In an inning with a grand slam and a two-run home run, it was a walk that did the Pittsburgh Pirates in. In the fourth inning, starting pitcher Wilfredo Boscan engaged in an 11-pitch epic battle — the kind they write songs about — with San Francisco Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford. Crawford fouled off seven pitches and eventually drew a walk. The next batter the tired Boscan faced, Giants’ left fielder Angel Pagan, hit a grand slam. That fourth inning only got worse; the first seven batters ... Read More
Pirates’ season hinges on next few weeks
In the eyes of many Pittsburgh sports fans, there's a bit of an empty feeling. The Penguins' season is over, and the Steelers' season hasn't started yet — so what now? Over the past three years, the strong play of the Pirates has tided fans over during the sports lull, but a stretch of poor play has some fans feeling blasé. Prior to Monday night's 1-0 victory over the San Francisco Giants, the Pirates had lost their last five games and 10 of their last 11. They are currently one ... Read More
Mets knock Locke out of game early in Pirates loss
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jeff Locke took his medicine last start allowing 11 runs in 4.2 innings and a similar fate awaited him Wednesday night in an 11-2 loss to the New York Mets. After a stretch in which Locke (5-5) was the most dominant pitcher, his last two starts have his ERA at 5.92. Locke lasted four innings in this game allowing seven runs on nine hits. Three of those runs were allowed in the first inning. Each of the first three batters reached base before Wilmer ... Read More
Column: It’s time for Pirates’ excuses, cliches to stop
If there is a team which needs a break more than the Pittsburgh Pirates, I would love to hear who. That's because there is no one who needs a break more desperately then them, especially after playing uninspired baseball in an 8-3 loss Sunday to the St. Louis Cardinals. It was a team which looked tired in every way and played like it, too. Sure there can be many excuses made for the loss but flat out the Pirates just need a day to get right again. Pirates manager Clint Hurdle only ... Read More
Short bullpen costs Pirates extra-inning game vs. Mets
Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitchers Mark Melancon and Neftali Feliz have had great seasons, but their success in Tuesday's doubleheader came at a cost: Neither was available for Wednesday's game against the New York Mets. The Pirates' short-handed bullpen flinched, resulting in a 6-5 Mets victory in 10 innings. Cory Luebke (0-1) came in for the 10th inning and needed 21 pitches to get through it, but he allowed the game-winning run. To start, he allowed Yoenis Cespedes and Neil Walker to ... Read More
Pirates lose game, series to Marlins in extra innings
Thursday night, the Pittsburgh Pirates lost their third-consecutive game to the Miami Marlins, falling 4-3 in extra innings. But perhaps the biggest news from the game came with the injury report: Francisco Cervelli, Andrew McCutchen, David Freese and Jordy Mercer all left the game with various injuries. Cervelli injured his foot and left in the third inning, McCutchen left the game in the sixth inning with general thumb discomfort, Mercer was hit by a pitch on the elbow and left in the ninth ... Read More
Cole outpitched by Fernandez in Pirates loss
Normally highly anticipated pitching match-ups do not live up to their billing, but for six innings, Gerrit Cole and Jose Fernandez battled zero for zero. It was Cole who flinched first in a 3-1 Pittsburgh Pirates loss to the Miami Marlins Tuesday night. After Cole (5-4) retired his mound opponent, Ichiro Suzuki recorded a single on a 1-1 offering. On the next pitch, Marlins catcher J.T. Realmuto singled putting a runner in scoring position. This brought Christian Yelich to the plate. ... Read More
Liriano lacks command in Pirates loss to Rangers
Control has been an issue for Francisco Liriano of late and because of this, his success as a pitcher has hit a snag. With the Pittsburgh Pirates looking for a series win against the Texas Rangers, command and control once again eluded Liriano in a 6-2 defeat. Liriano (4-4) was given a 2-0 lead which in the past has allowed for him to get into more of a comfortable mindset. Jordy Mercer led off the game with his seventh double of the season and immediately was batted in by Andrew ... Read More
Pirates’ pitcher Jonathon Niese continues good form in win
With Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Jonathon Niese throwing well lately, people wondered whether his good form could continue at the Texas Rangers' hitter-friendly Globe Life Park. On Friday night, the answer was a resounding "yes," as Niese (5-2) allowed just one run on seven hits in six innings of work and helped the Pirates resoundingly beat the Rangers, 9-1. Lately, Niese has been able to get ground ball outs with more regularity, and this was once again the case Friday — he had 10 ground ... Read More
Column: Patient approach leads to another Pirates win
Sometimes it is not what about what is done when a team fails to score a run in any given inning, but there are occasions in which that does not tell the full story. While David Freese's three-run home run will be the talk of this game, perhaps more eyes should be turned to the opening three innings of the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-4 victory Wednesday night over the Arizona Diamondbacks. In those first three innings, the Pirates came away with three hits. No big deal, right? Wrong. The ... Read More