A return to PNC Park didn't help the Pittsburgh Pirates, as they lost 9-2 to the Los Angeles Angels. The loss is the Pirates' fourth-straight and fifth in the past six games. Once again, Francisco Liriano (4-5) struggled with command and location. The end result was an early exit — he lasted a season-low 3.1 innings after allowing seven runs (six earned) on 10 hits. The Angels wasted no time setting the tone in the game, as Mike Trout and Johnny Giavotella each had RBI singles in a ... Read More
Pirates lose game, series to Marlins in extra innings
Thursday night, the Pittsburgh Pirates lost their third-consecutive game to the Miami Marlins, falling 4-3 in extra innings. But perhaps the biggest news from the game came with the injury report: Francisco Cervelli, Andrew McCutchen, David Freese and Jordy Mercer all left the game with various injuries. Cervelli injured his foot and left in the third inning, McCutchen left the game in the sixth inning with general thumb discomfort, Mercer was hit by a pitch on the elbow and left in the ninth ... Read More
Pirates lose second straight to Marlins
The Pittsburgh Pirates fell 3-2 Wednesday night to the Miami Marlins ensuring at best a series split. In the game, it was setup man Tony Watson (1-1) who allowed the game-winning run on an Adeiny Hechavarria double that scored former Pirate Miguel Rojas. The Marlins had a 2-0 lead Christian Yelich batted in a run with a fielder's choice and Jonathon Niese had a wild pitch to plate Martin Prado. Niese had a no-decision allowing the two runs on six hits in five innings. He did not have ... Read More
Cole outpitched by Fernandez in Pirates loss
Normally highly anticipated pitching match-ups do not live up to their billing, but for six innings, Gerrit Cole and Jose Fernandez battled zero for zero. It was Cole who flinched first in a 3-1 Pittsburgh Pirates loss to the Miami Marlins Tuesday night. After Cole (5-4) retired his mound opponent, Ichiro Suzuki recorded a single on a 1-1 offering. On the next pitch, Marlins catcher J.T. Realmuto singled putting a runner in scoring position. This brought Christian Yelich to the plate. ... Read More
Liriano lacks command in Pirates loss to Rangers
Control has been an issue for Francisco Liriano of late and because of this, his success as a pitcher has hit a snag. With the Pittsburgh Pirates looking for a series win against the Texas Rangers, command and control once again eluded Liriano in a 6-2 defeat. Liriano (4-4) was given a 2-0 lead which in the past has allowed for him to get into more of a comfortable mindset. Jordy Mercer led off the game with his seventh double of the season and immediately was batted in by Andrew ... Read More
Nicasio struggles as Pirates fall to Rangers
The lone time the Pittsburgh Pirates faced Yu Darvish was Sept. 9, 2013. That date was when the Pirates clinched their first winning season since 1992. It also was the last time Texas Rangers manager Jeff Banister (then the Pirates bench coach), saw Darvish pitch until Saturday night. Darvish was making his return from Tommy John surgery and last pitched Aug. 9, 2014. The Rangers fed off the return with a 5-2 win. Darvish (1-0) allowed a run on three hits in five innings and was on a ... Read More
Pirates’ pitcher Jonathon Niese continues good form in win
With Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Jonathon Niese throwing well lately, people wondered whether his good form could continue at the Texas Rangers' hitter-friendly Globe Life Park. On Friday night, the answer was a resounding "yes," as Niese (5-2) allowed just one run on seven hits in six innings of work and helped the Pirates resoundingly beat the Rangers, 9-1. Lately, Niese has been able to get ground ball outs with more regularity, and this was once again the case Friday — he had 10 ground ... Read More
Pirates Kevin Newman living up to first-round billing
Kevin Newman might not have been the flashiest pick of the 2015 MLB First-Year Player Draft. He is a college shortstop who had never hit a collegiate home run. His ceiling might not be too high. He was the safe selection. Yet, the Pittsburgh Pirates first-round pick keeps producing. Newman’s .347 batting average is second in the Florida State League. He has even hit two home runs for Single-A Bradenton. The 22-year-old could be ready for a call-up to Double-A Altoona in the coming ... Read More
Cole’s pitching, offense leads Pirates to sweep of Diamondbacks
In a game that was expected to be a battle between two high-powered offenses and two high-caliber pitchers, the Pittsburgh Pirates completed the three-game sweep of the Arizona Diamondbacks with a 8-3 win in the series finale at PNC Park this afternoon. In the top of the first inning, the Diamondbacks got the scoring started early; however, it wasn't without a little help from the Pirates defense. On the second pitch of the ball game from Gerrit Cole, Jean Segura hit a foul pop up near the ... Read More
Column: Patient approach leads to another Pirates win
Sometimes it is not what about what is done when a team fails to score a run in any given inning, but there are occasions in which that does not tell the full story. While David Freese's three-run home run will be the talk of this game, perhaps more eyes should be turned to the opening three innings of the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-4 victory Wednesday night over the Arizona Diamondbacks. In those first three innings, the Pirates came away with three hits. No big deal, right? Wrong. The ... Read More