The Pittsburgh Pirates ended what was a three0game Spring Training losing streak with a 5-2 road victory against the Boston Red Sox Saturday. Clayton Richard [1-0] picked up the win throwing two shutout innings and striking out three batters. The victory is his first since June 16, 2013. The game started with Gerrit Cole throwing 3.2 innings. His twos miscues were Mike Napoli's first and second home runs. Napoli's first was a solo shot that came in the second inning, and the second also ... Read More
Pirates earn tie; Vance Worley wins ‘B’ game
The Pittsburgh Pirates moved to 3-2-2 in Spring Training after a 1-1 tie against the Minnesota Twins Monday at McKechnie Field. Gerrit Cole started the game for the Pirates throwing the first three innings and had inconsistencies allowing three walks and two hits. One of those hits was a one-out home run by one of the Twins two top prospects Miguel Sano. Cole did strike out two batters. Additionally, he doubled in a third inning plate appearance. Arquimedes Caminero had another solid ... Read More
Pirates lose Spring Training home opener
The Pittsburgh Pirates held its Spring Training home opener Wednesday losing 4-1 at McKechnie Field to the Toronto Blue Jays in front of an crowd of 6,127. Gerrit Cole started the game for the Pirates, and in his two innings threw 18 pitches, 13 of which were strikes. Cole consistently got ahead of batters, however hit Munenori Kawasaki, allowed a double to Dalton Pompey and then surrendered a run on a Dioner Navarro ground out. The Pirates scored their lone run when Blue Jays pitcher Rob ... Read More
Pirates defeat Braves 3-2 to clinch postseason berth
It's been 21 years, 11 months and 10 days since the Pirates were three outs away from popping the champagne in Atlanta. This time, the outcome was different as the Bucs punched their ticket to the postseason with a 3-2 victory over the Braves on Tuesday night. The Pirates (86-71) did it the hard way for the 41st time coming back from an early 2-0 defecit after the Braves scored once in the first and second innings off of Gerrit Cole. Freddie Freeman doubled home Phil Gosselin and Andrelton ... Read More
Pirates use some luck and solid pitching to beat Red Sox
The Pirates have had their share of bad breaks over the course of the 2014 season and on Thursday night they finally had one fall their way as they held on to defeat the Red Sox 3-2. With the Pirates (82-70) leading 3-2 in the ninth, the Red Sox (66-87) were able to put runners on the corners against Bucs closer Mark Melancon with no out. What happened next may have changed the complexion of the playoff race. Will Middlebrooks hit a grounder down the third base line. The ball then hit ... Read More
Complete offensive effort boosts Pirates over Cubs 7-3
An all-around offensive effort and some gritty pitching by Gerrit Cole helped the Pirates keep their Wild Card lead with a 7-3 victory over the Cubs on Friday night. The Pirates (78-69) jumped out to an early 2-0 lead on RBI singles by Chris Stewart and Neil Walker. Both teams then traded runs over the next two innings thanks to two solo home runs against Cole and RBI from Jordy Mercer and Ike Davis. The Cubs (64-82) major threat came against Cole in the sixth when Chris Coghlan walked to ... Read More
Pirates Gameday 9/12: Hurdle discusses Cole’s command
Good afternoon from PNC Park where the Pirates (77-69) begin their final homestand of the regular season against the Cubs (64-82). Gerrit Cole (8-5, 3.89 ERA) will start it off for the Bucs and will oppose Tsuyoshi Wada (4-2, 2.95 ERA). Injury Update Starling Marte's status for tonight's game is TBD after being hit in the elbow with a pitch in last night's game. "He's in the cage [pregame] to see how he feels from a physical standpoint swinging the bat," said manager Clint Hurdle. Pedro ... Read More
Pirates make first September call-ups
The Pirates have made their first call-ups since rosters expanded to 40 at midnight last night. Catcher Tony Sanchez and pitchers Gerrit Cole and Stolmy Pimentel were officially called up. Cole, who had been optioned to Low-A Bristol after his previous start to allow another bench player, will make his scheduled start this afternoon in St. Louis. Sanchez batted .235/.422/.758 in 81 games with AAA Indianapolis this season while hitting 17 doubles,11 home runs and 45 RBI. Pimentel, who ... Read More
Ike’s pinch-hit home run propels Pirates past Cardinals
Ike Davis's eight inning pinch-hit three-run home run helped propel the Pirates to a 5-2 victory over the National League Wild Card-leading Cardinals on Tuesday night . Davis's shot helped bail out Tony Watson, who allowed the Cardinals (71-60) to tie the game at two in the seventh after Gerrit Cole held St. Louis scoreless through six innings. Cole had a no-hitter going through 5 2/3 innings before Kolten Wong snuck a grounder inside the first base line for a double. Cole then came back for ... Read More
Pirates score late to break losing skid
The Pirates used two runs in the eighth and one in the ninth to comeback and defeat the Braves 3-2 to snap their seven-game losing skid on Wednesday night. The Pirates (65-62) were only able to record three hits through seven innings against Braves starter Alex Wood. Josh Harrison led the bottom of the first off with a double, but was picked off. Gaby Sanchez and Travis Snider recorded singles in the second and fifth innings for the other offense. It would be Sanchez and Snider that gave ... Read More