PITTSBURGH, Pa. -- Being a bench player, and not getting the opportunity to play everyday can be a tough adjustment for a young athlete. But for Michael McKenry, he's made the transission look smooth as the Pirates No. 2 catcher. Sunday at PNC Park was only McKenry's second start of the 2013 season, but he made the most out of that opportunity by blasting two home runs in the 10-7 comeback win. "That's not the easiest position for a young player to be in," Manager Clint Hurdle said. "Second ... Read More
Irwin battles nerves in Major League debut
PITTSBURGH, Pa. -- The first time a player takes the field for their Major League debut, a lot of things race through their mind. Everything slows down. Their heart feels like it's beating through their chest. Raw emotions. Pirates Manager Clint Hurdle remembers that feeling all to well when he stepped onto the grass back in September of 1977 for the Kansas City Royals. "It's one of the best things I've experienced," Hurdle said. "It's a life highlight. It's a priceless memory. For me, it was ... Read More
Reds can’t capitalize as Pirates take game two of three-game set
It wasn't that the Pirates outplayed the Reds on Saturday night. Actually, it was anything but. If you watched the game, the Pirates were outplayed in every facet. Fortunately for the Pirates and the fans, the Pirates were able to win the only category that mattered in a 2-1 victory. Looking at the match up, it wasn't in the Pirates favor as they entered PNC Park. Johnny Cueto, one of the top pitchers in baseball, was going for the Reds. Jeff Locke, a mystery at this point, was taking the ... Read More
Yinzer of the Week: Starling Marte
Even though the Pirates have had a rough start to their baseball season, one player on the team is shining. That player is the youngster in the outfield, Starling Marte. So far this young season, Marte is batting .350 with 4 RBI's, 14 hits, 7 runs and two stolen bases. He also has an on-base percentage of .395 and a slugging percentage of .450. He's also hitting .500 with runners in scoring position, and .333 with runners on and two outs. He currently leads the Pirates in batting average, hits, ... Read More
McCutchen picks up the Pirates with go-ahead blast in Win
PITTSBURGH, Pa. -- After taking a 5-1 lead over Cincinnati in the bottom of the second inning, things looked to be in the Pirates favor at PNC Park on Friday night. But the hitter heavy lineup of the Reds scratched and clawed to make the game interesting. The Pirates plated four runs in a five hit second inning against their rival Reds. That lead slowly dwindled after starter A.J. Burnett allowed two more runs to Cincinnati, and infielder Brandon Phillip's homerun tied the game up at 5 in the ... Read More
Pirates Notebook: Leroux’s struggle opens up the first of several possible roster moves
PITTSBURGH, Pa. -- Prior to the game on Friday, the Pirates recalled right-handed reliever Bryan Morris from Triple-A Indianapolis and designated righty Chris Leroux for assignment. "We've got another move that could be pending here sooner than later," Manager Clint Hurdle said. "This move, to have the flexibility, can help impart the next move, and there very well could be a third move. I don't know the length. Bryan sat down in that chair, and we told him that it could be temporary, it ... Read More
Baseball is his love, but Russell Martin is no stranger to hockey
Baseball is known as America's pastime. The game was the most popular sport in America in the 19th and 20th century. Regardless of football's popularity in our country today, America will always be represented by baseball. As you may have heard, in the Great White North of Canada, hockey rules all. Hockey has caught on in a big way in the United States, while baseball has made its mark on Canada as well. The Pirates new catcher, Russell Martin, is one of many Canadians that enjoy both. Growing ... Read More
Pirates unable to sweep D’backs, lose 10-2
Tom Singer - Sometimes you're the broom, and sometimes you're the mess. The Pirates had no trouble deciding which they were on Wednesday, when they entered Chase Field hoping to sweep the D-backs and instead were whisked out of town. With Jonathan Sanchez looking nothing like the left-hander who impressed in Spring Training and in his first start of the season, the Bucs took a 10-2 series-ending loss on the chin. The haymakers were delivered by A.J. Pollock, who drove in four with a ... Read More
Pirates get swept at hands of Dodgers
The Pirates' stay in Dodger Stadium, appropriately overrun with movie and television glitterati all weekend, was like a lot of other Hollywood productions: Based on a true story. But still a little hard to believe. With Korean rookie left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu extending their torment on Sunday, the Bucs were swept out of Chavez Ravine, 6-2. Jeff Locke, the Pirates' own young southpaw, couldn't quite keep up with Ryu, allowing four runs -- three of them delivered by Adrian Gonzalez -- in six ... Read More
Pirates offense struggles again; shutout by Dodgers
The Pirates dropped their third game of the season Friday night against the Los Angeles Dodgers, and once again the offense was nonexistent. Jonathan Sanchez was given the ball for his first start as a Pirate. He actually did pretty well. For a guy whose ERA was over eight last season, Sanchez looked decent for a fourth starter. He pitched five innings and allowed three runs. One of the runs was an absolute bomb given up to Andre Ethier, and the other two were driven in by Matt Kemp and ... Read More