Wandy Rodriguez needed a few innings to get back into form after being sidelined with an injury last year, but the offense wasn't able to bail him out as the Pirates dropped the final game of the opening series to the Chicago Cubs 3-2. The Cubs scored a run in the first three innings off of Wandy as he readjusted to pitching on the big league stage. His last start was June 5th in Atlanta when he was pulled from the game with an arm injury that sidelined him for the rest of the season. Emilio ... Read More
Pirates Gameday 4/3: Lineups, Hurdle Discusses Wandy, Sanchez’s Walk-Off
The Pirates (2-0) look to complete an opening series sweep against the Chicago Cubs (0-2) this afternoon at PNC Park (Weather Permitting). Wandy Rodriguez (6-4, 3.59 ERA in 2013) will face Jason Hammel (7-8, 4.97 ERA in 2013). Hurdle's Quotes On Wandy making his first start reg. season since his injury: We're going to run him out there and he's been in a good place all spring. Every building block he needed to take care of, he was able to take care of throughout March. This will be the next ... Read More
Pirates Walk-Off Cubs Again 4-3 in 16
Charlie Morton did his best Francisco Liriano as the righty fanned 6 batters while working around some jams but, the bullpen was unable to hold the lead and it took 16 innings for the Pirates to finally break through for a 4-3 victory in the longest game ever played in Pittsburgh at 5 hrs, 55 min (Prev. record was 5 hr 49 min vs. Houston on May, 27, 2006). Morton struck five betters out through the first three innings and retired six-straight batters before two errors by Jordy Mercer and ... 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
Liriano Throws 6 Innings Of No-Hit Ball, Pirates Win 3 – 2
Francisco Liriano took a no-hitter into the seventh inning before allowing three straight hits, one being a game-tying homer to Wellington Castillo, but Justin Morneau backed him up with a RBI single in the 8th, propelling the Pirates to a 3 - 2 series-clinching victory on Sunday afternoon. Liriano dominated the Cubs offense through six innings while walking four. He did encounter a jam in the sixth without surrendering a hit. He walked Cubs pitcher, Travis Wood to lead off the inning. Wood ... Read More
Vic Black the PTBNL in Mets Trade, Locke/Sanchez Optioned to AA
A couple of moves have been made by the Pirates prior to tonight's game against the Brewers. They have optioned (C) Tony Sanchez and (LHP) Jeff Locke to AA Altoona to make room for Marlon Byrd and John Buck on the 25-man roster. “This move allows us to give Jeff Locke a short break,” said Senior Vice President, General Manager Neal Huntington. “It also allows Tony Sanchez to get back to the Major Leagues as soon as the rules permit us to do so. In addition, this gives us the opportunity to ... Read More
The Journey of Tony Sanchez
(Photo Credit: Brad Barr-USA TODAY Sports) Most major league catchers make their debut in low-leverage situations. Tony Sanchez made his first career catching start in a larger atmosphere. With back-up catcher, Michael McKenry shut down for the rest of the season, the team looked to Sanchez in the heart of a pennant race. To make things even more interesting, manager, Clint Hurdle set that first start against the St. Louis Cardinals in the middle of the “Biggest series in PNC Park ... Read More
Pirates Gameday: Sanchez Talks Nerves, Hurdle Updates On Wandy
(Photo Credit: UPI/Archie Carpenter) PNC Park – The Pirates (65 – 42) look for a rare 5-game sweep of the second place Cardinals (62 – 44) tonight as Charlie Morton (3 – 2, 3.59 ERA) faces Joe Kelly (1 – 3, 3.44 ERA). Leading Off Tony Sanchez will get the start at catcher tonight as Clint Hurdle is giving Russell Martin a day off to rest his sore knee. Sanchez says things have finally sunk in for him being a Pirate. “It sunk in the second day I was here when me and Vic (Black) we’re walking ... 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