After Francisco Cervelli caught the final strike in the ninth inning of Sunday afternoon's game, the Pittsburgh Pirates not only defeated National League Central rival Milwaukee Brewers 3-1, but clinched a road series sweep for the first time since 2004. While this is reason enough for the Pirates to be satisfied by their extended weekend, the sweep was well timed as now the Pirates are half a game behind the St. Louis Cardinals for a Wild Card Spot. Ivan Nova (10-6, 4.55 ERA) allowed a ... Read More
Pirates tie season best comeback in win
A simple look at the Miller Park scoreboard Saturday night after three innings couldn't have been encouraging for Pittsburgh Pirates fans. The Pirates trailed the Milwaukee Brewers by three runs. But the Pirates were able to come back, putting up crooked numbers in both the fourth and sixth innings to come away with a series-clinching 9-6 victory. Pittsburgh starting pitcher Jameson Taillon made his shortest career major league outing, three innings, after allowing five runs on seven ... Read More
Sixth inning keys Pirates’ 5-3 win vs. Brewers
Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Jordy Mercer turns 30 Saturday, and he decided to give himself an early birthday present: a grand slam, which came in the six inning off Milwaukee Brewers starter Matt Garza. It was Mercer's 10th homer of the season. Mercer's blast helped the Pirates (65-61) secure a 5-3 victory over the Brewers. Garza (4-6, 4.89 ERA) had Mercer in an 0-2 count before the grand slam. This season, Alex Dickerson, Seth Smith and Adam Eaton are the only other Major League players ... Read More
Pirates end Miller Park skid in extra innings
Andrew McCutchen provided all of the offense the Pittsburgh Pirates needed in a 10-inning 3-2 road victory against the Milwaukee Brewers Friday night. This win snapped a nine-game losing streak dating back to July 17, 2015 for the Pirates at Miller Park. Miller Park has not been friendly to the Pirates, who are 41-88 at a place which can be called unfriendly confines. McCutchen started with a first-inning solo home run on a two-out, 3-2 slider over the left field wall. This home run, ... Read More
Pirates lose Wednesday’s game to Astros, 5-4
The Pittsburgh Pirates pulled off an impressive win over the Houston Astros on Tuesday night after losing Monday night to them. However, Wednesday the team fell to the Astros with a 5-4 final score — with the Astros winning the series. Pitching first for the Pirates was Gerrit Cole, and for the Astros, Collin McHugh was on the mound. Houston got on the scoreboard first in the top of the second inning, when Evan Gattis hit a home-run to score himself and Carlos Correa. The Pirates finally ... Read More
Nova leads Pirates’ effort in 7-1 win vs. Astros
Starting pitcher Ivan Nova threw his first complete game since Sept. 21, 2013, and the Pittsburgh Pirates (63-60) ended a four-game losing streak, defeating the Houston Astros (65-61) 7-1 Tuesday night. Nova dominated the Astros, throwing 25 (of 33) first pitch strikes, getting 13 ground balls and 16 batters out on three pitches or fewer. “The command of my pitches worked well,” Nova said. “I was working ahead in the count to almost every hitter, and I was getting a lot of quick ... Read More
Pirates fail to capitalize on Taillon’s outing
Pittsburgh Pirates Jameson Taillon threw a season-high eight innings but came away with a 3-1 loss to his hometown Houston Astros. Taillon (3-3) allowed two runs on four hits in the eight innings and added eight strikeouts. This is Taillon's first loss since July 30, as he allowed four earned runs in 20 innings his past three starts, good for a 1.80 ERA. The difference in this game was a 3-1 fifth-inning fastball Teoscar Hernandez hit into the left-field seats for his third home run of ... Read More
Pirates ink Freese to two-year extension with club option for 2019
The Pittsburgh Pirates announced Monday that they've signed 1B/3B David Freese to a two-year extension beginning in 2017 with a club option for the 2019 season. As first reported by Jon Heyman, Freese will make $6.25 million in 2017, $4.25 million in 2018 and, in 2019, there will be a $6 million team option or a $500 thousand buyout. https://twitter.com/Pirates/status/767793604723081216 “David has been a consummate professional while producing offensively and playing solid defense at both ... Read More
Marlins top Pirates to sweep weekend series
For a second time this season, Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Ryan Vogelsong was down on the ground after not getting a bunt attempt down. This time the result was not as dramatic as Vogelsong fouled a ball on the bunt and was immediately checked on by head athletic trainer Todd Tomczyk and manager Clint Hurdle. "I asked him at the plate if he was good to put it down, and he said he would get it down," Hurdle said. "He's been gritty ever since he's shown up. He's a tough ... Read More
GM Huntington: “Triple-A is a place no one wants to be”
Predictably, prospect Josh Bell and pitcher Gerrit Cole were popular topics when Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Neal Huntington spoke to media Sunday. Below are some highlights of said press conference. On whether Bell's promotion had been planned or was in reaction to Kang's injury: “David Freese is now going to be the third baseman, and that opens up some at-bats at first base. Clint will make the decision on a daily basis with what gives him the best lineup to win that night. We ... Read More