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
Top 10 moments in 2015: Some players became favorites, one protested
While no Pittsburgh sports teams brought home titles in 2015, there were still a lot of happenings on and off the field. From athletes returning to Pittsburgh, record breaking performances, late-season let downs and the protest of a quarterback, Pittsburgh Sporting News is counting down the top 10 sports stories in Pittsburgh in 2015. The first half includes stories 10 thru six. No. 10 – Gung Ho for Jung Ho When the Pittsburgh Pirates signed Jung Ho Kang to a four-year, $11 million ... Read More
2015 most valuable Pirates player: There’s only one
By process of elimination, it should be fairly clear who the top player on this list is. A debate can be made for positioning on this list, but ultimately this was the final determination. Really, if any of the players on this top-10 list was on another team, a case may be made for them to get the top spot. The Pittsburgh Pirates were a very talented team and this makes the list difficult to compile. #1 Jung Ho Kang- Let's forget about what Jung Ho Kang did for a second and look at how the ... Read More
Pirates call up Broxton; move Kang to 60-day DL
The Pittsburgh Pirates have selected the contract of outfielder Keon Broxton from their Triple-A affiliate, the Indianapolis Indians. The Indians season ended over the weekend with a 3-0 loss to the Columbus Clippers in Game 5 of the International League final. Broxton, 25, hit .256 for the Indians in 88 games after being promoted from Double-A Altoona midseason. He had 80 hits, 42 RBIs and 28 stolen bases in his first Triple-A action. He has played all three outfield positions, with ... Read More
COLUMN: Kang injury leaves Pirates with big shoes to fill
A hush fell over PNC Park on Thursday. Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Jung-Ho Kang dropped head first to the dirt near second base after Chicago Cub Chris Coghlan slid into second base, swept his outstretched legs under Kang’s, who was on the bag with the ball in hand about to throw to first to complete a double play, and his right knee collided into Kang’s left knee. It was not hard to see Kang was injured, as he was rolling side-to-side on the ground while clutching his left knee with his ... Read More
Report: Kang lost for season with left knee injury
Pirates infielder Jung Ho Kang will miss the rest of the 2015 season with multiple injuries to his left knee and leg, according to a report by Josh Yohe of DKPittsburghSports.com Kang's agent, Alan Nero, also released a statement through the team on his client's behalf this evening: "It is unfortunate that what would be considered heads up baseball would cause such a serious injury. That said, Coghlan was playing the game the way it should be played. I’m confident he meant no harm. I ... 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
Neal Huntington talks about assistant Tyrone Brooks and inning counts
It is a time of the year that is starting to become commonplace for the Pittsburgh Pirates. The team is in both a division and wild card race and each decision is becoming more important than the next. With that in mind, Pirates general manager Neal Huntington discussed innings counts and director of player personnel Tyrone Brooks reportedly being courted by the Milwaukee Brewers for their vacant general manager position. Brooks is in his 20th year in baseball and has had stops with the ... Read More
Stewart uses head to help Pirates win
Chris Stewart offered a point to the head on three different occasions for the Pittsburgh Pirates and twice, runs were scored. “That’s just for everybody, I want to let them know that it’s a smart hit," Stewart said. "The more smart hitting we do, the more runs we had. I did it a little bit last year but people are getting into this year. It’s a lot of fun but at the same time it gets a lot of runs across.” Because of this and a reluctance to give in to Milwaukee Brewers starter Jimmy ... Read More
Pirates pregame 9/10: Burnett returns to the mound
The Pittsburgh Pirates return to PNC Park for their first home game in the month of September. The opponent is a familiar one in the Milwaukee Brewers. This is the last series between these two teams in 2015. The Pirates have lost their past six contests against the Brewers and are 6-9 against them this season. Tonight, A.J. Burnett makes his return to the Pirates rotation and will face Wily Peralta. Burnett is returning from right elbow inflammation and missed 37 games overall. He is ... Read More