Jeff Locke's quest for a spot in the Pirates rotation took a hit during Tuesday's 13-7 loss to the Houston Astros. On a day when Francisco Liriano was revealed to be the Opening Day pitcher in Cincinnati, Locke pitched three-plus innings, allowing seven hits, six runs and a walk. “I just left some pitches over the plate,” Locke said. “They just fell in.” Locke is battling with Vance Worley for the final position in the Pirates rotation and currently, the Spring Training statistics favor ... Read More
Caminero continues to make case in Pirates victory
Vance Worley pitched four shutout innings in his attempt to create separation in the battle for the fifth spot in the Pittsburgh Pirates starting rotation. The Pirates defeated the Baltimore Orioles 4-2 Sunday to move to 6-5-2 in Spring Training. The game was played in front of 7,603 fans, good for the fourth Pirates sellout of the spring. It was the Pirates that struck first on a first inning Neil Walker double off Wei-Yin Chen to score Josh Harrison. An additional run was tacked on in ... Read More
Pirates earn tie; Vance Worley wins ‘B’ game
The Pittsburgh Pirates moved to 3-2-2 in Spring Training after a 1-1 tie against the Minnesota Twins Monday at McKechnie Field. Gerrit Cole started the game for the Pirates throwing the first three innings and had inconsistencies allowing three walks and two hits. One of those hits was a one-out home run by one of the Twins two top prospects Miguel Sano. Cole did strike out two batters. Additionally, he doubled in a third inning plate appearance. Arquimedes Caminero had another solid ... Read More
Worley strong in Pirates 3-1 win over Reds
The Pirates continue to keep their division title hopes alive with a 3-1 Reds on Friday night behind a strong showing by Vance Worley. Worley pitched into the seventh scattering nine hits, but only allowing one run, a Kristopher Negron RBI single that followed Reds starter Mike Leake's double in the fifth inning. The Reds (74-86) were unable to do anything else as Worley, Jared Hughes, Tony Watson and Mark Melancon (Save #33) held Cincinnati to 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position on ... Read More
Worley, Martin draw Pirates closer to postseason in 1-0 win
A Russell Martin one-out RBI single in the seventh inning was all Vance Worley and Tony Watson needed as the Pirates pulled off a 1-0 victory over the Brewers bringing their playoff magic number down to three. Martin's two-strike, run scoring single — He accounted for four of five Pirates RBI in the series — was the first hit out of the infield as the Pirates (84-71) recorded three infield hits up to that point — two by Josh Harrison and one by Andrew McCutchen to start the inning — against ... Read More
Vance Worley to start on Sunday vs. Brewers
Pirates starter Charlie Morton felt "increased discomfort" due to a sports hernia after his last start and during a bullpen session on Thursday. Vance Worley will start in his place. "My discomfort got noticeably worse during the last batter that I faced in my start," said Morton. "There was three pitches remaining and I felt something that was really abnormal. I threw a pen [Thursday] and it wasn't good. I was hoping I would feel better, but it wasn't, and now we're here." Vance Worley — ... Read More
Power and speed lift Pirates past Phillies
The speed of Andrew McCutchen and the power of Russell Martin helped push the Pirates past the Phillies 6-3 Wednesday night to keep their 1 1/2 game lead in the National League Wild Card race. With the Pirates (76-69) trailing the Phillies 3-2 in the fifth inning, Andrew McCutchen showed everyone his rib injury isn't affecting him as he hit a deep fly that hit off of the heightened wall in left-center field. The ball took an odd bounce towards center allowing McCutchen and his speed to ... Read More
Walker’s first inning homer enough in Pirates 3-2 win
Neil Walker hit a first inning three-run home run and Vance Worley continued a string of strong starts by Pirates pitching as the Bucs held off the Reds 3-2 on Saturday afternoon at PNC Park. Walker came up with runners on first and second after Simon had trouble locating pitches to Andrew McCutchen in a five-pitch walk. Simon then threw a first-pitch fastball to the Pirates second basemen, who deposited the pitch into the right-center field seats for an early 3-0 lead. "After he walked ... Read More
Braves get to Worley early in Pirates 7-3 defeat
The Braves scored six times in the first inning off of Vance Worley as they cruised past the Pirates 7-3 on Monday night. Worley experienced pitch issues at the start allowing lead-off back-to-back home runs from Jason Heyward and Andrelton Simmons. Worley then allowed a walk and three singles to put the Braves quickly up 4-0. The Braves (65-60) added two more in the inning when Neil Walker threw wide of first base on an inning-ending double play attempt. "The first inning, my pitches ... Read More
Harrison/Polanco lead Pirates to 2-1 victory
Josh Harrison and Gregory Polanco provided the offense and Vance Worley went through the sixth inning for the eighth time in nine starts as the Pirates held off the Padres 2-1 on Friday night in front of a sell out crowd at PNC Park. Harrison and Polanco provided the only offense the Pirates (62-53) needed on the night in the first inning when Harrison tripled to lead off the inning. Polanco quickly followed with a RBI single, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by Padres ... Read More