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
Neil Walker makes return to Pittsburgh
Monday morning, Gerrit Cole had a chance to play tour guide, showing off the sites Pittsburgh had to offer, but his guest was a familiar face. After sleeping in his own bed and swimming in a pool he helped build, Neil Walker made his long-awaited return to Pittsburgh as his new team, the New York Mets, are visiting town for a three-game series. This past off-season, Walker was traded to the Mets, a trade that shocked people and caused anxiety because of several factors. For one, his ... Read More
Pirates lose second straight to Marlins
The Pittsburgh Pirates fell 3-2 Wednesday night to the Miami Marlins ensuring at best a series split. In the game, it was setup man Tony Watson (1-1) who allowed the game-winning run on an Adeiny Hechavarria double that scored former Pirate Miguel Rojas. The Marlins had a 2-0 lead Christian Yelich batted in a run with a fielder's choice and Jonathon Niese had a wild pitch to plate Martin Prado. Niese had a no-decision allowing the two runs on six hits in five innings. He did not have ... Read More
Pirates’ pitcher Jonathon Niese continues good form in win
With Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Jonathon Niese throwing well lately, people wondered whether his good form could continue at the Texas Rangers' hitter-friendly Globe Life Park. On Friday night, the answer was a resounding "yes," as Niese (5-2) allowed just one run on seven hits in six innings of work and helped the Pirates resoundingly beat the Rangers, 9-1. Lately, Niese has been able to get ground ball outs with more regularity, and this was once again the case Friday — he had 10 ground ... Read More
Bizarre ninth seals Pirates loss
It appeared that the ninth inning would be a quick one with Pittsburgh Pirates closer Mark Melancon on the mound. He threw the first five pitches for strikes and struck out Mark Reynolds and Carlos Gonzalez looking then Gerardo Parra came up. Parra hit a swinging bunt with two strikes on him that barely stayed in fair territory and gave Francisco Cervelli a seemingly automatic throw to first to keep the game tied heading into the bottom of the ninth inning. Instead, his fifth error of the ... Read More
Pirates pregame: The one where defense wins championships
While rain has fallen all day in Pittsburgh, there will still be a baseball game at PNC Park as the Pittsburgh Pirates play host to the Colorado Rockies for the second of a three-game series. This afternoon, Jonathon Niese (4-2, 5.28 ERA) will pitch against Tyler Chatwood (5-3, 3.20 ERA). Niese is 3-3 with a 5.64 ERA in 10 career starts against the Rockies. This season hasn't been kind to him — he's tied for third in the National League in home runs allowed (11) and ranks among NL leaders ... Read More
Pirates’ Jonathon Niese an easy target but not solely to blame
At the end of Monday night’s game, Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jonathon Niese's record stood at 3-2, but that doesn’t tell the story of the game. In the loss to the Cincinnati Reds at the Great American Ballpark, a place where he hasn’t fared well, Niese allowed three solo home runs, but each barely cleared the wall. Those home runs are outs in practically any other ballpark. Is it alarming that a ground ball pitcher surrendered three long fly balls? Sure. At the same time, though, ... Read More
Pirates come up short against Cubs, Jake Arrieta
Remember when Chicago Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta walked the first two batters he faced? Yeah, that was the highlight of Tuesday's night's game. Pittsburgh Pirates color commentator Steve Blass joked that the turning point of the game came during the National Anthem. Blass may not have been far off, as the Cubs defeated the Pirates, 7-1. Call it the "Arrieta Effect" — the Cubs' ace pitcher is now 6-0 on the season and has a 17-game winning streak, which is tied for the fourth-longest since ... Read More
Big win against the Brewers has the Pirates saying “finally”
Under .500 for the first time this season, the Pittsburgh Pirates needed a win to end a four-game losing streak. The response was perhaps one of the most encouraging signs this season. Following a game in which the Pirates had 10 walks, they recorded their first shutout of the season, a 5-0 victory Saturday night against the Milwaukee Brewers. Monkey off of his back "Finally, honestly." Those were the two words Andrew McCutchen had for Root Sports after the game after his first home ... Read More
Pirates offense, Cole return in win
Sunday was an important day for Pittsburgh Pirates fans as it was their first chance to see Gerrit Cole on a mound in game action. Cole suffered a rib inflammation and it delayed the start of his throwing program. He was able to throw his two scheduled innings as the Pirates won 9-5 over the Detroit Tigers in front of a sold out crowd at McKechnie Field. 8,771 fans attended Sunday's game, the third-largest crowd in McKechnie Field history. Cole was able to use all of his pitches in the ... Read More