchen and Clint Hurdle were named finalists for the same awards they took home a season ago after leading the Bucs to a second consecutive postseason appearance. McCutchen is among the three contenders for the 2014 MVP award, along with Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw and Miami outfielder Giancarlo ... Read More
McCutchen named Sporting News N.L. All-Star
The Sporting News released their season N.L. and A.L. All-Stars on Wednesday as voted on by league executives. Nine position players — one for each position — a starting pitcher and a closer were chosen for the team. Andrew McCutchen was selected for one of the three outfield slots along with Giancarlo Stanton and Justin Upton. McCutchen finished the 2014 season with a .314/.410/.542 slash line with 25 home runs, 38 doubles and 18 stolen bases while recording a 6.4 WAR, which was ... Read More
Braves hit Locke, beat Pirates 6-2
Jeff Locke struggled in his final regular season start of the 2014 season allowing the Braves to score early and often in a 6-2 victory over the Pirates on Wednesday night. Locke allowed six runs in four innings of work putting the Pirates in an early hole. Emilio Bonifacio started things with a 2 RBI single in the second. It followed a misplay on a line drive to Starling Marte and a fielding error by Ike Davis to extend the inning. Braves starter Julio Teheran helped himself with a 2 RBI ... Read More
Cutch and Liriano drop Pirates magic number to two
Francisco Liriano threw six shutout innings and Andrew McCutchen put the only run on the board to help the Pirates beat the Braves 1-0 on Monday night. Liriano had some control issues on the night allowing three hits and walking four, but was able to keep the Braves (76-80) off of the board. The only major threat came against him in the bottom of the first inning. Emilio Bonifacio walked to start the game and advanced to second and third on two stolen bases. Freddie Freeman then walked with ... Read More
Brewers stay alive with 1-0 win over Pirates
The Brewers kept their Wild Card hopes alive for one more night with a 1-0 victory over the Pirates in front of a packed house at PNC Park on Saturday night. Pirates starter Edinson Volquez threw seven scoreless innings while allowing three hits and three walks. The Brewers had four men in scoring position, but Volquez buckled down to get inning-ending strikeouts in three of the instances. It was a solid outcome for the right-hander after having a high pitch count early. Brewers starter ... Read More
Power and speed lift Pirates past Phillies
The speed of Andrew McCutchen and the power of Russell Martin helped push the Pirates past the Phillies 6-3 Wednesday night to keep their 1 1/2 game lead in the National League Wild Card race. With the Pirates (76-69) trailing the Phillies 3-2 in the fifth inning, Andrew McCutchen showed everyone his rib injury isn't affecting him as he hit a deep fly that hit off of the heightened wall in left-center field. The ball took an odd bounce towards center allowing McCutchen and his speed to ... Read More
Cardinals score late, hold on to beat Pirates 3-2
Jared Hughes allowed three Cardinal runs in the seventh inning propelling them to a 3-2 victory over the Pirates on Monday night at PNC. The uncharacteristic inning by Hughes erased a strong outing by Francisco Liriano, who pitched six scoreless before being removed after one batter in the seventh with the Pirates (67-64) leading 1-0 on a Pedro Alvarez home run in the second. Liriano held a no-hitter through 4 2/3 innings before a Jhonny Peralta single snapped the bid. Liriano threw up ... Read More
Pirates Gameday 8/25: Hurdle discusses Polanco demotion, Barmes activated from DL
Good afternoon from PNC Park where the Pirates (67-63) look to build off of their series victory in Milwaukee as they begin a three-game set against the NL Wild Card-leading Cardinals (70-59). Francisco Liriano (3-10, 4.18 ERA) will take the hill and oppose newly acquired John Lackey (1-1, 5.40 ERA). Roster Moves -- The Pirates made a roster move this afternoon sending OF Gregory Polanco to AAA Indianapolis and recalling OF Jose Tabata. Polanco will be back with the team after the rosters ... Read More
Harrison’s 5 RBI lifts Pirates past Brewers
Josh Harrison hit a home run and recorded 5 RBI as the Pirates got their make or break stretch against NL Central opponents off to a solid start with an 8-3 victory over the first place Brewers on Friday night. With the Pirates (66-62) trailing 2-0 in the second inning after a Ryan Braun two run home run in the first, the offense went to work against Yovani Gallardo. Russell Martin started the inning off by reaching on a throwing error by Brewers third basemen Aramis Ramirez. Gallardo then ... Read More
Cutch ready to return to action
Andrew McCutchen completed what looks like the final step in his rehab as he successfully participated in live batting practice without any setbacks on Monday afternoon at PNC Park. "I feel good, good to go," said McCutchen. "It was basically a reassurance there going out and facing live pitching and getting my swing ready for the games. I felt pretty good out there. I made some good contact on some balls and even with some swing and misses. I pretty much did everything. I swung and missed, ... Read More