Good afternoon from PNC Park where tonight the Pirates (18-25) face the Orioles (22-20) in the first of a two-game interleague set. Francisco Liriano (0-3, 4.25 ERA) will look to build off of his last start as he faces Miguel Gonzalez (1-3, 4.76 ERA). Injury Update -- Jason Grilli threw the first of two simulated games on back-to-back days today and the results were positive. "It was another good day for him to go and throw all of his pitches," said manager Clint Hurdle. "20 off the mound ... Read More
Pirates Gameday 5/9: Lineups, Suspensions Given, DL Update
Good afternoon from PNC Park where the Pirates (14-20) begin a three-game weekend series with the St. Louis Cardinals (18-17). Francisco Liriano (0-3, 4.54 ERA) will again look for win #1 tonight against Michael Wacha (2-3, 2.55 ERA), who is making his first start at PNC since his dominating performance in game 4 of last seasons NLDS. Suspensions Handed Out MLB has made a ruling on the appeals from Travis Snider and Russel Martin. Both rulings were upheld and Snider will serve his two games ... Read More
Pirates Gameday 4/18: Lineups, Hurdle Discusses Martin in the Second Spot
Good afternoon from PNC Park where tonight the Pirates (8-8) look to take at least a split of the series from the Brewers (11-5) in game 2 of the four-game set. Charlie Morton (0-1, 3.32 ERA) looks for win #1 against Kyle Lohse (2-1, 3.05 ERA). Hurdle's Quotes On Russell Martin batting in the second spot -- "He his second probably more than everybody in Spring Training. Every game till the last week he hit second and I started it off just because I wanted to give him the extra at bat early ... Read More
Pirates Can’t Comeback From Liriano’s Rough Start, Fall 6-1
The St. Louis Cardinals jumped on Francisco Liriano early for three runs in the first and the Pirate offense couldn't repeat their 12-run barrage from a night ago in a 6-1 loss on Saturday night. Liriano started off his night allowing three straight hits --including a lead-off single by Matt Carpenter, who was the fifth player in-a-row to lead-off the game with a hit -- and five of the first seven Cardinals to reach base in route to a Pirates 3-0 hole after a half inning. "I tried to use ... Read More
Pirates Position Preview: Catcher
We continue our preview of the 2014 Pittsburgh Pirates with the men at the catching position. Russell Martin: Martin was the Pirates defensive leader in 2013 as the Bucco backstop barely missed winning his second career gold glove award to Cardinal catcher, Yadier Molina. He re-established a run defense that was made into swiss cheese by opposing teams over the last couple years by throwing out 36 baserunners (1st among NL C) and only committing two errors for a .998 fielding percentage (1st ... Read More
Three Pirates Fall Short of Rawlings Gold Glove Award
Andrew McCutchen, Russell Martin and Starling Marte were shut out on Tuesday night for the Rawlings Gold Glove Award. Carlos Gomez defeated Andrew McCutchen for the NL Gold Glove in CF. Cutch recorded 321 put-outs (5th among NL CF's) while assisting on 11 plays (3rd among NL CF's) and recording 3 double plays (1st among NL CF's). His wins over replacement was an 8.2 which is 3rd for all NL players in 2013. Russell Martin fell to Yadier Molina for the catchers award. Martins 103 assists at ... Read More
The Pirates…and Their Fans Beat the Reds 6 – 2
Follow @TBerardi_OVA Pittsburgh has waited 21 years for a game like this to occur and they made sure their voices were heard as they rattled Johnny Cueto, leading to an early lead which enough for Francisco Liriano, who threw another gem against the Reds in a 6 - 2 NL Wild Card victory on Tuesday night. The momentum started to swing in the top of the second when Marlon Byrd, who was making his first postseason plate appearance, homered to left sending the already loud crowd at PNC into a ... Read More
Bucs Bounce Back Behind Burnett 4 – 2
Follow @TBerardi_OVA A.J. Burnett followed Liriano's strong start with one of his own, but this time the Pirates held on to their lead for a pivotal 4 - 2 victory over the Reds on Saturday night. For the second time in this series, the Reds struck in the first when Brandon Phillips singled and scored on a Ryan Ludwick RBI single. That single would put runners on first and second with one out, but Burnett would induce an inning-ending double play to get out of the jam. The other run he gave ... Read More
Pirates Go Back-To-Back-To-Back, But Fall 5-4
The Pirates led late, but Jason Grilli gave up a two-out, two-run homer to Anthony Rizzo to give the Cubs a 5 - 4 victory in Pittsburgh on Friday night. The Cubs jumped out to an early lead against Charlie Morton when Nate Schierholtz turned a lead-off walk in the second into the games first run, a fielders choice by Darwin Barney as he beat out a double play. They would add two more in the fourth inning when Brian Bogusevic hit a two-out, two-run homer into the bushes to push the Cubs ... Read More
Pirates Back In First With 7 – 1 Win Over St. Louis
The Pirates offense continued to dominate Cardinals pitching as they put up 7 runs in a 7 - 1 victory on Saturday night. They put two up in the second inning with two out when A.J. Burnett helped himself with an RBI single scoring Russell Martin. They would get a second run one batter later when Jose Tabata scored Burnett after a wild pitch. They would add five more in the third when Marlon Byrd continued his hot start as a Pirate with an RBI single to score Pedro Alvarez. Russell Martin ... Read More