Remember Andrew McCutchen's rough start to the season? It looks like he's well over that, as for the second time this year, he's been named the National League Player of the Week. It's the sixth time that McCutchen has received the honor in his career. McCutchen hit .563 during the week with eight RBI and seven runs. McCutchen added a steal and two home runs en route to the award. He last won the award in the end of May. McCutchen capped off his stellar week by going 7-12 in the Pirates' ... Read More
Bucs big inning sparks comeback, sweep of Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers were looking to hold onto a 5-3 lead in the bottom of the seventh inning, but instead left down seven runs to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Reliever Jim Johnson [2-5] allowed eight runs on six hits in two-thirds of an inning. He would call it one of his worst outings in his professional career after the game. The Pirates won the game 12-6 and earned their first sweep of the Dodgers in Pittsburgh since 1999. “Wow," manager Clint Hurdle said. "It’s a testament that these ... Read More
Neal Huntington on Cole Tucker’s injury and Vance Worley’s uncertain future
As he does every Sunday home game, Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Neal Huntington met with the media discussing a variety of topics both at the major and minor league level. On Vance Worley accepting assignment: “We are still awaiting word. Obviously our hope is that he will [accept the assignment]. As a guy with more than three years of service and a prior outright he does have the ability to refuse the assignment and go somewhere else. We made it clear that we would love for him to stay ... Read More
Pirates pregame 7/9: Morton hopes to chop Wood, Dodgers on Sunday Night Baseball
The Pittsburgh Pirates won their 19th series of the season winning the first two games of a three game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. In the two games thus far, the Pirates were 5-4 [10 innings] and 6-5 winners. Tonight, Charlie Morton [7-4 4.19 ERA] takes on Alex Wood [7-7 3.65 ERA]. Morton is 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA in one career start against the Dodgers which came on April 30, 2010. Morton won his last start against the Cincinnati Reds in which he pitched seven scoreless ... Read More
Replay decisions benefit Pirates
Three decisions changed the course of Saturday afternoon's Pittsburgh Pirates versus Los Angeles Dodgers game and all had one commonality; instant replay. It is extremely rare for a team to challenge three plays, let alone emerge victorious in each, however that was the case for the Pirates. "It speaks to the importance of it and why we have it," manager Clint Hurdle said. "Every one of the calls was against us and could have changed the outcome of the game dramatically. Today was one of ... Read More
Liriano helps own cause in come-from-behind victory
In his time with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Francisco Liriano has often backed away from pitches when he bats. Saturday afternoon, however, he took one deep to the opposite field and hit his first career home run, helping the Pirates defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers by a 6-5 score. “I was trying to put the ball in play and I put a good swing on it and hit a homer," Liriano said. "I got lucky there. I used to hit before so I have a little pop in me.” In the first inning, Liriano allowed one run ... Read More
Pirates pregame 8/8: Polanco heating up in leadoff role
Last night, a 10-inning contest which neared four hours ended in the Pittsburgh Pirates favor, as the Pirates defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers by a 5-4 score. “Both teams were playing hard and playing for a lot," manager Clint Hurdle said. Clayton Kershaw allowed a home run to Gregory Polanco on the first pitch of the bottom of the first inning ending his 37-inning scoreless streak. Despite allowing the second most hits and runs of the season to the Pirates, Kershaw received a ... Read More
Alvarez a pinch hit hero in walk-off win over Dodgers
Having the bases loaded was not necessarily a recipe for the success for the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night, but pinch-hitter Pedro Alvarez made sure 39,404 fans went home happy. Alvarez's pinch-hit single with the bases full in the bottom of the tenth gave the Pirates a 5-4 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. “Just because you don’t start a game it doesn’t mean that you won’t play a role in the game," Alvarez said. "I can speak for everyone here when they are in the same situation ... Read More
Pirates pregame 8/7: Cole faces Kershaw; Hughes is a metal head
A nationally televised audience is in for a treat as Gerrit Cole will face Clayton Kershaw on ESPN tonight in the first game of the season between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Los Angeles Dodgers. Cole [14-5 2.29 ERA] leads the major leagues in wins and since Sept. 7 has a 2.43 ERA and 170.1 innings pitched. He is 2-0 with a 4.50 ERA in two career starts against the Dodgers. He lost in his last start against the Cincinnati Reds and allowed three runs [two earned] in five innings. Cole has a 1-2 ... Read More
Pirates to skip Happ’s turn in rotation
They say you never get a second chance to make a first impression. For Pittsburgh Pirates left-hander J.A. Happ, that’s proving to be true. After a disastrous Pirates debut on Tuesday, Happ, who was acquired from the Seattle Mariners for Triple-A right-hander Adrian Sampson at the trade deadline, will be skipped in the starting rotation by Pirates manager Clint Hurdle according to multiple media reports. An off day on Monday will allow the Pirates to flow from this weekend’s series against ... Read More