For the second time this season, the Chicago Cubs took the opening two games of its series with the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Cubs won Tuesday night's game by a 6-2 score. Jeff Locke [2-1] did not make it into the fourth inning. Locke pitched 3.2 innings allowing eight hits, six runs [five earned runs], three walks and five strikeouts. Locke threw 86 pitches and had 53 strikes. The Cubs scored three runs in the third inning off Locke. Addison Russell brought home the first with his third double ... Read More
Pirates winning streak ends at five
The Pittsburgh Pirates quest to move into second place in the National League Central will have to wait as they fell 4-0 to the Chicago Cubs Monday night. In this game, the Pirates offense managed four hits, one of which was from Neil Walker who extended his hitting streak to 10 games. Francisco Cervelli, Vance Worley and Chris Stewart got the other three hits. Worley [2-2] pitched six innings allowing nine hits, all four runs, one walk and three strikeouts. He threw 97 pitches, 61 of ... Read More
Two out hits help Pirates prevail
The Pittsburgh Pirates have begun its nine game road trip with a series win after a 2-1 victory against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Pirates have now won four consecutive games. A.J. Burnett had his fourth consecutive quality start throwing seven innings allowing five hits, one run, two walks and four strikeouts on 88 pitches, 54 of which were strikes. This is the longest outing for Burnett in 2015 and the first time he has pitched seven innings since Sept. 6 of last season. The ... Read More
Cole eclipses seven innings in Pirates win
The Pittsburgh Pirates struck first in a road series against the Arizona Diamondbacks winning 4-1. This is the first road contest following a 10-game home stand, which ties a season high. Pirates starter Gerrit Cole [3-0] earned the win pitching 7.2 innings while allowing seven hits, a run, two walks and seven strikeouts. Cole threw 108 pitches, 78 for strikes - a 72.2 percent strike rate. It was Cole's longest outing since May 7 last season. "He was crisp and his pitch count was in better ... Read More
Polanco’s hit propels Pirates to win
Gregory Polanco had a .170 average batting 15-for-88 against left-handed pitching. That did not matter. “He held his ground, got some good looks, took some pitches," manager Clint Hurdle said. "Basically he got a pitch and just went with it, he didn’t do too much and stayed within himself. It was a really good at-bat.” Polanco's single off Phil Coke provided the go-ahead run in a 5-4 victory against the Chicago Cubs which ensured the Pittsburgh Pirates a series split. “It arguably was ... Read More
Pirates pregame 4/23: Marte, McCutchen out of lineup
The Pittsburgh Pirates are attempting to earn a series split after a 4-3 victory against the Chicago Cubs last night. The Cubs won the first two games 5-2 and 9-8. In the victory, Tony Watson earned his first save of the season getting the last six outs of the game. Gregory Polanco hit his first home run of the season. Today’s starters: In this afternoon's game, Jeff Locke [2-0 1.93 ERA] will face Kyle Hendricks [0-0 6.10 ERA]. Locke was a 6-2 winner over the Milwaukee Brewers in his ... Read More
Pirates Stewart a creature of habit
When Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Chris Stewart sat down with manager Clint Hurdle and hitting coach Jeff Branson, upon signing with the team to map out a routine that would allow him to find success on both sides of the ball, they focused on Stewart's offense. “It probably started with a little bit of ADHD," Stewart said. The early results have shown Stewart, by his own words, to have quality at-bats while letting the pitcher know that he no longer is an easy out. Hurdle mentioned Stewart's ... Read More
Determined Watson saves Pirates win
Tony Watson was asked to make his longest outing of the season as the Pittsburgh Pirates were trying to hold on to a 1-run lead against the Chicago Cubs. Watson ended up getting the job done earning his first save of the season and the Pirates won by a 4-3 score. “It turned into a plan B where he had to go get six outs and he went out and got them," manager Clint Hurdle said. "He’s shown grit, he’s shown ability, he’s shown skill. It was a very gritty performance to get six outs and keep ... Read More
Pirates pregame 4/22: Kang, Hughes, Melancon discussed
The Chicago Cubs have won the first two games in this series, however the Pittsburgh Pirates still have an opportunity to earn a split if it were to match the aforementioned accomplishment. In last night's contest, the lead went back and forth, however the Pirates bullpen allowed an 8-5 lead to slip away in a 9-8 loss. Mark Melancon blew his first save in a 3-run top of the ninth inning. Tonight’s starters: In tonight's game Vance Worley [1-1 5.84 ERA] will take to the mound against ... Read More
Pirates, Melancon lose lead, game in ninth
The Pittsburgh Pirates could not hold an 8-5 lead and Mark Melancon blew his first save of the season falling 9-8 to the Chicago Cubs Tuesday. It was the Cubs that scored first in the top half of the opening inning. Francisco Liriano walked Dexter Fowler and hit Anthony Rizzo with a pitch putting the first two batters on base. Kris Bryant picked back up where he left off Monday with a double that scored Fowler. The Pirates got the run back in the first inning scoring in the frame for the ... Read More