Ryan Vogelsong's return to San Francisco had a happy ending as the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the San Francisco Giants by an 8-5 score Monday night. Vogelsong (2-2) pitched with the Giants from 2011-15 before returning to Pittsburgh following a 2001-06 first stint with the Pirates. It was in 2000 when Vogelsong made his major league debut with the Giants. Vogelsong was recognized first pitch with a video honoring his time and accomplishments with the Giants. He received an ovation from ... Read More
Pirates fielding, offense go quiet in loss
A sloppy second inning caused the Pittsburgh Pirates to lose 4-0 to the San Diego Padres Wednesday night at PNC Park. The Padres have fared well at PNC Park posting a 34-16 record and winning all 14 series played at PNC Park before the Pirates swept last season's three-game series. Now the Padres have a chance for a series win of their own. With Ryan Vogelsong (1-2) on the mound, the Pirates committed two errors in the second inning. After a one-out double from Jabari Blash, Christian ... Read More
Ivan Nova set to make PNC Park debut
Tonight, the Pirates take on the Cincinnati Reds in Game Two of a three-game series. The game also serves as pitcher Ivan Nova's Pirates debut. With the New York Yankees this season, Nova was 7-6 with a 4.90 ERA in 21 games, 15 of which were starts. Pirates manager Clint Hurdle offered a checklist of what he's looking for in Nova's start. “He needs to follow the glove, display sinker command, have the ability to use some secondary pitches if need be and possess rhythm and pace,” Hurdle ... Read More
Column: Something needs to change for Pirates — and fast
What do the Milwaukee Brewers and the Atlanta Braves have in common? This isn't a trick question, and there isn't punchline — unless you consider the Pittsburgh Pirates (53-53) one for losing to both during this road trip, a fact secured with the team's 5-2 loss Thursday night to the Braves. It's a shame because Ryan Vogelsong pitched his heart out. The fact that Vogelsong even was on a Major League mound is beyond commendable. In late May, while in the batter's box, Vogelsong was hit ... Read More
Pirates swept again in Milwaukee
There was more to Sunday afternoon's 4-2 loss by the Pittsburgh Pirates to the Milwaukee Brewers. Not only were the Pirates swept this weekend, but they never had a lead at any point. Additionally, the Pirates have lost nine straight contests to the Brewers at Miller Park and are 17-64 there since the 2007 season. In each of the three games this series, the Brewers scored first. Friday and Saturday, the Brewers hit two-run home runs in the opening inning, but this time the run was ... Read More
Column: Pirates put together a true complete game
Normally when a complete game is thrown, this emphasis and honor is thrown on a pitcher. but on this particular Wednesday night, there was more to it than the effort Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Gerrit Cole put forth. That is not to say Cole should not be commended for his efforts on this night, because he should, but he was certainly the beneficiary of some good offense and defense in a 10-1 victory over the Seattle Mariners. After all, in this day and age where pitch counts, ... Read More
Huntington: It’s too early to determine nature of young pitcher injuries
Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Neal Huntington met with reporters prior to Sunday's game and spoke on several topics, including injuries and the approaching trade deadline. On pitcher Tyler Glasnow's right shoulder discomfort: “I feel like we caught it early. That’s always good, but we don’t have a lot of information to relay at this time. I don’t think it was one pitch that he felt it on. To his credit, he’s trying not to let it be an excuse. He wanted to put his team in a position to ... Read More
Pirates make several moves in advance of Saturday’s game
It was a busy Saturday before the Pittsburgh Pirates afternoon contest against the Philadelphia Phillies. The short version is that Tyler Glasnow (0-1, 6.75 ERA) will face Aaron Nola (5-8, 4.41 ERA), but how did we get here? Pirates option Schugel There had to be a player who would lose his spot with the team so that Glasnow got called up. That person ended up being A.J. Schugel. Schugel was a reliever the Pirates depended on to provide different lengths of appearances. He is 2-2 ... Read More
Pirates extend win streak to six with comeback victory
Eric Fryer donned the Pittsburgh Pirates catching gear for the first time since Sept. 10, 2012, and put forth his most effective offensive performance in the Major Leagues in five years as he helped his team come from behind to defeat the St. Louis Cardinals 5-2 Tuesday night. This victory is the Pirates' sixth in a row and the fifth during the streak that's happened in come-from-behind fashion. The Pirates are now 43-41 on the season. Fryer burned his former team with a career-high three ... Read More
Assessing pros and cons of Pirates win
The Pittsburgh Pirates led the Atlanta Braves 9-0 after two innings Tuesday night, but that lead was blown. Ultimately the Pirates prevailed 12-9, but there were not many style points that came in this win. As a fan of late night television, perhaps it is best to look at things from a Jimmy Fallon perspective and try to balance good from bad. This time there are no punchlines. Pro Twenty-one hits- It was a performance that proved to be a season-high on the offensive end of ... Read More