(Photo Credit: Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) PNC Park – A.J. Burnett pitched his best game of the season (so far) as he went the distance in a Pirates 5 – 1 victory on Sunday afternoon. His battery mate, Russell Martin, provided most of the offense with a three run homer in the fifth inning to break things open. “They threw me a lot of breaking balls today and talking to Jay (Bell), the guy throws a lot of sliders so I decided to wait for one and he threw the first pitch right where I ... Read More
The Journey of Tony Sanchez
(Photo Credit: Brad Barr-USA TODAY Sports) Most major league catchers make their debut in low-leverage situations. Tony Sanchez made his first career catching start in a larger atmosphere. With back-up catcher, Michael McKenry shut down for the rest of the season, the team looked to Sanchez in the heart of a pennant race. To make things even more interesting, manager, Clint Hurdle set that first start against the St. Louis Cardinals in the middle of the “Biggest series in PNC Park ... Read More
Pirates Back On Track With 5-2 Victory
(Photo Credit: AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) PNC Park – Francisco Liriano pitched another gem Saturday night as he threw 7 innings of shutout ball to halt the Pirates 2-game losing skid with a 5 - 2 win over the Rockies. The Rockies threatened early against Liriano as they had second and third in the first with one out. Francisco would then get Michael Cuddyer to strikeout and Will Rosario to groundout to end the threat. They would have two more on in the third thanks to two one ... Read More
Pirates Gameday: Bucs Look To Snap Skid With Liriano
(Photo Credit: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) PNC Park – The Pirates (65 - 44) look to snap a 2-game skid tonight as they take on the Rockies (52 - 59) in the second game of a 3-game set. Francisco Liriano (11 – 4, 2.16 ERA) will face Jorge De La Rosa (10 – 5, 3.21 ERA). Leading Off Francisco Liriano brings a team-leading 11 wins into tonight’s start. That figure represents the most wins by a southpaw since Zach Duke recorded 11 victories in 2009. The last Bucco to win 12 or more games in a ... Read More
Cole Solid, But Offense Stalls In 4-2 Loss
(Photo Credit: Gene J. Puskar) PNC Park – Gerrit Cole pitched a solid five innings of work, but he and reliever Justin Wilson couldn’t get out of the sixth as the Rockies scored three times en-route to a 4 – 2 victory on Friday night. Cole retired ten of the first eleven batters he faced with the only hit coming from a Troy Tulowitzki solo shot in the second inning. He would then allow two batters to reach with one out in the fourth before getting the next two batters to strike out. He ... Read More
Pirates Gameday: Hughes Activated, Hurdle Talks Morton
PNC Park – The Pirates (65 – 43), fresh off of taking 4-of-5 from the Cardinals, take the field tonight to start a 3-game set against the Rockies (51 – 59). Gerrit Cole (5 – 4, 3.56 ERA) will go against Jhoulys Chacin (9 – 5, 3.54 ERA). Leading Off Jared Hughes has been activated from the 15-day DL and will be in the Shark Tank tonight. Vic Black has been optioned back to AAA Indianapolis to make room for Hughes on the 25-man roster. Manager, Clint Hurdle says it’s more based on availability ... Read More
Pirates Gameday: Sanchez Talks Nerves, Hurdle Updates On Wandy
(Photo Credit: UPI/Archie Carpenter) PNC Park – The Pirates (65 – 42) look for a rare 5-game sweep of the second place Cardinals (62 – 44) tonight as Charlie Morton (3 – 2, 3.59 ERA) faces Joe Kelly (1 – 3, 3.44 ERA). Leading Off Tony Sanchez will get the start at catcher tonight as Clint Hurdle is giving Russell Martin a day off to rest his sore knee. Sanchez says things have finally sunk in for him being a Pirate. “It sunk in the second day I was here when me and Vic (Black) we’re walking ... Read More
Pirates Come From Behind, Beat Cardinals 5 – 4
PNC Park – Russell Martin hit an eighth inning RBI single to complete a Pirates comeback in which they were down two runs on two different occasions on Wednesday night. The Battlin’ Bucs trailed 2 – 1 after an inning, 3 – 1 after 2 ½ and 4 – 2 after 3 1/2, but they stayed resilient as they answered each Cardinal run with one of their own to make it 3 – 2 and 4 – 3. It was an off night for Jeff Locke as he faced 5+ batters in each of the four innings that he pitched. The Cardinals got on ... Read More
Bucco Gameday: Huntington Talks Deadline, McKenry Shut Down For Season
PNC Park – The Pirates (64 – 42), fresh off of a sweep of yesterday’s double header, look to make it four in-a-row over the Cardinals (62 – 43) and extend their NL Central lead to 2 ½ games. Jeff Locke (9 – 3, 2.15 ERA) will take on Adam Wainwright (13 – 6, 2.51 ERA). 4pm today marked the non-waiver trade deadline for the MLB and the Pirates have appeared to remain in-tact as they did not make any moves before the deadline. Neil Huntington talked about not making a move: “We looked ... Read More
Pirates Pull Within 1/2 Game Behind Cardinals With 9-2 Win
PNC Park – The Pirates started off their 5-game in four day stretch against the first place Cardinals with a dominating 9 - 2 victory Monday night bringing them to within a ½ game of the Cards for the NL Central Lead. Francisco Liriano helped his Cy Young chances by throwing 7 innings of two-hit, one run ball while striking out eight. He experienced a bit of trouble in the fourth when he allowed back-to-back singles with one out. He would then strike out Allen Craig and Yadier Molina to end the ... Read More