Charlie Morton put together his strongest start since the 2nd of July, but the Pirate bullpen imploded allowing the Marlins to take the first game of the eight-game homestand 6-3 on Tuesday night. Morton went seven strong innings after working out of two jams. With runners on first and second with one out in the second, Morton induced a fly out and a ground out to end the inning. He worked out of another jam in the fourth after the Marlins tied things at one. With runners on the corners, ... Read More
McCutchen speaks about his injury
Andrew McCutchen spoke prior to the Pirates series-opener against the Marlins about the injury he sustained in the final game of the series at Arizona. It was reported on Monday that McCutchen sustained a serious oblique injury that could have kept him from the field for three to four weeks, but that was not the case as the actual injury McCutchen sustained while taking a swing in the seventh inning was "an avulsion fracture involving the costochondral cartilage of the left 11th rib." An ... Read More
Pirates Gameday 8/5: Injury Update, Hurdle discusses galvanization
Good afternoon from PNC Park where this evening the Pirates (59-52) begin an 8-game homestand against the Marlins (54-57). Charlie Morton (5-10, 3.54 ERA) will look for his first victory since July 2 against Brad Hand (2-3, 4.15 ERA). Injury Update Andrew McCutchen has been diagnosed with an "avulsion fracture involving the costochondral cartilage of the left 11th rib." Meaning the cartilage of the rib was torn off. The team currently doesn't plan on putting McCutchen on the 15-day DL because ... Read More
Is Alvarez done at third?
Pedro Alvarez has been struggling at the hot corner all season, producing a league-leading 24 errors, most coming from overthrows to first base. The frustrations have seemed to carry over to the offensive side where Alvarez is struggling with a .235/.402/.724 slash with 15 home runs, 45 RBI and 95 strikeouts. This has led to him being taken out of games or benched all together. With Josh Harrison playing out of his mind at the moment -- .303/.498/.840 slash line with a 7-game XBH streak -- ... Read More
Pirates use late-inning outburst to beat DBacks 9-4
The Pirates scored eight runs over the final two innings to comeback and defeat the Diamondbacks 9-4 on Friday night. Down 4-1 with one out in the eighth, the Pirates (58-51) started the comeback. Josh Harrison tripled and scored on an Andrew McCutchen RBI double. Pedro Alvarez then hit a pinch-hit 2 RBI double to tie things at four. They would be far from done as they put five more runs up in the top of the ninth. Jordy Mercer gave the Pirates the lead with a RBI double. Michael Martinez, ... Read More
Pirates stay put at trade deadline
For the second-straight year, the Pirates didn't make any major moves at the trade deadline. Pirates GM Neal Huntington and the front office were in numerous talks with other teams as reports had them asking for the likes of Lester, Price, Lackey, Bonifacio and various bullpen arms. At the end of the day, however, the asking price was too high for them as the Pirates would have needed to let go a package deal that included the likes of Josh Bell, Tyler Glasnow, Jameson Taillon, Alan Hanson , ... Read More
Pirates claim RHP Angel Sanchez from White Sox
The Pirates made their first minor move of the trade deadline in claiming AA RHP Angel Sanchez from the White Sox. Sanchez has played between the Marlins, Rays and White Sox AA affiliates this season posting a combined 2-12 record with a 6.60 ERA while posting a 1.607 WHIP and striking out 54. To make room for Sanchez on the 40-man roster, the Pirates have designated RHP Josh Wall for assignment. Stay with PSN all day as the 4 PM trade deadline nears. Follow @TBerardi_OVA (Photo ... Read More
Cardinals trade for starters
In the Past 24 hours, the Cardinals have traded for two starting pitchers in Justin Masterson and John Lackey while the Pirates look for their first acquisition. Masterson was 4-6 with a 5.51 ERA in 19 starts for the Indians this year while posting a 1.653 WHIP and striking out 93. He hasn't made a start since July 7th due to a sore knee, but will start Saturday against the Brewers. Lackey was 11-7 with a 3.60 ERA in 21 starts for the Red Sox while posting a 1.231 WHIP and striking out ... Read More
Mental errors cost Pirates in 7-5 loss
A major baserunning gaffe and a wide-throw on a wild pitch proved costly as the Pirates fell to the Giants 7-5 on Wednesday afternoon. With the Pirates (57-50) ahead 5-4 with one out in the sixth inning and Travis Snider and Gaby Sanchez on second and third, Chris Stewart walked. Snider didn't realize first base was unoccupied and started walking towards third. The Giants realized what was happening and tagged out Snider for the second out. Sanchez saw the play unfold and tried to get into a ... Read More
Liriano quiets Giants in Pirates 3-1 win
The Pirates have pulled to within one game of the NL Central lead with a 3-1 victory over the Giants on Tuesday night. The Pirates (57-49) scored early for a second night in a row against Tim Hudson as they scored once in the first and twice in the second. Josh Harrison started things off with a lead-off home run to right . They got another big blast in the second from Travis Snider when he followed an Ike Davis single with a home run to right to extend the lead to 3-0. From there, Hudson ... Read More