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
Pirates Gameday 5/2: Lineups, Hurdle Talks Plate Decipline
Good afternoon from PNC Park where the Pirates (10-18) look to turn things around against the Blue Jays (13-15). Gerrit Cole (2-2, 3.18 ERA) will start off the nine-game homestand against Brandon Morrow (1-2, 6.04 ERA). Hurdle's Quotes On the Pirates plate appearances the past couple games : "I think it's improving and we're going to continue to work hard to get it better. We found opportunities to get men on base with regularity all throughout both games yesterday. Much more so than in the ... Read More
Gregory Polanco Continues to lead in AAA
Gregory Polanco continues to make a case for an early call up from the Pirates as he continues to dominate the International League. The right fielder is batting (38-95) .400/.632/1.089 with 6 doubles, 2 triples, 4 home runs and 25 RBI in 24 games for the Indians while walking 9 times and striking out 16 times. He is 4-for-8 in the stolen base department. Polanco leads AAA in average, on-base percentage, RBI and hits while ranking fourth in slugging and on-base + slugging. He has also recorded ... Read More
Pirates-Orioles Rained Out, Will Play Two Tomorrow
For the second day in-a-row, the Pirates and Orioles have been rained out in Baltimore. Because of scheduling conflicts, the two games will be made up in a twi-night double header tomorrow starting at 4:05 if the weather permits. Tomorrow's Starters Game 1: (PIT) Charlie Morton vs. (BAL) Bud Norris Game 2: (PIT) Brandon Cumpton vs. (BAL) Chris Tillman The Pirates haven't played since Sunday afternoon in St. Louis and the extended break could be beneficial considering the way the ... Read More
Pirates Month in Review
The term "In like a lion, out like a Lamb" doesn't have to only stick to the weather in April. The Pittsburgh Pirates (10-16) could go by the same motto as they started the month hot and finished it cold as ice. A 6-4 record over the Cubs and Cardinals to start the season was a welcome sight considering the start the team had last season. The team did so by using the long ball. The Pirates hit 11 home runs over the first couple week of the season and were led by Pedro Alvarez, who hit six ... Read More
Dropping Marte in the Order Can Only Help Him
After a promising rookie season, a freshly signed contract extension and the hope for improvement offensively from Pirates left fielder Starling Marte, it's been a rough start to say the least. A .229 average, an OBP of .308 and 37 strikeouts are not exactly what the Pirates had in mind when they placed him in the lead off spot opening day. To put in context, only the Mariners Abraham Alamonte has more strikeouts in all of baseball with 39. In fact, Marte has struck out twelve more times than ... Read More
Cole Throws Gem, Gets No Run Support in 1-0 Loss
Gerrit Cole threw seven strong innings of work while allowing one run, but the Pirate bats remain dormant as they fell to the Cardinals 1-0 on Friday night. Cole allowed a first inning run when Matt Carpenter led the inning off with a singled and scored on a Matt Holliday RBI double. He would settle down after that run by stranding 10 Cardinals on base causing them to go 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position. That one run would,surprisingly, be enough for Cardinals starter Shelby ... Read More
Cumpton Unable to Get Run Support in 2-1 Loss to Reds
Brandon Cumpton gave another solid spot start for the Pirates allowing only two runs in seven innings of work, but the run support wasn't there yet again in a Bucs 2-1 loss to the Reds on Thursday afternoon. Cumpton experienced trouble in the first by walking Joey Votto and allowing a hit to Brandon Phillips. However, he would get out of the inning clean by striking out Jay Bruce and getting Todd Frazier to fly out. Cumpton would then retire 12 of the next 15 batters he faced until the sixth ... Read More
Big Inning Hurts Morton Again in 5-2 Pirates Loss
Charlie Morton became victim of the big inning once again as the Reds struck for three in the fifth en route to a 5-2 victory over the Pirates on Wednesday night. The Pirates held leads of 1-0 and 2-1 thanks to a bases loaded walk by Travis Snider in the first and an Andrew McCutchen solo shot in the third. The solo shot for Cutch was his third homer in as many games as the centerfielder remains the only offense for the Bucs as of late. "There's times when our approach has been good," said ... Read More
Pirates Gameday 4/23: Lineups, Hurdle Talks Walker, Pinch Hitting Success
Good afternoon from PNC Park where the Pirates (9-12) look to secure at least a series split with the Reds (9-11). Charlie Morton (0-2, 4.32 ERA) takes the hill against Alfredo Simon (2-1, 0.86 ERA). Tomorrow's Starter Undecided Manager Clint Hurdle said that the team has not declared a spot-starter for tomorrow afternoon's series finale against the Reds. However, it can be speculated that Brandon Cumpton will be that guy as he has been scratched from his start tonight for AAA ... Read More