Following the Pittsburgh Pirates' 6-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers, Jeff Locke had one more batter to face: 3-year-old Maverick Mercer, Jordy Mercer's son, in the clubhouse. Locke had thrown seven innings of one-run baseball but finally met his match as Maverick got several hits, which he followed with bat flips. Locke could smile, and the players were able to eat up the scene because the Pirates have now won two in a row after a dreadful, 6-20 stretch that dates back to May ... Read More
Kuhl to make major league debut Sunday vs. Dodgers
Pitcher Chad Kuhl met with reporters to discuss the worst kept secret this weekend: He's starting Sunday night's game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Kuhl got the news Wednesday in an on-the-road meeting with Pittsburgh Triple-A affiliate Indianapolis Indians manager Dean Treanor and minor league pitching coordinator Scott Mitchell. It'll be the first major league start for Kuhl, who was drafted by the Pirates in the ninth round of the 2013 MLB Draft. “We’ve ... Read More
Nicasio fills bullpen role, Cervelli gets closer to recovery
After ending a three-game losing streak Friday night with an 8-6 victory against the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Pirates will look to extend their winning streak to two games tonight as Jeff Locke (6-5, 5.44 ERA) takes on Kenta Maeda (6-4, 2.64 ERA). Locke earned a win in his last start, which came Monday against the San Francisco Giants. Locke pitched 6.2 shutout innings while allowing three hits. The left-handed pitcher owns a 1-3 career record and 4.07 ERA in five games (four starts) against ... Read More
Backend relievers provide needed stability in Pirates’ 8-6 win over Dodgers
It's approaching five years since the infamous game that gave baseball fans the phrase, “Jerry Meals says it's safe.” The play happened in the 19th inning where it appeared that then-Pirates catcher Michael McKenry clearly tagged the Atlanta Braves' runner out. But Meals, the umpire, disagreed. Ever since, Meals hasn't been a welcome name to Pirates fans, who boo him each time public address announcer Tim DeBacco says Meals' name.But, Friday night, those same Pirates fans couldn't help but ... Read More
Pirates drop fourth consecutive series
For a second consecutive game, the Pittsburgh Pirates struck first, but it wasn't enough, as the San Francisco Giants won the game, 5-3, to clinch the series victory Thursday afternoon. This defeat means the Pirates have lost four consecutive series losses and drops them to 34-39 on the season. Once again, the Pirates started off fast with a first inning sacrifice fly off center fielder Gregory Polanco's bat. He was down 0-2 in the count before his fly ball was deep enough to score second ... Read More
Pirates can’t hold on to five-run lead, lose 7-6 to Giants
The Pittsburgh Pirates had a five-run lead in Wednesday's game, but they were unable to keep it, falling 7-6 to the San Francisco Giants. This loss hurts. A lot. The Pirates had no reason losing this game, but they did. It appeared things were looking up for the struggling Pirates offense when first baseman John Jaso led off the bottom of the first inning with a first-pitch home run off San Francisco starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija. The power became contagious for the Pirates, as Gregory ... Read More
Pirates allow 22 hits in 15-4 loss to Giants in Boscan’s first start
In an inning with a grand slam and a two-run home run, it was a walk that did the Pittsburgh Pirates in. In the fourth inning, starting pitcher Wilfredo Boscan engaged in an 11-pitch epic battle — the kind they write songs about — with San Francisco Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford. Crawford fouled off seven pitches and eventually drew a walk. The next batter the tired Boscan faced, Giants’ left fielder Angel Pagan, hit a grand slam. That fourth inning only got worse; the first seven batters ... Read More
What can we learn from Jameson Taillon’s three major league starts?
Welcome to the Show, kid. Pittsburgh Pirates right-handed pitcher Jameson Taillon has only made three starts in his short MLB career, but he’s made an impression with each and every one of them — especially in his second start, where he had a no-hitter going into the seventh inning. So what kind of future does the 24-year-old prospect have in the big leagues? He’s had an up-and-down journey to this point. Highlights: second overall pick in the 2010 overall draft, striking out Ryan ... Read More
Pirates’ season hinges on next few weeks
In the eyes of many Pittsburgh sports fans, there's a bit of an empty feeling. The Penguins' season is over, and the Steelers' season hasn't started yet — so what now? Over the past three years, the strong play of the Pirates has tided fans over during the sports lull, but a stretch of poor play has some fans feeling blasé. Prior to Monday night's 1-0 victory over the San Francisco Giants, the Pirates had lost their last five games and 10 of their last 11. They are currently one ... Read More
Mets knock Locke out of game early in Pirates loss
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jeff Locke took his medicine last start allowing 11 runs in 4.2 innings and a similar fate awaited him Wednesday night in an 11-2 loss to the New York Mets. After a stretch in which Locke (5-5) was the most dominant pitcher, his last two starts have his ERA at 5.92. Locke lasted four innings in this game allowing seven runs on nine hits. Three of those runs were allowed in the first inning. Each of the first three batters reached base before Wilmer ... Read More