The Pittsburgh Pirates had the opportunities to extend their road win streak to nine games, but they fell 8-7 to the Chicago Cubs in 13 innings. It was a case of the Pirates running out of bullpen arms, and reliever Jeff Locke (9-8, 5.39 ERA) threw his highest pitch total since Aug. 3 as a result. Locke threw three innings, allowing two runs on seven hits. Eventually, Locke seemed to tire, and he didn't record a single out in the 13th inning before Chicago's Miguel Montero recorded the ... Read More
Pirates secure rare Miller Park sweep
After Francisco Cervelli caught the final strike in the ninth inning of Sunday afternoon's game, the Pittsburgh Pirates not only defeated National League Central rival Milwaukee Brewers 3-1, but clinched a road series sweep for the first time since 2004. While this is reason enough for the Pirates to be satisfied by their extended weekend, the sweep was well timed as now the Pirates are half a game behind the St. Louis Cardinals for a Wild Card Spot. Ivan Nova (10-6, 4.55 ERA) allowed a ... Read More
Pirates tie season best comeback in win
A simple look at the Miller Park scoreboard Saturday night after three innings couldn't have been encouraging for Pittsburgh Pirates fans. The Pirates trailed the Milwaukee Brewers by three runs. But the Pirates were able to come back, putting up crooked numbers in both the fourth and sixth innings to come away with a series-clinching 9-6 victory. Pittsburgh starting pitcher Jameson Taillon made his shortest career major league outing, three innings, after allowing five runs on seven ... 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
Pirates fail to capitalize on Taillon’s outing
Pittsburgh Pirates Jameson Taillon threw a season-high eight innings but came away with a 3-1 loss to his hometown Houston Astros. Taillon (3-3) allowed two runs on four hits in the eight innings and added eight strikeouts. This is Taillon's first loss since July 30, as he allowed four earned runs in 20 innings his past three starts, good for a 1.80 ERA. The difference in this game was a 3-1 fifth-inning fastball Teoscar Hernandez hit into the left-field seats for his third home run of ... Read More
Ryan Vogelsong wins emotional start as Pirates top Giants
Ryan Vogelsong's return to San Francisco had a happy ending as the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the San Francisco Giants by an 8-5 score Monday night. Vogelsong (2-2) pitched with the Giants from 2011-15 before returning to Pittsburgh following a 2001-06 first stint with the Pirates. It was in 2000 when Vogelsong made his major league debut with the Giants. Vogelsong was recognized first pitch with a video honoring his time and accomplishments with the Giants. He received an ovation from ... Read More
Pirates take series vs. Padres with 4-0 afternoon win
Thursday, the Pittsburgh Pirates (57-55) got what they desperately needed: a series win. The team beat the San Diego Padres 4-0 in an afternoon game to put Pittsburgh two games above .500. The Pirates started off the series with a 4-6 win Tuesday night before falling short in a 4-0 loss Wednesday night. Jameson Taillon (3-2, 2.85 ERA, 1.08 WHIP) threw out the first pitch for the Pirates, with shortstop Jordy Mercer and second baseman Josh Harrison both recording quick outs to get ... Read More
Gregory Polanco’s return to lineup leads Pirates past Padres
The Pittsburgh Pirates have kicked off their three-game series with the San Diego Padres on a positive note. The Pirates claimed the win over the Padres with a final score of 6-4 at PNC Park Tuesday evening. After a rain delay, the game got underway at PNC Park with Chad Kuhl throwing out the first pitch to the Padres. The Padres got on the board first at the top of the first inning with two runs, as Yangervis Solarte and Alex Dickerson crossed home. The Pirates got a single run in, scored ... Read More
Pirates looking for series sweep
Following two wins this weekend over the Cincinnati Reds, the Pittsburgh Pirates will look for a sweep this afternoon against the Cincinnati Reds. The Pirates have gone 5-0-1 in their last six series at PNC Park and will send Gerrit Cole (7-6, 2.73 ERA) to the mound against Dan Straily (6-6, 3.80 ERA). Cole has not fared well against the Reds in his career posting an 0-5 record with a 5.30 ERA in seven career starts against the Reds. This season he is 0-1 with a 5.79 ERA in one ... Read More
Pirates swept again in Milwaukee
There was more to Sunday afternoon's 4-2 loss by the Pittsburgh Pirates to the Milwaukee Brewers. Not only were the Pirates swept this weekend, but they never had a lead at any point. Additionally, the Pirates have lost nine straight contests to the Brewers at Miller Park and are 17-64 there since the 2007 season. In each of the three games this series, the Brewers scored first. Friday and Saturday, the Brewers hit two-run home runs in the opening inning, but this time the run was ... Read More