It was not a home game for the Pittsburgh Pirates, however you could not tell in the 14th inning. Fans celebrated Chris Stewart's pinch-hit single and started a Let's Go Bucs chant after a Sean Rodriguez RBI. When the umpires departed by the tunnel, the Pirates defeated the New York Mets by a 5-3 score in 14 innings Saturday night. This is the seventh consecutive extra innings win for the Pirates who are also 5-0 against the Mets this season. It was not an easy victory for the Pirates who ... Read More
Ailing hand holds Marte out
Pirates left fielder Starling Marte will not start tonight's series finale against the Saint Louis Cardinals with a hand injury. The injury, which flared up during last night's game, has been bothering him off and on, according to manger Clint Hurdle. The team characterized the injury as a left hand bruise and Marte is day-to-day. Travis Ishikawa will start in left field in Marte's place. Jung Ho Kang will move up to Marte's usual cleanup spot in the batting order. Marte left the team’s ... Read More
Pirates slug 12 hits in victory
The Chicago Cubs used a three-run sixth inning to tie the game while the Pittsburgh Pirates were using its third pitcher of the inning, Antonio Bastardo. Bastardo [3-1] faced pinch-hitter Chris Coghlan with the bases loaded and two outs. Coghlan grounded out on the first pitch keeping the score tied at four. The Pirates would respond following the out and won by a 7-5 score. “The absolute biggest pitch of the night for me," manager Clint Hurdle said. "It was a real efficient one-pitch ... Read More
Pirates earn split; Morton wins for first time since June
Charlie Morton had not won a start since June 27 and a road contest since June 5. Both of those changed as the Pittsburgh Pirates won 3-0 against the Cincinnati Reds. The Pirates victory means that both teams split the four-game series. Morton [7-4] set the side down in order on six pitches in the first inning and struck out the side in the second. He allowed two base runner, Ivan DeJesus Jr. in the third inning and Eugenio Suarez in the seventh inning to reach scoring position. He ... Read More
Pirates win series in front of sellout crowd
Up by two runs with starter Gerrit Cole out of the game, Tony Watson faced Bryce Harper with two on and two out. Harper hit a ground ball that Sean Rodriguez read off a hop and ran to the bag to record the third out. “It was one of those in-between ones," Rodriguez said. "That was basically one of those that if I get to it then there’s no play at first but I could at least keep a run from scoring. I took that chance and [Walker] said it was the right read.” The Pittsburgh Pirates took ... Read More
Bucs walk it off again with 10th-inning rally
Of all times to get first career walkoff hit, Gregory Polanco decided to do it in front of a national audience. His 10th inning single was part of a three-run inning and the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 6-5. The Pirates will go into the All-Star Break with a 53-35 record and trail the Cardinals by just 2.5 games in the National League Central after taking three games of a four-game series. “This series has been crazy," Francisco Cervelli said. "Four playoff like ... Read More
Pirates pregame 7/11: Marte back in the lineup
The Pittsburgh Pirates evened its series against the St. Louis Cardinals winning a 5-2 game Friday night. Now the ball gets handed to A.J. Burnett who enters tonight's start with the lowest home ERA [1.28] among all National League pitchers. Burnett has been a problem to opposing teams as evidenced by his four runs allowed in the past five starts. His next strikeout allows him to pass Mark Langston and take sole possession of 34th place on the all-time list. In his last start, Burnett had ... Read More
Pirates pregame 7/8: Don’t Stop Believin’
The Pittsburgh Pirates stopped holding onto that losing feeling against the San Diego Padres after a 3-2 victory Tuesday night. Gregory Polanco recorded the game-winning hit, a triple of Joaquin Benoit. In tonight's game, Charlie Morton will face Andrew Cashner. Morton is 4-1 with a 2.65 ERA in six career starts against the Padres. Morton won his start against the Padres earlier this season. He lost his last start against the Cleveland Indians. Morton surrendered three runs on four hits ... Read More
Pirates use long ball to win game; series
The Pirates combined timely hitting with a solid Charlie Morton outing, winning Tuesday night by a 3-0 score over the Chicago White Sox. In the two games the Pirates hosted at home, their outhit the White Sox 28-6. Morton earned his fifth win of the season in as many starts. He threw seven scoreless innings allowing four hits on 94 pitches and 65 were strikes. Morton retired 13 batters on three pitches or less and had 12 ground ball outs. Morton's main trouble came in the first inning when ... Read More
Burnett goes nine innings; Pirates walk off in extra innings
For a second time in three days, fans at PNC Park were treated to a pitcher's duel from both sides. In the end an 11th inning Josh Harrison walk-off single scored Neil Walker and resulted in a 1-0 victory. The victory secured a series sweep for the Pirates. Cole Hamels had his best start of the season with the Phillies allowing no runs on four hits in seven innings. His 12 strikeouts were a season high and most since September 14, 2010 when he had 13. He threw seven innings and allowed ... Read More