The Pittsburgh Pirates’ Sean Rodriguez has been named the Co-National League Player of the Week, along with Brandon Drury of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Rodriguez was awarded the honor for his efforts against the Cincinnati Reds and the Philadelphia Phillies. Rodriguez recorded a batting average of .414 and hit five home runs last week. Rodriguez also recorded 12 RBIs, bringing his season total, thus far, to 51 RBIs. On the year, Rodriguez has hit 17 home runs. As for Drury of the ... Read More
Pirates can’t secure four-game sweep of Reds
Pitcher Ivan Nova entered Sunday's game with a 5-0 record as a Pittsburgh Pirate, but after a 7-4 loss to the Cincinnati Reds, an ‘L’ was placed next to his name for the first time since July 29 with the New York Yankees. Not only did Nova lose, the Pirates missed out on a chance to earn a second consecutive four-game road series sweep. Just 10 days prior, Nova (12-7) fired a complete game one-run shutout, but, Sunday, the former New York Yankee made it through just three innings and tied ... Read More
Pirates sweep doubleheader
Taking both games of a doubleheader is a tough feat to accomplish, but with 10-4 and 7-3 wins, the Pittsburgh Pirates did so over the Cincinnati Reds. These two victories bring the Pirates to 74-74 and put them on a four-game winning streak. The Pirates never trailed in either game and, Sunday, will be going for their seventh series sweep and second consecutive four-game road series sweep of the season. The other came Aug. 25-28 against the Milwaukee Brewers. In Game 1, the Pirates ... Read More
Pirates win in Cincinnati in extra innings
It took extra innings, but the Pittsburgh Pirates took the first of a three-game road series by a 9-7 score Friday night against the Cincinnati Reds. The game was tied at six heading into the 10th inning, when the Reds brought in closer Tony Cingrani. A total of eight Pirates batters would step up to face him. Cingrani (2-5) started the inning with a four-pitch walk to Jung Ho Kang, which was followed by a Sean Rodriguez single and a Francisco Cervelli bunt single that was upheld after a ... Read More
Takeaways from Thursday’s 15-2 Pirates victory
The Pittsburgh Pirates had their way with the Philadelphia Phillies in a 15-2 routing Thursday night that secured a series split. Those 15 runs are a season-high and place the Pirates at 71-74 on the season with 17 regular-season games remaining. Here are my three takeaways from the game: 1. Offense finally shows up The Pirates offense has disappointed for most, if not all, of the second half of the 2016 season, but Thursday night felt as though a “help wanted” ad was finally ... Read More
Brault’s brief outing sinks Pirates
Pitcher Steven Brault made his shortest career Major League start, and the Pittsburgh Pirates dropped Wednesday night's 6-2 game to the Philadelphia Phillies. Brault (0-3) was making his sixth start of the season and of his career. He pitched 3.2 innings and allowed five runs, three of which were earned on a career-high nine hits allowed. June hasn't won a desicion since June 30 — and that came against the Toledo Mud Hens while Brault was a member of the Pirates' Triple-A affiliate, ... Read More
Rodriguez’s blast halts Pirates’ skid
Tuesday night the Pittsburgh Pirates trailed the Philadelphia Phillies 3-2 after eight innings. It was a familiar scene. The Pirates are 0-65 when behind after eight innings, not to mention they're on a four-game losing streak and have lost 12 of their past 14 games. But, in the top of the ninth inning, the Pirates managed to get runners in scoring position, and pinch-hitter Sean Rodriguez, who came to the plate with no outs and runners on second and third, just needed to hit the ball deep ... Read More
Cole’s return lasts two innings in loss
Gerrit Cole's return lasted two innings as the Pittsburgh Pirates dropped a 6-2 game to the Philadelphia Phillies. This extends their losing streak to four games and 12 of the past 14 with 10 consecutive road games to go. Cole (7-10) needed 55 pitches to get through those two innings and was erratic walking four batters and allowing four hits. Though the damage all came in a five-run second inning, Cole was actually given a 1-0 lead when Gregory Polanco reached base on a force play when ... Read More
Sean Rodriguez’s home run leads Pirates to victory
It was a short night for Cincinnati Reds pitcher Ross Ohlendorf. At PNC Park, Ohlendorf's outing Friday night lasted all of four pitches — on a mound that previously served as home. This time, though, it wasn't so kind. The Pittsburgh Pirates' Sean Rodriguez led off the bottom of the ninth inning with a game-winning home run on a 2-1 fastball to secure the 3-2 victory over the Reds (44-64). Pittsburgh is now 54-53 on the season. The homer was Rodriguez's 11th of the season, and he's now ... 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