Starling Marte's second game-winning home run of the season gave the Pirates a 6-4 win in 12 innings over the Cincinnati Reds Friday night. This also gave the Reds their 13th loss, the most since 1945. "This is a big win for us, a resilient win for us because we’ve done this a few times this year," Jordy Mercer said. Jay Bruce entered play 2-for-21 lifetime against Francisco Liriano, however had two hits against him in this contest. The first was a second inning single which was ... Read More
Pirates pregame 10/2: Reds series wraps up regular season
Though the Pittsburgh Pirates missed out on their chance to win the National League Central, it still has plenty to fight for as it faces the Cincinnati Reds this weekend. "We’re still chasing," manager Clint Hurdle said. "We’re focused on winning the game today. Our goal is to nail down the opportunity to play at home.” The Reds are on a 12-game losing streak currently, and a loss would be the longest drought since 1945. In tonight's contest, Francisco Liriano faces Keyvius ... Read More
AM Joe: Plenty of blame for Steelers loss
Good morning, Pittsburgh. Here's your day in sports for Friday, October 2, 2015. What's on tap for today: Wrapping up their marathon preseason, the Penguins (3-4-0) are in Raleigh, NC for their preseason finale against the Carolina Hurricanes. 7:00 p.m. WXDX-FM 105.9 The X The Pirates (96-63) host he Reds (63-96) in the first of a three-game series at PNC Park. Despite the Cardinals clinching the division on Wednesday night, the Pirates still must make sure to stay ahead of the Cubs for ... Read More
COLUMN: Hurdle to blame for Morton’s struggles
Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle admitted that Wednesday's game was important and handed the ball to Charlie Morton. Whoops. Morton made it through two-plus innings before Hurdle emphatically took him out of the game. Mind you, it was the most emphatic removal I have ever seen. The movement up the step was decisive and so was the long, exaggerated arm point to signal the pitching change. From the beginning, Morton looked tired and over-matched, this after having an additional day ... Read More
Column: For Pirates, April and May losses proved costly
Sixteen men left on base. For most Pittsburgh Pirates fans, that was the moment that a possible National League Central Division championship became unrealistic. The inability to hit a medium length fly ball with the bases loaded four times likely cost the Bucs the division. For others it was watching Charlie Morton get lit up like a Christmas tree in the biggest game of the season to date on Wednesday night. But while both losses to the dreaded Cardinals played a big role in why the ... Read More
Pirates headed to wild card game with loss to Cardinals
Many Pittsburgh Pirates fans had not yet filed in their seats by the time Charlie Morton was removed from the game. A two-plus inning start from Morton ended the Pirates chances of winning the National League Central as they lost 11-1 Wednesday night to the St. Louis Cardinals. “This is a game I want to come in and win," Morton said. "Folks showed up and everyone was excited and I gave it up. It’s just heartbreaking.” Morton [9-9] made his second shortest start of the season behind only ... Read More
Cervelli’s slam helps Pirates division dreams stay alive
Pittsburgh Pirates fans gave a standing ovation when Francisco Cervelli stepped to the plate in the sixth inning of Wednesday afternoon's game. In what manager Clint Hurdle called a "must-win game," Cervelli's fourth inning grand slam helped the team defeat the St. Louis Cardinals, 7-2, and kept the Pirates division chances alive. “The understatement of the day would be that was a great swing," Hurdle said. "It’s been a while since he hit one.” Gerrit Cole [19-8] pitched seven innings ... Read More
Pirates pregame 9/30: Let’s play two part deux
The Pittsburgh Pirates are in must-win situation if it wants to keep its National League Central hopes alive. The St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Pirates by a 3-0 score Monday night and reducing its magic number to two meaning a win in either doubleheader game would result in the NL Central title. “We’ve been in a footrace the entire year, and I don’t think we’re scared of who’s behind us, we just go out and play hard," Cardinals closer Trevor Rosenthal said. The Pirates are not panicking ... Read More
AM Joe: Pirates face must-win twinbill with Cardinals
Good morning, Pittsburgh. Here's your day in sports for Tuesday, September 29, 2015. What's on tap for today: A lot will be decided between the Pirates (95-62) and Cardinals (99-58) in their doubleheader today at PNC Park. A pair of Cardinals wins would clinch the division for the Redbirds, while a Bucco sweep would leave the Pirates down only a game with three to play. The Pirates will move Gerrit Cole up to the early game at 1:35 p.m. to square off against Lance Lynn. Charlie Morton and ... Read More
Pirates will have to wait for Game 2 against Cardinals
The Pittsburgh Pirates schedule game with the Saint Louis Cardinals tonight has been postponed due to inclement weather. The game will be made up as part of a day/night doubleheader tomorrow, September 30. The first game tomorrow will begin at 1:35 p.m., with PNC Park’s gates opening at noon. Fans attending the first game will be required to exit the stadium in between the contests. The second game will start at its regularly scheduled time, 7:05 p.m. Fans with tickets for tonight’s game ... Read More