One can say that PNC hosted some pretty important series over the last year, but nothing compares to this as the Pirates have a shot at taking first place from their opponent. (Worth noting: The Bucs did have an opportunity like this last season, but that series took place in Cincinnati.) The last time Pittsburgh witnessed something like this, you would have to look all the way back to July 10th-13th of 1997 when the Bucs started the second half of the season in first place by a game over the ... Read More
Pirate of the Week: Andrew McCutchen
For the second straight week Andrew McCutchen showed why he is the face of this Pirates franchise. The Pirates went 4-3 over the past seven days with McCutchen being a big part of the offense as usual. Here's the key games he produced in this week. 7/20 - 4-5, 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 RBI 7/22 - 2-5, 2 R, 2 HR, 4 RBI For the week, McCutchen ended up going 8-30 with 3 home runs, 5 RBIs, a double, and scored three runs. His 4 RBI night led the Pirates to victory over the Washington Nationals in ... Read More
“Mark and Cheese” Take to the Big Apple
Jason Grilli and Mark Melancon are the first bullpen duo to make the All-Star game from Pittsburgh in the history of the Midsummer Classic. That’s 83 years without this happening. It goes to show you how important the back end of the bullpen, also known by fans as “Mark and Cheese”, has been for the Bucs this season. Jason Grilli’s numbers have been solid in his first year as closer for the Pirates going 29 of 30 in save opportunities while holding a 1.99 ERA in 40 2/3 innings (9 ER). He has ... Read More
Gee Continues Dominance of Pirates, Mets Win 4 – 2
PNC Park – Dillon Gee continued his dominance over the Pirates as he went 6 2/3 innings of one run ball (unearned) as the Mets avoided a sweep of the Pirates by the score of 4 - 2. Gee had a 2 – 0 record with a 1.73 ERA in 26 innings (4 starts) coming into today’s game against the Pirates while striking out 19 and walking six. It was more of the same on Sunday as he went 6 2/3 innings while holding the Pirates to five hits while striking out two. The Mets did their damage in the first off ... Read More
Melancon Named 2013 All-Star
BREAKING: MLB has announced Mark Melancon as a 2013 NL All-Star Melancon has been stellar in his first year as a Pirate as he has only allowed four earned runs in 44 1/3 innings of work (0.81 ERA). He has also struck out 46 batters while only walking four. This will be the first All-Star appearance for Melancon, joining fellow Shark Tank member, Jason Grilli in that category. The two have helped lead the Pirates pen to one of the best bullpen ERA’s in the majors with a 2.76 ERA, trailing ... Read More
Pedro Homers, Mercer Walks Off Mets 3 – 2
PNC Park – Jordy Mercer halted his mini-slump in grand fashion as he singled up the middle in the eleventh inning to walk-off the Mets 3 – 2 on Friday night. It was the first hit with runners in scoring position in three attempts in extra frames as the Pirates had the bases loaded in the ninth and first and second in the tenth. “You always want to be that guy -- you always want to get the game winning hit and you want to score the game winning run,” said Mercer. “You go through your ... Read More
Bucco Gameday: Hurdle Talks Derby, Walker
PNC Park -- The Pirates (54 – 36), fresh off of a 5 – 0 victory against Oakland on Wednesday, are back at PNC to finish the first half off against the Mets (40 – 48) in the first of three starting tonight. Charlie Morton (1 – 2, 3.38 ERA) will face Jeremy Hefner (4 – 6, 3.39 ERA). Leading Off -- Pedro Alvarez will now be participating in Mondays All-Star Home Run Derby (8pm, ESPN) due to Carlos Gonzalez pulling out due to a finger injury. He is unsure on who will be throwing to him ... Read More
Bucs must address struggling bench
There are plenty of opinions of exactly what Pittsburgh Pirates' general manager Neal Huntington needs to do when the trade deadline approaches. Huntington certainly has his options to choose from as targeting a productive right fielder certainly makes sense, as would more production at shortstop and maybe an additional arm or two. However neither is as pressing as the need to upgrade the woeful Pirates bench. Pirates' manager Clint Hurdle has been known for frequently using all 25 ... Read More
Pirates Blow Offensive Chances, Lose To Phillies 3-1
The Phillies invaded Pittsburgh looking for some revenge on the three-out-of-four that the Pirates took in Philadelphia and they got off to a good start as they stifled a couple prime offensive chances for the Bucs in a 3 – 1 victory on Tuesday night. The Pirates had something going in the third with two out. Marte reached on a fielder’s choice and stole second. Russell Martin would then work a walk and Andrew McCutchen would hit a shot up the middle. Phillies second baseman, Chase Utley, ... Read More
Pirates Win In 14, Sweep Brewers 2 – 1
In a game that went 6+ hours and included a 2 hr 20 min rain delay in the second inning, The Pirates battled their way to a 14-inning victory thanks to a Russell Martin pinch-hit walk off single against the Milwaukee Brewers to complete a 3-game sweep by the score of 2 - 1. Charlie Morton and Kyle Lohse started the game at 1:35pm and lasted only two innings each as a storm system slowly came through causing a 2 hour, 20 minute rain delay. Before the delay, Morton and the Pirates allowed an ... Read More