Gerrit Cole followed Charlie Morton's lead by going eight strong innings on Wednesday afternoon following Morton's eight strong last night. Cole also recorded the teams first starting pitching win in 20 days as the Pirates (14-20) defeated the Giants (21-13) 4-3 to take the three-game set. Cole didn't get off to the start he wanted when Brandon Belt took a belt-high fastball into the right-centerfield seats with two outs in the first. He wouldn't be trailing long as the Pirates struck back in ... Read More
Marte Walks-Off on a Replay Reversal
The Pirates and Giants made history in the oddest way as an overturned replay gave the Bucs their fifth walk-off of the season in a 2-1 victory on Tuesday night. With two outs in the ninth, Starling Marte hit a Tim Hudson fastball off of the Clemente wall for an apparent triple. The relay throw went to third, but went past third basemen Pablo Sandoval. Marte then took off towards the plate and slid head-first at catcher Buster Posey. Posey applied the tag and home plate umpire Quinn Wolcott ... Read More
Reports: Gregory Polanco Turns Down Long-Term Deal With Pirates
Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports is reporting that Pirates top prospect Gregory Polanco turned down a seven-year, $25 million dollar offer with three club options from the Pirates earlier this season. Source: Pirates offered prospect Gregory Polanco a contract for up to 10 years. He rejected and remains at AAA. News: http://t.co/OvjBQxicdw — Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) May 6, 2014 The deal would have bought out Polanco's arbitration years and allowed the Pirates to call him up much ... Read More
Pirates Gameday 5/6: Lineups, Hurdle Discusses Morton’s “Big Innings”
Good afternoon from PNC Park where the Pirates (12-20) look to rebound against the Giants (21-11) after a tough 11-10 loss last night where the Bucs blew a 8-2 lead late in the game. Charlie Morton (0-4, 4.21 ERA) will look to end his streak of games with "big innings" against Tim Hudson (4-1, 2.17 ERA). Leading Off Clint Hurdle has confirmed that Wandy Rodriguez will make a rehab start at AA Altoona tonight. He is scheduled to go 6 innings or 90 pitches, whichever comes first. Hurdle also ... Read More
Pirates Blow 8-2 Lead, Lose in Extras 11-10
A Jared Hughes throwing error on Jean Machi's sacrifice bunt allowed the Giants (21-11) to get by the Pirates (12-20) 11-10 in 13 after trailing 8-2 heading into the sixth inning. With the Giants leading 2-0 in the third after a shaky start by Pirates starter Jeff Locke, Josh Harrison, Neil Walker (RBI) and Andrew McCutchen all singled. Pedro Alvarez then came up and looked to have walked on four pitches, but home plate umpire Phil Cuzzi called ball four a strike. Alvarez took the next pitch he ... Read More
Pirates Gameday 5/5: Lineups, DL Update, Hurdle Discusses Giants Starter
Good afternoon from PNC Park where today the Pirates (12-19) open a three-game series with the San Francisco Giants (20-11). Jeff Locke will make his 2014 Pirates debut against Yusmeiro Petit (2-1, 2.61 ERA), who is starting in place of injured starter Matt Cain. To make room for Locke on the 25-man roster, the Pirates have optioned Casey Sadler to AAA Indianapolis where he should resume duties in their starting rotation. Sadler threw four innings of work allowing no runs on two hits while ... Read More
Homers Doom Volquez, Pirates
A Colby Rasmus second inning grand slam and a Melky Cabrera fifth inning two-run shot were more than enough offense for the Blue Jays as they defeated the Pirates 7-2 on Sunday afternoon to avoid a three-game sweep. Edinson Volquez started the game off going 1-2-3 in the first and got run support via a Josh Harrison lead-off triple and Neil Walker RBI groundout, but lost his control and was unable to hold the lead. Volquez walked two to start the second, then Brett Lawrie beat out a ... Read More
Pirates Gameday 5/4: Lineups, Jeff Locke to Start Tomorrow
Good afternoon from PNC Park where the Pirates (12-18) look to sweep the Blue Jays (13-17) on marathon day. Edinson Volquez (1-2, 3.21 ERA) will look to bounce back from his defeat in St. Louis against Dustin McGowan (1-1, 5.87 ERA). Leading Off Clint Hurdle has announced that Jeff Locke will start tomorrow against the Giants. He also mentioned that Wandy Rodriguez has not had a setback in his rehab. "There's no setback, he needs more time," said Hurdle. "He is going to make another minor ... Read More
Pirates Play Comeback Again in 8-6 Victory
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
Pirates Gameday 5/3: Lineups, Pirates Make Roster Moves
Good afternoon from PNC Park where today the Pirates (11-18) take on the Blue Jays (13-16) in the second game of a three-game Interleague set. Francisco Liriano (0-3, 3.97 ERA) takes the hill for the first time since being removed with a nose bleed in St. Louis. He will face R.A. Dickey (2-3, 5.09 ERA). Roster Moves The Pirates have placed Stolmy Pimentel on the 15-Day DL with right shoulder inflammation. They have also optioned Brandon Cumpton to AAA Indianapolis. Jared Hughes and Vin Mazzaro ... Read More