Scoring four or more runs is normally a winning recipe for the Pittsburgh Pirates as the team entered play 69-13 when accomplishing this, however the Chicago Cubs were able to overcome this for a 9-6 victory Sunday afternoon. “If you come on the short end you want other teams to beat you," manager Clint Hurdle said. "We continued to get in our way. We didn’t play a very good game and we’ve been outplayed these past three games.” The game's result also was coupled with a left knee injury ... Read More
AM Joe: Bucs get a day off after series win
Good morning, Pittsburgh. Here's your day in sports for Monday, September 14, 2015. What's on tap for today: Pitt (2-0) head coach Pat Narduzzi will have his first press conference since the Panthers beat Akron on Saturday at 1 p.m. The Pirates (86-56) are off today. They start a four-game series with the Chicago Cubs (82-60) with a day/night doubleheader tomorrow. The Cubs are four games behind the Pirates for the first NL Wild Card spot. The Pirates trail the Cardinals by 2.5 games for the ... Read More
Bucs come back to beat Brewers in extras
Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle had a speaking engagement for 6:30 and dinner with his family two hours later. Both were in jeopardy. With Sunday afternoon's game in the 11th inning and runners on the corners with one out, the defense shifted into double play depth. “You’re gambling," Hurdle said. "You’ve got the game on the line.” The result was an inning-ending double play and Jared Hughes, pumped his fist from the mound after the play unfolded. “When the ball goes off the ... Read More
Pirates pregame 9/13: Harrison regaining offensive stride, Morse finds success
The Pittsburgh Pirates will look for another series win in this afternoon's contest against the Milwaukee Brewers. After dropping the first game by a 6-4 score in 13 innings, the Pirates came back to win 6-3 and 10-2. In this afternoon's game, Francisco Liriano will face Taylor Jungmann. Liriano is 6-6 with a 4.26 ERA in 15 career games [14 starts] against the Brewers. He is 0-2 with a 4.85 ERA in two starts this year. In his last start, Liriano got a win against the Cincinnati Reds ... Read More
Pirates division title hopes waning after sweep by Brewers
The Pittsburgh Pirates were swept for the sixth time this season after losing 5-3 Thursday night to the Milwaukee Brewers. This is the second second-half sweep for the Brewers against the Pirates. This is the first time since June 20, that the Pirates have lost a game started by Francisco Liriano. Liriano [9-7] allowed four runs on seven hits in five innings. Domingo Santana recorded a double and Jason Rogers, who walked in the at-bat prior, advanced to third base. Hernan Perez hit a ... Read More
Harrison, Polanco star in Pirates victory
Josh Harrison came into his eighth inning pinch-hit appearance with hits in just two of his last 14 at bats, but when the Pittsburgh Pirates needed him most, he came through. Harrison’s RBI single off Scott Oberg scored the go-ahead run and resulted in a 5-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Friday evening. "You've got to be ready when you're pinch-hitting," Harrison said. "If you get a pitch you think you can handle, you put a swing on it. I just wanted to stay fastball ready and ... Read More
Pirates pregame 8/22: Kang continues to progress with his English
It was a night to forget for Jeff Locke as the Pittsburgh Pirates fell to the San Francisco Giants by a 6-4 score last night. Locke surrendered a career-high 11 hits in five innings of work. He missed in location repeatedly early in the game and the Giants made him pay. The most notable hit was a 418-foot home run hit by his mound counterpart, Madison Bumgarner, his fifth of the season. This afternoon Gerrit Cole [14-7 2.61 ERA] will face Mike Leake [9-6 3.52 ERA]. Cole is 3-0 with a ... Read More
Pirates pregame 8/21: Harrison excited about opportunity to rejoin team
The Pittsburgh Pirates won the first game of their four-game series against the San Francisco Giants by a 4-0 score Thursday night to go a season-high 25 games over .500. Jeff Locke [6-7 4.31 ERA] will start tonight for the Pirates. He is 0-0 with an 8.68 ERA in two career starts against the Giants. In his last start, he allowed one run on four hits in 5.1 innings against the New York Mets in a no-decision. Locke has not pitched six innings since July 19 against the Milwaukee ... Read More
Harrison recalled from rehab assignment
Prior to Friday night's contest against the San Francisco Giants, the Pittsburgh Pirates recalled Josh Harrison from his rehab assignment with Triple-A Indianapolis. The corresponding move for Harrison was to designate Josh Wall for assignment. Harrison was placed on the disabled list July 6 with left thumb surgery and the Pirates posted a 25-13 record in his absence. Wall never had the opportunity to pitch for the Pirates through he did throw in the bullpen during the ninth inning of ... Read More
Pirates pregame 8/20: Morton works on confidence
Earlier in the season, the Pittsburgh Pirates swept a road series against the San Francisco Giants. The Pirates hope to do the same in a four-game series that begins tonight. In tonight’s game, Charlie Morton [7-4 4.36 ERA] takes on Jake Peavy [3-5 4.18 ERA]. Morton is 3-4 with a 2.84 ERA in 11 career starts against the Giants. In his last start Morton earned a no-decision allowing three runs [two earned] on four hits in 6.4 innings against the New York Mets. Morton's journey this ... Read More