The Pirates pushed across six runs against the Blue Jays bullpen in the seventh and eighth innings en route to an 8-6 win over Toronto on Saturday night. Clint Barmes started the seventh off with a double forcing Jays pitcher R.A. Dickey from the game. The knuckleballer had limited the Pirate bats to only three hits to that point. The Bucco bats then got to work against the Jays bullpen collecting four hits (two doubles) and one walk culminating in Jordy Mercer's pinch-hit 2 RBI double to tie ... Read More
Walker Walks-Off Reds 6-5
Neil Walker's two out single in the bottom of the ninth capped off a back-and-forth battle between the Reds and Pirates that saw the Bucs get the last laugh in a 6-5 victory on Monday night. It was a game that saw the Reds take control early thanks to RBI's by Brandon Phillips and Todd Frazier in the first and third innings only to see the Pirates strike back on four straight pitches in the fourth that was capped off by an Ike Davis grand slam. "I don't think we had him breaking the bat on the ... Read More
Baseball is Back in the Burgh
One couldn't ask for a better day for Opening Day 2014 as blue skies and springtime temperatures ascended on PNC Park on Monday. It was a welcome sight to fans, but an even better sight to the Pirate players as they have some unfinished business after last seasons Game 5 defeat to the St. Louis Cardinals in the NLDS. "I believe we're better prepared," said manager, Clint Hurdle. "I believe we're better experienced. I believe the skill-sets have every opportunity to play out and play longer than ... Read More
Liriano Plays Houdini, Walker Walks-Off in Pirates 1-0 Win
PNC Park -- At 1:14 pm under clear skies, Francisco Liriano threw a strike to Emilio Bonifacio to kick off the 128th season of the Pittsburgh Baseball Club. Liriano would continue where he left off last postseason with a 4-hit, 10 strikeout performance (No decision) and Neil Walker hit a walk-off home run in the tenth inning for a Pirates 1-0 victory. It was a pitchers duel until the Cubs threatened in the fifth when Nate Schierholtz led off with a single and Darwin Barney followed with a ... Read More
Pirates Position Preview: Middle Infield
With pitchers and catchers settling into Pirate City, it's now time for the rest of the squad to make their way to the Bradenton complex to begin spring training. Most of the pieces from last season's NLDS run return to go at it again, but there are others that hope to shake the roster up come opening day. We begin with the middle infield positions of Neil Walker, Jordy Mercer, Clint Barmes and Josh Harrison. Neil Walker: Walker had a down season last year batting .251/.339/.757 with 24 ... Read More
Pirates Gameday: The Postseason Begins Tonight
Follow @TBerardi_OVA The Pirates (88 - 65) open up a crucial 3-game set against the Reds (87 - 66) to close out the home portion of the 2013 regular season. Francisco Liriano (16 - 7, 2.92 ERA) faces Matt Latos (14 - 6, 3.14 ERA) Leading Off With nine games remaining, the Pirates trail the Cardinals by one game in the NL Central race. Their magic number to clinch a playoff spot is 4, meaning they could clinch as early as tomorrow night. Hurdle's Quotes On Neil Walker's hot bat as of late ... Read More
Pirate Pitching Struggles In 7 – 6 Slugfest
In a game that went back-and-forth, combined for 28 total hits,10 total pitchers and involved one player on each team that went a combined 6-for-6 (Pedro went 4-for-4 with a homer and a walk) in 10 plate appearances, the Brewers were able to survive with a 7 - 6 victory over the Pirates on Tuesday night. Neil Walker was able to sum the whole thing up . "It was a strange game, it was. Back-and-forth, back-and-forth." The struggle began against Locke, who was good over the first four innings ... Read More
Pirates Extend Playoff Lead In 6-2 Victory Over Arizona
PNC Park - Gerrit Cole pitched six innings of five hit, two run ball and the top of the Pirates order continued to remain hot as the Pirates defeated the Diamondbacks 6 - 2 on Friday night extending their lead over Arizona to 9 1/2 games and their NL Central lead over the Cardinals to three. Cole went through the Arizona lineup once easily before experiencing trouble in the fourth. He would pitch around Paul Goldschmidt to start the inning before walking Aaron Hill. A wild pitch would then ... Read More
Martin Walks Marlins Out of Pittsburgh
PNC Park -- Russell Martin hit a tenth inning, two out single down the third baseline and into left field for the Pirates ninth walk-off victory of the season, a 5 - 4 win over the Miami Marlins to complete a four run comeback and a three game sweep of the fish. Starter, Gerrit Cole didn't have a good start to the game as he allowed two quick runs by the Marlins in the first. Christian Yelich walked to lead-off the game and scored two batters later on a Giancarlo Stanton RBI double. Stanton ... Read More
Morton Solid, Cutch Leads offense In Pirates 4 – 2 Win
PNC Park -- Morton pitched seven innings of two-run ball and Andrew McCutchen led the offense with a homer in a Pirates 4 - 2 victory over the Marlins on Wednesday night. Charlie Morton rebounded from his previous start where he allowed 10 hits and 5 runs by throwing seven innings of sit hit, two run ball. He only allowed more than one base runner to reach in one inning, the fourth, where the Marlins scored their only to runs. Giancarlo Stanton led the inning off with a single and moved to ... Read More