Defensive lapses once again reared their head as the Pittsburgh Pirates fell by a 4-2 score Wednesday night to the St. Louis Cardinals. The big blow came in the sixth inning when Gregory Polanco tried to run down a ball in shallow right field. He misjudged it and the ball rolled to the wall. After the dust had cleared, Randal Grichuk scored what proved to be the game-winning run and Yadier Molina was on third base with his second triple of the season. In addition to that miscue, the Pirates ... Read More
Alvarez a pinch hit hero in walk-off win over Dodgers
Having the bases loaded was not necessarily a recipe for the success for the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night, but pinch-hitter Pedro Alvarez made sure 39,404 fans went home happy. Alvarez's pinch-hit single with the bases full in the bottom of the tenth gave the Pirates a 5-4 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. “Just because you don’t start a game it doesn’t mean that you won’t play a role in the game," Alvarez said. "I can speak for everyone here when they are in the same situation ... Read More
Pirates slug 12 hits in victory
The Chicago Cubs used a three-run sixth inning to tie the game while the Pittsburgh Pirates were using its third pitcher of the inning, Antonio Bastardo. Bastardo [3-1] faced pinch-hitter Chris Coghlan with the bases loaded and two outs. Coghlan grounded out on the first pitch keeping the score tied at four. The Pirates would respond following the out and won by a 7-5 score. “The absolute biggest pitch of the night for me," manager Clint Hurdle said. "It was a real efficient one-pitch ... Read More
Pirates lose series to Brewers
Prior to the first pitch the Pittsburgh Pirates revealed that Francisco Liriano would not start Saturday night's game against the Milwaukee Brewers. It was not the only loss of the night as the Pirates fell by an 8-5 score. Liriano was scratched from the start due to neck stiffness and as a result, Vance Worley made his first start of the season since May 14, an appearance which came against one of his former teams, the Philadelphia Phillies. Worley [3-5] allowed five runs [four earned] on ... Read More
Pirates bats come through in eighth inning to secure sweep
Andrew Cashner was nearly unhittable for seven innings. A night after driving in the go-ahead run in the bottom of the eight, Gregory Polanco did it again in a 5-2 Pittsburgh Pirates victory over the San Diego Padres. With the win, the Pirates earned their first sweep of the Padres since April 12-14, 1994. “Cashner was tough and we weren’t getting a lot of good pitches to hit," manager Clint Hurdle said. "We took it professional and didn’t take it personal and we kept showing up and ... Read More
Pirates pregame 6/28: Tabata, Volstad designated for assignment
The Pittsburgh Pirates will go for another sweep this afternoon as it concludes a three game series with the Atlanta Braves. Friday the Pirates won 3-2 in 10 innings and Saturday it was an 8-4 victory. It would be the ninth sweep of the season for the Pirates. Jeff Locke will pitch for the Pirates against Alex Wood. Locke is 1-1 with a 6.07 ERA in five career starts against the Braves and received a no-decision in his start against them this season. Locke had a no-decision in his last ... Read More
Pirates first inning too much for Braves
After losing centerfielder Andrew McCutchen with one out in the first inning, the Pittsburgh Pirates responded with a five-run first offensive outburst in the bottom of the first en route to an 8-4 victory. “I think it was a real nice push for our guys to answer in that fashion," manager Clint Hurdle said. McCutchen left the game after he was hit by a pitch in the left elbow. In the first inning, Neil Walker started a string of seven consecutive Pirates that reached base. McCutchen was ... 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
Burnett goes nine innings; Pirates walk off in extra innings
For a second time in three days, fans at PNC Park were treated to a pitcher's duel from both sides. In the end an 11th inning Josh Harrison walk-off single scored Neil Walker and resulted in a 1-0 victory. The victory secured a series sweep for the Pirates. Cole Hamels had his best start of the season with the Phillies allowing no runs on four hits in seven innings. His 12 strikeouts were a season high and most since September 14, 2010 when he had 13. He threw seven innings and allowed ... Read More
Pirates earn first walkoff win of season
Coming into this game the Pittsburgh Pirates were 0-6 in extra innings and had yet to record a walkoff win. Both changed early Saturday morning after a Starling Marte single scored Chris Stewart in the 13th inning. "I don’t know if I’ve been involved in a game of this magnitude to go 13 innings like that," manager Clint Hurdle said. "It was a wonderful game to watch.” Not many fans could have expected a pitcher's duel between Jeff Locke and Kevin Correia but that was exactly what ... Read More