Francisco Liriano made a strong case to start Opening Day throwing three scoreless innings in a 4-3 Spring Training win Tuesday afternoon against the Tampa Bay Rays. In his three innings of work, Liriano surrendered one hit while striking out four batters. He also registered a single. "I just want to get better each start," Liriano said. "I was pretty happy with what I did today." "He's never going to be a guy who just goes out there to get his work in," Manager Clint Hurdle said. "He's ... Read More
Pirates earn tie; Vance Worley wins ‘B’ game
The Pittsburgh Pirates moved to 3-2-2 in Spring Training after a 1-1 tie against the Minnesota Twins Monday at McKechnie Field. Gerrit Cole started the game for the Pirates throwing the first three innings and had inconsistencies allowing three walks and two hits. One of those hits was a one-out home run by one of the Twins two top prospects Miguel Sano. Cole did strike out two batters. Additionally, he doubled in a third inning plate appearance. Arquimedes Caminero had another solid ... Read More
Sadler continues to impress; Pirates defeat Blue Jays
The Pittsburgh Pirates won 1-0 against the Toronto Blue Jays Saturday afternoon to move to 3-2-1 in Spring Training. This is the third time these two teams have faced each other in the past week. Casey Sadler extended his Spring Training scoreless innings streak to five and was the first starter to throw three innings for the Pirates this season. Sadler did not allow any hits over the course of his three innings of work and also struck out three batters. On the spring, Sadler has allowed no ... Read More
Burnett solid in first appearance; Pirates tie Rays
A.J. Burnett made his 2015 grapefruit league debut Saturday afternoon going two scoreless innings as the Pirates tied the Rays 1-1 in 10 innings at McKechnie Field. Burnett faced eight batters on the day allowing one hit while hitting another in the first inning before settling down to get the final five outs of his start. Nick Kingham was the other starter making a two-inning appearance allowing two hits and striking out two in a scoreless outting. Tony Watson, Jared Hughes, Antonio ... Read More
Pirates use long ball in Spring Training win
The Pittsburgh Pirates ended a two game Spring Training losing streak with a 3-1 victory against the New York Yankees Friday evening. The Pirates are now 2-2 on the season. In the second inning, the Pirates put up two runs. Pedro Alvarez hit a one out opposite field single to extend his Spring Training hitting streak to three games. He scored on Tony Sanchez's first home run of the spring which was hit to right-center field. The homer was hit off Yankees left-hander Chris Capuano ... Read More
First full year will help Pirates’ Polanco grow
There is no question that Gregory Polanco is the Pirates answer in right field. The 22-year-old was signed as an international free agent in 2009 and placed in the organization's Dominican academy with hopes of making it to the big leagues. What came next surpassed any expectations that most had about Polanco's abilities. He quickly began a climb through the minor league system which culminated with a jump in 2013 from High-A Bradenton to AAA Indianapolis in one season turning heads in the ... Read More
Pirates fall to Yankees; Harrison injury ‘minor setback’
The Pittsburgh Pirates fell to 1-2 in Spring Training after a 2-1 loss Thursday to the New York Yankees (1-1-1) in front of a sellout crowd of 7,879. Fred Lewis (1-0) picked up the win for the Yankees and Deolis Guerra (0-1) suffered the loss for the Pirates. Taylor Garrison threw the ninth inning to earn the save. The Pirates lone run came in the bottom of the sixth inning when Jaff Decker singled in Willy Garcia who had a 2-for-2 day at the plate. Decker has a .600 batting average thus ... Read More
Pirates lose Spring Training home opener
The Pittsburgh Pirates held its Spring Training home opener Wednesday losing 4-1 at McKechnie Field to the Toronto Blue Jays in front of an crowd of 6,127. Gerrit Cole started the game for the Pirates, and in his two innings threw 18 pitches, 13 of which were strikes. Cole consistently got ahead of batters, however hit Munenori Kawasaki, allowed a double to Dalton Pompey and then surrendered a run on a Dioner Navarro ground out. The Pirates scored their lone run when Blue Jays pitcher Rob ... Read More
Pittsburgh Pirates win Spring Training opener
The Pittsburgh Pirates used three home runs to win 8-7 in Dunedin, Fl., against the Toronto Blue Jays in a game which served as both teams Spring Training openers. Pedro Alvarez hit the first Pirates home run, a three-run shot to left field off Blue Jays pitcher Aaron Sanchez. Sanchez would allow a total of five runs and four hits in 1.1 innings pitched. The Pirates scored their other two runs against Sanchez when Jaff Decker hit a double off the center-field wall. Decker was 2-3 on the ... Read More
Brandon Cumpton out with elbow discomfort
Pittsburgh Pirates’ fans woke up Tuesday morning hearing the three most ominous words: Dr. James Andrews, after pitcher Brandon Cumpton stated he felt pain in his elbow after live batting practice at Pirate City. Andrews’ visits normally do not end well and the Pirates hope that Cumpton caught the injury early enough to avoid Tommy John surgery, a fate top pitching prospect Jameson Taillon met last season. According to Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Cumpton first noticed ... Read More