The Pirates (18-25) continued to make mistakes, but this time they made up for them as they came back twice to defeat the Yankees (23-20) 5-3 to salvage a game and avoid the sweep. Gerrit Cole put together another quality start by going six strong innings while allowing three runs and striking out eight. Two of the runs coming in an inning full of Errors. With the Pirates leading 1-0 after two Yankee mistakes allowed Starling Marte to reach first and second safely before scoring on a Chris ... Read More
Pirates Get to Lincecum Early, Take Series from Giants
Gerrit Cole followed Charlie Morton's lead by going eight strong innings on Wednesday afternoon following Morton's eight strong last night. Cole also recorded the teams first starting pitching win in 20 days as the Pirates (14-20) defeated the Giants (21-13) 4-3 to take the three-game set. Cole didn't get off to the start he wanted when Brandon Belt took a belt-high fastball into the right-centerfield seats with two outs in the first. He wouldn't be trailing long as the Pirates struck back in ... Read More
Cole Throws Gem, Gets No Run Support in 1-0 Loss
Gerrit Cole threw seven strong innings of work while allowing one run, but the Pirate bats remain dormant as they fell to the Cardinals 1-0 on Friday night. Cole allowed a first inning run when Matt Carpenter led the inning off with a singled and scored on a Matt Holliday RBI double. He would settle down after that run by stranding 10 Cardinals on base causing them to go 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position. That one run would,surprisingly, be enough for Cardinals starter Shelby ... Read More
Benches Clear in Pirates 3-2, 14 Inning Loss to Brewers
Ryan Braun again haunted the Pirates with a game tying solo homer against Jason Grilli in the ninth and Khris Davis finished things off with a solo shot of his own in the 14th to cap a 4-3 Brewers victory over the Pirates on Sunday afternoon. Things got heated in the third after Carlos Gomez appeared to have hit a home run to center. The Brewers center fielder gazed at the ball for a moment and tossed his bat. Only thing was, the ball didn't leave the yard and he had to settle for a triple. A ... Read More
The Experience of Gerrit Cole
Gerrit Cole is the future of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitching staff. The 22-year old righty showed massive improvement as the season progressed last year as he earned NL Rookie of the Month honors in September. He followed that month up by starting two games in the 2013 NLDS against the Cardinals where he went 1-1 with a 2.45 ERA. Usually, once a player makes the jump to the majors, he has to work on a few things in the offseason that he didn't in the minors. That wasn't the case for Cole as his ... Read More
Cole Continues Dominance Over Cardinals in 12-2 Win
Gerrit Cole picked up where he left off against the Cardinals last postseason as he only allowed two runs -- a Matt Carpenter 2-run homer -- in seven strong as the Pirates defeated the Cardinals 12-2. Pedro Alvarez gave his starting pitcher a cushion when he hit solo-shots in his first two at bats. An opposite field shot into the IC Light Seats in the second and a mammoth shot that cleared the right-center field seats and hit off the top of a shaved ice concession stand in the fourth. Travis ... Read More
Pirates Gameday 4/4: Lineups, Hurdle Talks Cole, Cardinals Rivalry
Good afternoon from a rainy PNC Park where tonight the Pirates (2-1) will begin a 3-game series with the defending NL Champion, St. Louis Cardinals (2-1) in a rematch from last year's NLDS. Gerrit Cole (10-7, 3.22 ERA in 2013) will take the hill for the Bucs and will oppose Shelby Miller (15-9, 3.06 ERA in 2013). Hurdle's Quotes On the competitiveness of the Pirates and Cardinals when they face each other -- "Last year, we were 12 and 12 at the end and they won the biggest one which was the ... Read More
Cole Plays Stopper in Pirates 10 – 1 Victory
Follow @TBerardi_OVA The Pirates got a phenomenal start by Gerrit Cole and used a five run fourth inning, which included two homers, to propel them to a 6 - 1 victory over the Padres on Thursday afternoon. Cole had his usual rough start to the game as he allowed two hits, walked one, and struck out two. The inning was highlighted by a Chase Headley RBI groundout putting the Padres on the board first for the fourth straight day. Cole would shut down the Padre offense after that, allowing ... Read More
Pirate of the Week: Gerrit Cole
This past week, the Pittsburgh Pirates picked up win number 82 and clinched a winning season for the first time in the past two decades. Sure, there were guys who stepped up at the plate, and sure they drove in runs for the win. But there was one guy who stepped up even more. That man is Gerrit Cole. Cole, who is pitching in his first major league season, took the hill for the Pirates this past Monday. The Pirates stood at 81 wins at the time. His counterpart on the other team was Yu Darvish, ... Read More
Pirates Game Day: Hurdle Discusses Cole, Marte Update
The Pirates (77 - 55) look to get back into a tie for first as they face the Brewers (58 - 74) in the rubber match of the three game set. Gerrit Cole (6 - 6, 3.81 ERA) will oppose Yovani Gallardo (9 - 9, 4.61 ERA). Leading off John Buck will make his Pirates debut tonight as he will catch Cole and bat seventh. Hurdle's Quotes On the amount of players that will be brought up post-Sept. 1st -- "I think we're going to have a progression in place that we're going to have some guys added on ... Read More