ST. LOUIS -- There are many, as Pirates manager Clint Hurdle likes to say, "beautiful things" about a pennant race. Foremost is the privilege of even participating in one. "We get to do this, we've earned the opportunity to play these meaningful games based on what we've done the entire season," Hurdle elaborated. Another attraction is that a pennant race is a test of will, talent -- and endurance. It is a gauntlet run with the acceptance that there will be mishaps, some major. No one gets ... Read More
St. Louis defeats Pittsburgh 5-0
ST. LOUIS -- The low-hit Jeff Locke was back Saturday night. If only he had been accompanied by the low-walk Locke, the Pirates could have had a better shot at that elusive 82nd win and first place, too. Locke wasn't, they don't and they aren't. With St. Louis ace Adam Wainwright ending his own pitching slump in more dominant fashion by blanking the Bucs on two hits for seven innings, the Cardinals upended the Pirates, 5-0, to push a half-game ahead of them in the National League Central ... Read More
Go Ahead And Enjoy The Ride Pirate Fans
Bias alert, we’ve got a Pirate fan here. If you expect me to be unbiased right now click away from this article because I’m a Pirate fan and I’m proud. I’ll admit it, I’ve been very anxious to see the Pirates officially get a rather large monkey off their backs. Twenty straight losing seasons will do that to a diehard fan. Whether you sit on the side of Tuesday night’s win being the one that ended the streak or the 82nd victory of the season sealing the deal, the bottom line is that the ... Read More
Neal Huntington shows his worth
A year ago today, following a trade deadline that saw the Pirates go out and make “safe” moves for players like Gaby Sanchez and Travis Snider, fans of the Bucs were calling for GM Neal Huntington’s head. The Pirates were in the midst of a second consecutive late-season collapse, their star player was struggling, and the pitching was falling apart. Following the Pirates getting no-hit by Homer Bailey to clinch their 20th consecutive losing season, the future looked not only grim for ... Read More
Pirate of the Week: Marlon Byrd
The Pittsburgh Pirates made headlines this past week with a trade for Marlon Byrd and John Buck. Byrd, who is having his best statistical season, has already been having an impact for the Buccs. After coming over to the Pirates, Byrd has been nothing short of solid. That's why he's this week's Pirate of the Week. Byrd started off his career in Pittsburgh the right way on Wednesday night. Though he only got one hit, that hit was a 3-RBI home run. Not a bad way to start things off with your new ... Read More
Pirates Back In First With 7 – 1 Win Over St. Louis
The Pirates offense continued to dominate Cardinals pitching as they put up 7 runs in a 7 - 1 victory on Saturday night. They put two up in the second inning with two out when A.J. Burnett helped himself with an RBI single scoring Russell Martin. They would get a second run one batter later when Jose Tabata scored Burnett after a wild pitch. They would add five more in the third when Marlon Byrd continued his hot start as a Pirate with an RBI single to score Pedro Alvarez. Russell Martin ... Read More
Pirates Trade Presley, PTBNL, Cash To Twins For Justin Morneau
Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the Pirates have traded OF Alex Presley to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for 1B Justin Morneau. Source: #Pirates acquire Morneau from #Twins for OF Alex Presley. — Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) August 31, 2013 Morneau batted .259 in 159 games with the Twins while hitting 32 doubles, 17 home runs and knocking in 74. The Pirates got the best of this deal as they only gave up Alex Presley, who appeared in only 29 games for the Pirates this season ... Read More
Pirates Back On Top In NL Central With 5 – 0 Victory
Garrett Jones made the most of his first start at first base in a while with a 3-for-4 night with a homer and 4 RBI's and Francisco Liriano continued his dominance of the Cardinals as the Pirates pull back into a tie with St. Louis for first place in the NL Central with a 5 - 0 victory on Friday night. For Jones, it was a breath of fresh air after a few days off. Jones was batting .119 with 2 home runs and 4 RBI before tonight and was given time off to mentally recharge the batteries. That ... Read More
McGuire/Meadows Promoted to Jamestown
Reese McGuire, the Pirates first round pick this year, has been promoted from the GCL Pirates to the Jamestown Jammers of the New York - Penn League and is expected to join the team for the end of the regular season and possible playoff push. In 46 games with the GCL Pirates, McGuire had a .331 batting average with 15 walks, 11 doubles, 21 RBI and 5 stolen bases in 6 chances. It had been a day where McGuire had played in his final GCL game of the season and was preparing to head home, but ... Read More
Pirates Game Day: Hurdle Talks Cutch, Cardinals Series
The Pirates (77 -56) look to get back into a tie for first place in the NL Central as they take on the Cardinals (78 - 55) to start a 3-game series tonight. Francisco Liriano (14 - 6, 2.74 ERA) will face Shelby Miller (12 - 8, 2.90 ERA). Leading Off Rob Biertempfel of the Trib is reporting that Casey Sadler, promoted to Class AAA Indy today, will start in Kris Johnson's place tonight. This means Johnson could be the spot-starter on Sunday in the series finale against the Cardinals. Hurdle's ... Read More