Last night, Jordy Mercer took a changeup to the opposite field for the game-winning hit in the 11th inning as the Pittsburgh Pirates outlasted the St. Louis Cardinals, 6-5. Tonight, the Pirates will attempt to make a statement with an opening series sweep against the Cardinals, a team coming off a season-high 100 wins last season. Pittsburgh righthander Juan Nicasio will get the start for the Pirates, and his mound opponent will be Mike Leake. Nicasio is coming off a spring training ... Read More
O’Flaherty traded to Braves
With Opening Day, a week away, the Pittsburgh Pirates elected to trade Eric O'Flaherty to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for cash considerations. The story was broken by Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports and confirmed by the Pirates. O'Flaherty is a left-handed relief pitcher who was in the conversation for a bullpen spot, though this trade translates into the fact that he would not have made the team. In 10 Spring Training games, O'Flaherty was 0-1 with a 2.89 ERA. This included allowing 15 hits ... Read More
Pirates fall to Tigers, 10-3
Skepticism would be a good way to describe how fans feel about Jeff Locke projecting to be a part of this season's Pittsburgh Pirates pitching rotation. Locke did himself no favors allowing four runs in his two innings of a 10-3 loss to the Detroit Tigers. Pirates pitching coach Ray Searage has worked with Locke to try to correct things which could allow him to find more consistent success and this could very well be a byproduct of making the adjustment. It also could be the same old ... Read More
2015 most valuable Pirates player: Part 1
Many Pittsburgh Pirates contributed to the team's third consecutive playoff appearance, so it is no wonder why the list for placement when it comes to the most valuable player for 2015 is long. PSN's list will be a three-part series as honorable mention through 6 in this first part, 5-2 in the second part and the best will get their own separate entry. Unfortunately, Ray Searage was not up for consideration, or else this would not have been a contest. Honorable mention Jared Hughes- Hughes ... Read More
Pirates’ Burnett loses final regular season start
Even the Cincinnati Reds were among those standing for A.J. Burnett as he made his final regular season start. Unfortunately for him, the Pittsburgh Pirates offered little run support in a 3-1 losing effort Saturday night. Burnett's [9-7] ovation came from 34,180 fans, a mark which allowed the Pirates to set a new single-season attendance record. Fans waved Batman flags and begged Burnett for a curtain call which he did. Burnett also acknowledged the Reds dugout as he came off the field. “It ... Read More
Pirates use two-out scoring, bullpen to earn victory
Aramis Ramirez slid safely into third base for his first triple since Aug. 2, 2014 and his Pittsburgh Pirates teammates were grinning ear-to-ear. Why were they smiling? For one Ramirez is not known for his speed, and secondly, the Pirates scored all of their runs on two-out hitting, with this fourth inning triple being one of those runs. The Pirates used this to defeat the Colorado Rockies by a 6-3 score Tuesday night reducing their magic number to one game. If the Pirates win Wednesday or ... Read More
Marte making case for Gold Glove
The Pittsburgh Pirates almost definitely have the fastest outfield in the major leagues, but they're also making a case to have the best arms as well, especially Starling Marte. While Gregory Polanco has also recently showed off his arm, making runners think twice about tagging up on him, Marte has shown the range and arm, which puts eyes on him at all times. “Sitting out there in the bullpen when the game is going on, whatever ball is hit to Marte, it’s almost exciting to see what he’s ... Read More
Bucs come back to beat Brewers in extras
Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle had a speaking engagement for 6:30 and dinner with his family two hours later. Both were in jeopardy. With Sunday afternoon's game in the 11th inning and runners on the corners with one out, the defense shifted into double play depth. “You’re gambling," Hurdle said. "You’ve got the game on the line.” The result was an inning-ending double play and Jared Hughes, pumped his fist from the mound after the play unfolded. “When the ball goes off the ... Read More
Can rise of women in sports translate to baseball?
It is no secret that the rise of women is becoming a more known quantity. In football, Jen Welter spent the preseason as an intern for the Arizona Cardinals and the NBA now has two coaches in Nancy Lieberman and Becky Hammon is an assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs. Hammon also served as head coach for the Spurs this past summer in Summer League action. When will baseball catch up? Research and statistics have shown that baseball has an older general audience age as opposed to ... Read More
Bucs are back home for three-game series with the Rockies
The Pittsburgh Pirates return home for a three-game homestand against the Colorado Rockies. In tonight's game Francisco Liriano will face Jon Gray. Liriano is 1-2 with a 5.48 ERA in four career starts. In his last start he won against the San Francisco Giants allowing two runs [neither earned] on seven hits in 5.1 innings of work. The Pirates have won each of Liriano's last 10 starts this matches their second-longest in the last 44 years in games started by a particular pitcher. The ... Read More