The Pittsburgh Pirates fell to 10-9-3 in Spring Training play with a loss Tuesday to the Baltimore Orioles. Jared Hughes allowed six hits and five earned runs in one-third of an inning losing his first Spring Training game. Radhames Liz started the contest for the Pirates and pitched three innings allowing four hits however kept the Orioles off the scoreboard. Liz, a former Oriole, is in the running for a potential bullpen spot. It was not until the fourth inning that the Orioles ... Read More
Liriano to start opening day; Pirates lose to Astros
Jeff Locke's quest for a spot in the Pirates rotation took a hit during Tuesday's 13-7 loss to the Houston Astros. On a day when Francisco Liriano was revealed to be the Opening Day pitcher in Cincinnati, Locke pitched three-plus innings, allowing seven hits, six runs and a walk. “I just left some pitches over the plate,” Locke said. “They just fell in.” Locke is battling with Vance Worley for the final position in the Pirates rotation and currently, the Spring Training statistics favor ... Read More
Caminero continues to make case in Pirates victory
Vance Worley pitched four shutout innings in his attempt to create separation in the battle for the fifth spot in the Pittsburgh Pirates starting rotation. The Pirates defeated the Baltimore Orioles 4-2 Sunday to move to 6-5-2 in Spring Training. The game was played in front of 7,603 fans, good for the fourth Pirates sellout of the spring. It was the Pirates that struck first on a first inning Neil Walker double off Wei-Yin Chen to score Josh Harrison. An additional run was tacked on in ... Read More
Pirates earn tie; Vance Worley wins ‘B’ game
The Pittsburgh Pirates moved to 3-2-2 in Spring Training after a 1-1 tie against the Minnesota Twins Monday at McKechnie Field. Gerrit Cole started the game for the Pirates throwing the first three innings and had inconsistencies allowing three walks and two hits. One of those hits was a one-out home run by one of the Twins two top prospects Miguel Sano. Cole did strike out two batters. Additionally, he doubled in a third inning plate appearance. Arquimedes Caminero had another solid ... Read More
Pirates to go to arbitration with three players
The Pittsburgh Pirates avoided arbitration with nine players prior to Friday's deadline, but still have to go to arbitration hearings with three others. The team was unable to agree to deals with Neal Walker, Pedro Alvarez and Vance Worley and will go to arbitration hearings next month. Most arbitration cases end with the player receiving the mid-point amount between his and the team's one-year contract offer. Walker's camp filed at $9 million while the Pirates countered at $8 million ... Read More
McCutchen, Walker win Silver Slugger Award
Andrew McCutchen and Neil Walker were announced as NL Silver Slugger Award winners on Thursday night presented by Louisville Slugger. The award goes to the best offensive player per position in both the National and American leagues. McCutchen won his third consecutive award after posting a slash line of .314/.410/.542 and an OPS of .952 with 25 home runs, 38 doubles, six triples and 83 RBI in 146 games this season. McCutchen is the first Pirate to post three straight seasons batting ... Read More
Pirates continue hot hitting in 9-1 rout of Red Sox
Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said in his pregame press conference a couple of days ago that it's the teams that get hot at the right time that are the ones that have success in October. Well, the Pirates might be one of those teams as they continued their hot play with a 9-1 rout of the Red Sox on Wednesday night. The Pirates (81-70) scored early and often against Red Sox starter Clay Buchholz as they scored nine runs on ten hits against the Boston righty. Gregory Polanco got things ... Read More
Pirates turn triple play, score late in 7-3 win over Cubs
The Pirates scored six times in the fifth inning and completed their first ever triple play at PNC Park as they defeated the Cubs on Sunday afternoon to keep their 1 1/2 game lead in the National League Wild Card race. The Pirates (79-70) did nothing against Cubs starter Jacob Turner through the first trip of the lineup, but the defensive gem helped ignite their quiet bats. With runners on first and second against Pirates starter Edinson Volquez and the Cubs leading 3-0, Matt Szczur hit a ... Read More
Gut-check time for the Pirates
The Cardinals recent three game sweep of the Pirates has them in an uneasy position going into the final stretch of the 2014 regular season. The Pirates trail St. Louis by 4 1/2 games for first in the National League Central and trail Milwaukee/Atlanta by a half game for the second Wild Card spot with 21 games remaining. Pittsburgh has been in this position twice already this season before coming all the way back. They trailed the division leader by nine games at the end of June, but trimmed ... Read More
Walker’s first inning homer enough in Pirates 3-2 win
Neil Walker hit a first inning three-run home run and Vance Worley continued a string of strong starts by Pirates pitching as the Bucs held off the Reds 3-2 on Saturday afternoon at PNC Park. Walker came up with runners on first and second after Simon had trouble locating pitches to Andrew McCutchen in a five-pitch walk. Simon then threw a first-pitch fastball to the Pirates second basemen, who deposited the pitch into the right-center field seats for an early 3-0 lead. "After he walked ... Read More