The Arizona Diamondbacks attacked Gerrit Cole's fastball early and often and won a 4-1 contest against the Pittsburgh Pirates Monday night. Cole [14-7] tied a season-high allowing nine hits in the contest while also throwing 30-pitches in the first inning. The Diamondbacks struck first with a two-run first inning. A.J. Pollock hit a triple off the Clemente Wall in right field. Gregory Polanco did not read the bounce off the right field wall correctly allowing Pollock to advance to third ... Read More
Bucs start series with D-Backs; Mercer and Harrison progressing
The Pittsburgh Pirates come into tonight's home game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on a four-game winning streak thanks in part to a sweep of the New York Mets, earning the team's first ever season series sweep against them. In tonight's game, Gerrit Cole takes on Jeremy Hellickson. Cole is 2-0 with a 1.98 ERA in two career starts against the Diamondbacks. Cole lost his last start against the St. Louis Cardinals allowing four runs [three earned] on seven hits in 5.1 innings. He has lost ... Read More
Pirates earn first season series sweep against Mets in franchise history
Many saw the Pittsburgh Pirates rotation and thought that the team would be swept by the New York Mets. Instead it was the other way around, as the Pirates won 8-1 Sunday afternoon, securing their major league-leading 13th sweep of the season. The Mets came into the series losing just twice since acquiring Yoenis Cespedes. The starting pitcher trio of J.A. Happ, Charlie Morton and Jeff Locke allowed four earned runs in 17 innings while striking out 21 batters. Arquimedes Caminero [4-1] won ... Read More
Pirates cook up some Stew in a pinch to earn extra inning victory
It was not a home game for the Pittsburgh Pirates, however you could not tell in the 14th inning. Fans celebrated Chris Stewart's pinch-hit single and started a Let's Go Bucs chant after a Sean Rodriguez RBI. When the umpires departed by the tunnel, the Pirates defeated the New York Mets by a 5-3 score in 14 innings Saturday night. This is the seventh consecutive extra innings win for the Pirates who are also 5-0 against the Mets this season. It was not an easy victory for the Pirates who ... Read More
Pirates continue extra-inning win streak
It took extra innings, however the Pittsburgh Pirates scored two runs to defeat the New York Mets by a 3-2 score in 10 innings Friday night. The Pirates are the first National League opponent to defeat the Mets in a game since July 30 [San Diego Padres]. Additionally the Pirates have won their past six extra inning games. The team is also 19-8 against National League East opponents. J.A. Happ told media throughout last homestand that he looked forward to getting the ball again and showing ... Read More
Pirates avoid sweep with big first inning
The past eight meetings between the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium all had one thing in common; a loss for the visitors. Thursday night, however, the Pirates changed that with a 10-5 victory, their first on the road against the Cardinals in 2015. The Pirates were aided by a seven-run first inning in which they batted around. Neil Walker got a hit from both sides of the place, the first Pirates player to do that in the same inning since at least 1961. Cardinals ... Read More
Pirates lose series, ground in NL Central to Cardinals
Defensive lapses once again reared their head as the Pittsburgh Pirates fell by a 4-2 score Wednesday night to the St. Louis Cardinals. The big blow came in the sixth inning when Gregory Polanco tried to run down a ball in shallow right field. He misjudged it and the ball rolled to the wall. After the dust had cleared, Randal Grichuk scored what proved to be the game-winning run and Yadier Molina was on third base with his second triple of the season. In addition to that miscue, the Pirates ... Read More
Ailing hand holds Marte out
Pirates left fielder Starling Marte will not start tonight's series finale against the Saint Louis Cardinals with a hand injury. The injury, which flared up during last night's game, has been bothering him off and on, according to manger Clint Hurdle. The team characterized the injury as a left hand bruise and Marte is day-to-day. Travis Ishikawa will start in left field in Marte's place. Jung Ho Kang will move up to Marte's usual cleanup spot in the batting order. Marte left the team’s ... Read More
Should Glasnow be considered for Pirates rotation?
The buzz around Pittsburgh for the Pirates to call up top pitching prospect Tyler Glasnow is growing. And it is hard to blame those that want to see him wearing black and gold before year’s end. The team’s once strong rotation is weakening: Francisco Liriano had to be checked by the trainer in the midst of a rough outing his last time out, AJ Burnett is injured, Jeff Locke and Charlie Morton have had as many great moments as face palm-worthy ones and J.A. Happ does not inspire confidence ... Read More
Pirates lose as Locke falters in fifth
The Pittsburgh Pirates fell six games behind the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Central following a 4-3 loss Tuesday night. This loss pushed the Pirates to 6-17 on the road this season against NL Central opponents. Jeff Locke [6-7] allowed the leadoff hitter to reach base four innings out of five however, it was the fifth inning that was his undoing. Locke walked the first two batters he faced and then after a mound visit Jason Heyward hit a single to put the Cardinals ... Read More