Good afternoon from PNC Park where today the Pirates (42-40) begin a three-game set with the Arizona Diamondbacks (35-49). Jeff Locke (1-1, 3.74 ERA) will oppose Wade Miley (3-6, 4.78 ERA). Hurdle's Quotes On Locke's effectiveness as of late: "He's thrown more strikes. His command is in a better place than it was last last season. More leverage counts in his favor and that has been the biggest thing. You look at the walks-to-strikeout total base and compare it to anytime last year at any time. ... Read More
Alvarez Homer Pushes Pirates Past Mets 5-2
Pittsburgh-- Pedro Alvarez continues to heat up as the slugger went 2-for-4 with a double, home run and three RBI and Edinson Volquez threw six shutout innings as the Pirates defeated the Mets 5-2 on Sunday afternoon to take the four-game series. The Pirate offense, led by Alvarez, managed to produce more offense in the games first four batters against Bartolo Colon than their whole outing against him last time out as they quickly put two runs on the board. Starling Marte singled with one out ... Read More
Volquez, Alvarez Power Pirates Past Rays
Edinson Volquez threw eight innings of one-run ball as the Pirates got back to the .500 mark with a 8-1 win over the Rays on Monday night. Volquez (5-6) experienced a little trouble in the first and second before settling down. Desmond Jennings led off the bottom of the first, moved to second on a groundout and scored on a James Loney RBI single. The Rays (31-47) threatened again in the second, but Volquez was able to get Ryan Hanigan to ground into an inning-ending double play. Volquez ... Read More
Should the Pirates look to trade Pedro Alvarez?
As Pedro Alvarez gets closer to becoming a high priced free agent after the 2016 season, the reality seems to be that Alvarez's days in Pittsburgh are numbered. This is especially the case if you ask the average Pirates fan. They seem increasingly frustrated with Alvarez's inability to hit for a higher average, his at times frustrating defense and his lack of production over long stretches. For all the criticism Alvarez has received in the past few seasons, especially of late, few hitters ... Read More
Brewers Beat Bucs 9-3
The Brewers took advantage of Edinson Volquez's lone bad inning and pulled away against the Pirates bullpen for a 9-3 victory on Saturday afternoon. The Brewers (37-26) struck first in the first when Jean Segura reached on a Jordy Mercer fielding error and moved to third on two Ike Davis errors. Jonathan Lucroy the knocked him with a sac fly to center field. The Pirates struck back to take the lead in the third after Neil Walker and Andrew McCutchen hit one-out singles. Following a Davis ... Read More
Cole Solid, Homers Propel Bucs Past Padres 4-1
Gerrit Cole went 5 2/3 innings of four-hit ball and Pedro Alvarez and Neil Walker provided long-balls as the Pirates (28-30) defeated the Padres (26-33) 4-1 on Tuesday night. Cole allowed a single hit -- a two out double by Will Venable in the second inning -- through 5 2/3 innings before getting into a bit of trouble. Chase Headley, Seth Smith and Yonder Alonso all singled to bring across the Padres only run knocking Cole from the game. Jared Hughes then came in and got a nice backhand play ... Read More
Cutch Shines in National Spotlight, Bucs Win 5-3
Andrew McCutchen showed the nation why he was last years NL MVP going 3-for-4 with two doubles, a home run and a nice sliding catch on defense as the Pirates (26-30) defeated the Dodgers (30-28) 5-3 on Sunday night in front of a National ESPN audience. McCutchen started things off for the Pirates in the first hitting a two-out double off of the left field wall. Ike Davis and Russell Martin followed with walks to load the bases. Dodgers starter Zach Greinke was clearly flustered with the strike ... Read More
Morton Avoids the Big Inning, Pirates Win 4-3
Charlie Morton continued where Edinson Volquez left off last night with 5 2/3 innings of five-hit, one-run ball and Pedro Alvarez hit a two-run homer in the Pirates 4-3 victory over the Nationals on Friday night. Morton avoided the big inning three times on the night in the first, third and sixth. In the first, he walked back-to-back batters with two out before getting a groundout. In the third he got a double play ball with runners on the corners and one out and in the sixth with the bases ... Read More
Pirates Gameday 5/23: Lineups, Hurdle Talks Lineup Shakeup
Good afternoon from PNC Park where today the Pirates (20-26) look to add to their winning ways against the Nationals (24-23). Charlie Morton (0-6, 3.45 ERA) will take the hill against Jordan Zimmerman (3-1, 3.70 ERA). Roster Move Jason Grilli has been recalled from the 15-day DL. Tony Sanchez has been optioned to AAA Indianapolis to make room on the active roster for Grilli. Manager Clint Hurdle said the closers job won't immediately be Grilli's. "We're going to give Jason the ball a couple ... Read More
Marte, Alvarez Homer in Ninth to Give Pirates 6-5 Victory
Pedro Alvarez tied it in the ninth with a two-run home run to right-center and Starling Marte later ended it with a walk-off shot into the Pirate bullpen to give the Bucs a 6-5 comeback victory over the Blue Jays on Friday night. The Pirates trailed 5-3 heading into the final frame when Neil Walker led the bottom of the ninth off with a single to right field. Pedro Alvarez followed two batters later with a shot into the right-center seats to tie the game at five. After a Gaby Sanchez flyout, ... Read More