Tony Watson was asked to make his longest outing of the season as the Pittsburgh Pirates were trying to hold on to a 1-run lead against the Chicago Cubs. Watson ended up getting the job done earning his first save of the season and the Pirates won by a 4-3 score. “It turned into a plan B where he had to go get six outs and he went out and got them," manager Clint Hurdle said. "He’s shown grit, he’s shown ability, he’s shown skill. It was a very gritty performance to get six outs and keep ... Read More
Pirates pregame 4/22: Kang, Hughes, Melancon discussed
The Chicago Cubs have won the first two games in this series, however the Pittsburgh Pirates still have an opportunity to earn a split if it were to match the aforementioned accomplishment. In last night's contest, the lead went back and forth, however the Pirates bullpen allowed an 8-5 lead to slip away in a 9-8 loss. Mark Melancon blew his first save in a 3-run top of the ninth inning. Tonight’s starters: In tonight's game Vance Worley [1-1 5.84 ERA] will take to the mound against ... Read More
Pirates, Melancon lose lead, game in ninth
The Pittsburgh Pirates could not hold an 8-5 lead and Mark Melancon blew his first save of the season falling 9-8 to the Chicago Cubs Tuesday. It was the Cubs that scored first in the top half of the opening inning. Francisco Liriano walked Dexter Fowler and hit Anthony Rizzo with a pitch putting the first two batters on base. Kris Bryant picked back up where he left off Monday with a double that scored Fowler. The Pirates got the run back in the first inning scoring in the frame for the ... Read More
Pirates pregame 4/21: Team faces left-hander for first time
The Pittsburgh Pirates continue its series against the Chicago Cubs tonight at 7:05 p.m. This is the second of four games. Last night the Pirates fell 5-2 due in large part to a three-run seventh inning against Arquimedes Caminero. Tonight’s starters: Starting for the Pirates in this contest is Francisco Liriano [0-1 2.08 ERA]. Liriano is 4-2 with a 2.30 ERA in nine career starts against the Cubs. Liriano went 1-0 with a 1.20 ERA in three starts last season against them. Liriano also has ... Read More
Pirates pregame 4/17: Sanchez sent down; Rodriguez starts at second
After a series loss the Pittsburgh Pirates look to start anew against the Milwaukee Brewers. These two teams met a week ago with the Pirates holding a 2-1 season series advantage. Last game out: The Pirates were shutout as Alfredo Simon and Joakim Soria combined to allow two hits in a 1-0 Tigers victory. The Pirates offense struggled to get base runners as evidenced by the 13 consecutive batters Simon retired to end his outing. The Pirates have not had a walk since Saturday and Andrew ... Read More
Burnett, Pirates on wrong side of pitchers’ duel
A.J. Burnett toed the rubber against Nick Castellanos and the Detroit Tigers. With runners on second and third base in the fourth inning this was Burnett's first test all game, and 31,755 Pittsburgh Pirates fans knowing this started to cheer the home pitcher in an effort to fire him up. The result was the first fist pump from Burnett this season and a strike out to end the inning. “Anytime you’ve got guys in scoring position, it’s big but it was a big pitch at a big time," Burnett said. ... Read More
Pirates pregame 4/14: Marte out of starting lineup
The Pittsburgh Pirates [3-4] will play the Detroit Tigers [6-1] in the second of a three game series tonight at 7:05 p.m. Last game out: The Pirates won its Opening Day game by a 5-4 score in front of 39,933 fans, the largest-ever crowd to attend a regular season game at PNC Park. The loss represented the first of the year for the Tigers. Josh Harrison hit the first pitch he saw in the bottom of the first inning into the right-center field seats for a home run. Corey Hart ultimately ... Read More
Pirates Opening Day roster finalized
The Pittsburgh Pirates, along with every other major league team, finalized their Opening Day roster Sunday at 3 p.m. The Pirates, to the surprise of some, recalled relief pitcher Rob Scahill and designated infielder Pedro Florimon and right-handed pitcher Stolmy Pimentel for assignment. Manager Clint Hurdle had already informed the media on Saturday that relievers Arquimedes Caminero, Jared Hughes and Radhames Liz likely had made the ball club, as well as first baseman/outfielder Andrew ... Read More
Pirates win as Polanco homers for second straight game
Charlie Morton's up and down Spring Training continued with an 8-3 victory over the visiting Toronto Blue Jays Saturday at McKechnie Field. Morton [1-1] saw his ERA fall from 7.71 to 6.46 this spring after pitching six innings and allowing three runs. Morton also surrendered six hits and walked two batters. Morton's three runs came on a first inning Daric Barton home run, a second inning Munenori Kawasaki double and a fourth inning Danny Valencia homer. “I thought he showed progress as ... Read More
Nick Leyva is underrated part of Pirates success
After smacking a double off of the Clemente Wall, Pedro Alvarez is standing on second base. It’s a 3-2 game, in the bottom of the ninth inning of the National League Wild Card play-in game. With two outs, trailing by one and a berth to the second round of the playoffs on the line, Jordy Mercer steps up to the dish and lines a single into left field. Alvarez makes his way to third and looks up to his third-base coach to see if he’s going or if he’s staying put. In a season with 162 ... Read More