It all innocently started in Detroit when Tigers manager Brad Ausmus discussed whether pitchers or catchers were more accountable for a stolen base. Ausmus, a catcher for 18 years in Major League Baseball, provided the opinion that it was all on the pitcher. "It’s how much the pitchers vary their holds, delivery time to the plate, how deliberate they are with their delivery," Ausmus said. "There’s all types of things, but base stealers steal off the pitcher.” Accountability on stolen bases is ... Read More
Locke falters after rain delay in Pirates loss
The St. Louis Cardinals used a four-run fifth after a 36-minute rain delay to defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates by a 4-1 score. Jeff Locke [5-5] allowed two hits through four innings before the four-run inning. Randal Grichuk led off the inning with a single and Xavier Scruggs reached after a Jordy Mercer error. Carlos Martinez [10-3] moved both runners over with a sacrifice bunt and then Matt Carpenter's single put the first two Cardinals runs on the scoreboard. Yadier Molina was responsible ... Read More
Pirates pregame 7/9: Cardinals arrive for highly anticipated series
In the series some are calling "the main event", the Pittsburgh Pirates will begin a four-game series tonight against the St. Louis Cardinals. This is a match-up between the lone two teams to win 50 games this season. The Pirates are coming off their first sweep of the San Diego Padres in Pittsburgh since 1994 and won each of the three games in come from behind fashion. The Cardinals meanwhile were down to their last strike in last night's game before Jhonny Peralta hit a two-run home run that ... Read More
Pirates bats come through in eighth inning to secure sweep
Andrew Cashner was nearly unhittable for seven innings. A night after driving in the go-ahead run in the bottom of the eight, Gregory Polanco did it again in a 5-2 Pittsburgh Pirates victory over the San Diego Padres. With the win, the Pirates earned their first sweep of the Padres since April 12-14, 1994. “Cashner was tough and we weren’t getting a lot of good pitches to hit," manager Clint Hurdle said. "We took it professional and didn’t take it personal and we kept showing up and ... 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
Polanco triple helps snaps Pirates home skid against Padres
A Gregory Polanco triple in the bottom of the eighth inning allowed the Pittsburgh Pirates to take a 3-2 victory against the San Diego Padres. "It was a pretty swing and he had a lot of good swings all night," manager Clint Hurdle said. The victory ends a 14-series losing streak to the Padres at PNC Park. "We can knock this one off our to-do list," said Hurdle. "It's a long time coming." Francisco Liriano had a ball deflect off his right arm and dealt with a long rain delay, however ... Read More
Pirates pregame: Bucs can clinch elusive series win over Padres tonight
The Pittsburgh Pirates won its series opener against the San Diego Padres in dramatic fashion as Pedro Alvarez hit a game-winning single in the bottom of the ninth to take the game by a 2-1 margin. Though manager Clint Hurdle tried to quiet a reporter when talks of a series win against the Padres came up it is hard to ignore that the past 14 series played at PNC Park have not gone in favor of the home team. “We’re due," Hurdle said. "It’s not the law of averages, it’s just that we’re due. ... Read More
It’s time for the Pirates to promote Alen Hanson
Now is the time for the Pittsburgh Pirates to bring up second baseman Alen Hanson from AAA Indianapolis. Josh Harrison is on the disabled list, and Starling Marte might be right behind him. Gregory Polanco, meanwhile, is struggling to get on base. Those are the top three Pirates in stolen bases this season, all either injured or underperforming. Hanson, who was Baseball America’s seventh best Pirate prospect prior to the start of the season, could help fix the club’s woes between the ... Read More
Four Pirates selected to MLB All-Star Game
The Pittsburgh Pirates met prior to Monday night's game with the San Diego Padres for an annual tradition, a meeting led by manager Clint Hurdle to determine which players made the 2015 MLB All-Star Game. This year the magic number was four as A.J. Burnett, Gerrit Cole, Andrew McCutchen and Mark Melancon each made the team. “To be able to place four men on the All-Star team, I think we represented our city and our team," Hurdle said. "I believe they will go in and represent the National ... Read More
Alvarez hits walk-off single to lead Pirates past Padres
Pedro Alvarez's RBI single in the bottom of the ninth brought home Andrew McCutchen as the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the San Diego Padres 2-1 in walk-off fashion. The Pittsburgh Pirates entered Monday night having lost its past 14 series to the San Diego Padres. “I just tried to compete," Alvarez said. "I was just trying to see a pitch up and put hard contact on it.” In this game, the Padres struck first in the second inning. Yonder Alonso had a one-out walk and a Jedd Gyorko single ... Read More