Normally when a complete game is thrown, this emphasis and honor is thrown on a pitcher. but on this particular Wednesday night, there was more to it than the effort Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Gerrit Cole put forth. That is not to say Cole should not be commended for his efforts on this night, because he should, but he was certainly the beneficiary of some good offense and defense in a 10-1 victory over the Seattle Mariners. After all, in this day and age where pitch counts, ... Read More
Pirates solve Cubs’ Arrieta in big win
In the sixth inning, Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman David Freese's committed a costly error, allowing the Chicago Cubs to take a lead for the first time all night — something that's considered a cardinal sin when Cubs' ace Jake Arrieta is on the mound. Yet the Pirates got away with it, winning 8-4. This win allowed the Pirates to snap an eight-game losing streak to NL Central opponents, and the division-leading Cubs have now lost eight of their past nine games. In Friday's game, the ... Read More
Midseason Report Card: Pirates’ offense shines, pitching struggles
When Pedro Alvarez and Neil Walker — and their combined 43 home runs — departed last off-season, the Pittsburgh Pirates decided to make up for the lost power with a high on-base approach. Their replacements, John Jaso and Josh Harrison, fit that mold. Before the start of the 2016 season, Pittsburgh was also hoping Starling Marte would continue his surge to stardom, while Gregory Polanco was expected to break out and show why he was a former top prospect. David Freese was signed as a temporary ... Read More
Pirates extend win streak to six with comeback victory
Eric Fryer donned the Pittsburgh Pirates catching gear for the first time since Sept. 10, 2012, and put forth his most effective offensive performance in the Major Leagues in five years as he helped his team come from behind to defeat the St. Louis Cardinals 5-2 Tuesday night. This victory is the Pirates' sixth in a row and the fifth during the streak that's happened in come-from-behind fashion. The Pirates are now 43-41 on the season. Fryer burned his former team with a career-high three ... Read More
Pirates sweep A’s, return to .500
It appeared the Pittsburgh Pirates bullpen would finally allow a run as the Oakland Athletics had runners on first and third base with one out in the sixth inning. Pirates manager Clint Hurdle had been ejected earlier in the inning, his second removal of the week, and A.J. Schugel was tasked with keeping his team up 4-3 on the scoreboard against the Athletics. Stephen Vogt was the batter and defensive replacement David Freese would be put to the test. Vogt hit a hard line drive to Freese ... Read More
Another come-from-behind win gives Pirates series vs. A’s
It was a game that mirrored Friday night's game, and, though Saturday's game took longer to determine a winner, the outcome was the same: a Pittsburgh Pirates win over the Oakland Athletics. Although, tonight, the final score was 4-2, and it took 10 innings. Tonight's win means the Pirates are now 4-4 on the season in extra inning games and have won two of their past three series (after dropping four in a row); this is the first time the Pirates have won a road series since a trip to St. ... Read More
Pirates split series vs Mariners as Pittsburgh’s offense awakens
A day after the frustrated Pittsburgh Pirates could do no right, smiles were aplenty as they beat the Seattle Mariners 8-1 Wednesday night. The Pirates were able to capitalize off Mariners starter Wade Miley, who was making his first start since coming off the disabled list after recovering from a shoulder injury. Miley (6-4) didn't make it to the fifth inning as he had already allowed five runs on seven hits through four innings while also throwing 74 pitches. See also: Niese's miscues ... Read More
Niese’s miscues costly in Pirates’ loss
The Pittsburgh Pirates' reaction to Tuesday night's 5-2 loss to the Seattle Mariners can best be summarized by something simple: a hung head. Pittsburgh starter Jon Niese hung his head after Seattle's Nelson Cruz hit a towering home run, the 19th homer the Pirates starter surrendered this season. Cruz's ball stayed just fair, flirting with the left field foul pole and giving Cruz 20 home runs for the eighth consecutive ... 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
Pirates sweep doubleheader against Mets
Doubleheaders always bring the potential of unique accomplishments, and Tuesday's contests between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the New York Mets brought some of those into play. Both games ended the same, a 3-1 Pirates victory giving the home team nine consecutive wins over the Mets, the most in franchise history. Often times in doubleheaders, relief pitchers appear in one game, but both Mark Melancon and Neftali Feliz appeared in each of the victories. Feliz allowed the lone run in Game ... Read More