For teams competing for the playoffs, every series is important. When the series is against a team first in their respective division, the stakes get higher. But for the Pittsburgh Pirates who have three straight series coming up against divisional leaders, the stretch could be a make or break one. Starting Friday, they have consecutive three game sets against the Los Angeles Dodgers, the St. Louis Cardinals and the New York Mets – all currently in first place of their division. The ... Read More
Cardinals trade for starters
In the Past 24 hours, the Cardinals have traded for two starting pitchers in Justin Masterson and John Lackey while the Pirates look for their first acquisition. Masterson was 4-6 with a 5.51 ERA in 19 starts for the Indians this year while posting a 1.653 WHIP and striking out 93. He hasn't made a start since July 7th due to a sore knee, but will start Saturday against the Brewers. Lackey was 11-7 with a 3.60 ERA in 21 starts for the Red Sox while posting a 1.231 WHIP and striking out ... Read More
Cumpton’s struggles lead to third straight loss for Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates' hot streak has been doused in the Midwest at the hand of a division rival. For the third straight night, the Pirates have fallen victim to the St. Louis Cardinals, this time to the tune of 5-2. The Cards (50-42) struck early, plating two runs in the first inning after the Pirates were sat down in order in the opening frame. With two on and one out, Matt Adams drove in two runs despite being thrown out trying to stretch a double into a triple. The play, made by ... Read More
Pirates Come From Behind, Beat Cardinals 5 – 4
PNC Park – Russell Martin hit an eighth inning RBI single to complete a Pirates comeback in which they were down two runs on two different occasions on Wednesday night. The Battlin’ Bucs trailed 2 – 1 after an inning, 3 – 1 after 2 ½ and 4 – 2 after 3 1/2, but they stayed resilient as they answered each Cardinal run with one of their own to make it 3 – 2 and 4 – 3. It was an off night for Jeff Locke as he faced 5+ batters in each of the four innings that he pitched. The Cardinals got on ... Read More
Bucco Gameday: Huntington Talks Deadline, McKenry Shut Down For Season
PNC Park – The Pirates (64 – 42), fresh off of a sweep of yesterday’s double header, look to make it four in-a-row over the Cardinals (62 – 43) and extend their NL Central lead to 2 ½ games. Jeff Locke (9 – 3, 2.15 ERA) will take on Adam Wainwright (13 – 6, 2.51 ERA). 4pm today marked the non-waiver trade deadline for the MLB and the Pirates have appeared to remain in-tact as they did not make any moves before the deadline. Neil Huntington talked about not making a move: “We looked ... Read More
Pirates Pull Within 1/2 Game Behind Cardinals With 9-2 Win
PNC Park – The Pirates started off their 5-game in four day stretch against the first place Cardinals with a dominating 9 - 2 victory Monday night bringing them to within a ½ game of the Cards for the NL Central Lead. Francisco Liriano helped his Cy Young chances by throwing 7 innings of two-hit, one run ball while striking out eight. He experienced a bit of trouble in the fourth when he allowed back-to-back singles with one out. He would then strike out Allen Craig and Yadier Molina to end the ... Read More
Is This The Biggest Series in PNC Park History?
One can say that PNC hosted some pretty important series over the last year, but nothing compares to this as the Pirates have a shot at taking first place from their opponent. (Worth noting: The Bucs did have an opportunity like this last season, but that series took place in Cincinnati.) The last time Pittsburgh witnessed something like this, you would have to look all the way back to July 10th-13th of 1997 when the Bucs started the second half of the season in first place by a game over the ... Read More
Pirates led by Martin, Jones and Locke in blowout win over Cardinals
ST. LOUIS -- Clint Hurdle always calls baseball, alternately, a funny or a wonderful game. This episode probably qualifies as both. Jeff Locke began the season as the Pirates' No. 5 starter, and now is riding a scoreless streak of 13 innings after going the first seven on Sunday as the Bucs downed the Cardinals, 9-0, to vault over St. Louis in the National League Central. It can be reasonably assumed that Locke has earned a promotion to the No. 4 slot, previously occupied by Jonathan ... Read More
Giant Comeback Completed – San Francisco advances to World Series
San Francisco will be back in the World Series for the second time in three years thanks to three straight wins over St. Louis in elimination games. The Giants are 6-0 in elimination games this postseason, something the Cardinals had done last year on their way to the title. The Giants put this game out of reach early and with the help of Matt Cain and his fellow bullpen teammates as they were able to keep the Cardinals from pulling off another deciding-game comeback. Cain went 5 2/3 innings ... Read More