Tuesday night the Pittsburgh Pirates trailed the Philadelphia Phillies 3-2 after eight innings. It was a familiar scene. The Pirates are 0-65 when behind after eight innings, not to mention they're on a four-game losing streak and have lost 12 of their past 14 games. But, in the top of the ninth inning, the Pirates managed to get runners in scoring position, and pinch-hitter Sean Rodriguez, who came to the plate with no outs and runners on second and third, just needed to hit the ball deep ... Read More
Pirates drop series finale to Reds, 8-0
The Pittsburgh Pirates were trying to salvage what was a disappointing homestand but instead lost 8-0 Sunday afternoon to the Cincinnati Reds. This was a game in which Ryan Vogelsong struggled through four innings and the offense stranded the bases loaded on two separate occasions. The loss puts the Pirates at 69-72 with 21 games remaining. This loss put the Pirates at 2-8 in their 10-game home stand. "My vision is to get us playing better," manager Clint Hurdle said. "I’m not going to ... Read More
Pirates seeking series split with Reds
The Pittsburgh Pirates enter play Sunday afternoon losers of 10 out of its past 12 games and are looking to avoid dropping a fourth consecutive series, this time against the Cincinnati Reds. Ryan Vogelsong (3-4, 4.07 ERA) will be facing Brandon Finnegan (8-10, 4.17 ERA). Vogelsong is coming off a no decision against the St. Louis Cardinals in which he allowed five runs on six hits over four innings. He is 5-5 with a 4.34 ERA in 21 career appearances (11 starts) against the ... Read More
A eulogy for the 2016 Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates playoff chances April 3, 2016 - September 6, 2016 (dates may be subjective) Ladies and gentlemen, we gather here today to pay our respects to the 157 days worth of pipe dreams known as the Pittsburgh Pirates playoff chances this season which though mathematically did not end on this Tuesday night in September, were for all purposes silenced by a familiar foe. It was the big brother known as the St Louis Cardinals which slayed these Pittsburgh Pirates once again by a 9-7 ... Read More
Brewers sweep Pirates to push losing streak to 6
Domingo means "Born on Sunday" in Spanish, and two home runs by Milwaukee Brewers right fielder Domingo Santana in Sunday afternoon's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates secured the visitors a 10-0 victory and series sweep. Santana's first home run was his fifth of the season and was hit in the second inning against Pirates starter Steven Brault (0-2). This was Brault's lone hiccup of his outing, as he pitched five innings allowing the home run on four hits. He did walk three batters and ... Read More
Pirates pregame: Hurdle pitcher availability
The Milwaukee Brewers are looking for their second sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates this season and will have that chance Sunday afternoon. Steven Brault (0-1, 3.86 ERA) will face Chase Anderson (7-11, 4.92 ERA). Brault will be looking to avenge his lone career major league loss to the Brewers. That effort was the lone outing in which he pitched past the fourth inning in his three appearances with the Pirates. Something which may provide comfort to Brault is his catcher. Chris Stewart is ... Read More
Column: Series sweep could be beginning of the end
Wednesday night's 6-5 Chicago Cubs victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates not only resulted in a sweep but confirmed what has been believed for a while. The Pittsburgh Pirates are not a playoff team. They have yet to prove otherwise. This second half has had more ups and downs than a roller coaster for the team, which statistically had the easiest second-half schedule this season. Recently the Pirates had a 5-1 road trip that transitioned to a return to PNC Park and a 1-5 homestand. It ... Read More
Nova leads Pirates’ effort in 7-1 win vs. Astros
Starting pitcher Ivan Nova threw his first complete game since Sept. 21, 2013, and the Pittsburgh Pirates (63-60) ended a four-game losing streak, defeating the Houston Astros (65-61) 7-1 Tuesday night. Nova dominated the Astros, throwing 25 (of 33) first pitch strikes, getting 13 ground balls and 16 batters out on three pitches or fewer. “The command of my pitches worked well,” Nova said. “I was working ahead in the count to almost every hitter, and I was getting a lot of quick ... Read More
Call to the ‘pen benefits Pirates’ Jordan Comadena
Jordan Comadena was preparing for another busy day as a volunteer baseball coach at Purdue University when the phone rang one morning. Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle was on the line. Comadena's major league dreams appeared to be halted in the minor leagues. However, Hurdle's call, which came on a Monday in early April, was a job offer to join the team as a bullpen catcher. “It's just kind of a wild ride with some luck and good fortune,” Comadena says of hearing about the position. ... Read More
Hamilton dazzles as Reds avoid sweep
Prior to Sunday afternoon's Pittsburgh Pirates game against the Cincinnati Reds, manager Clint Hurdle pledged the team was trying new things, which made it so Billy Hamilton would not be as potent on the bases. The result? Four stolen bases (giving him a major league leading 43) and five total thefts from the Reds. "We weren't where we needed to be, and that's my responsibility," Hurdle said. "End it right there. It's my responsibility to take care of that and at the end of the day when ... Read More