Gar Bercury — For much of the past two seasons, when it came to the ninth inning and the Pirates needed a closer to finish the job, Jason Grilli was the constant, the reliable one they could depend on. In fact, before last season's forearm injury that put Grilli on the DL for over a month, he was basically automatic. Grilli was the portrait of consistency, converting 25 of 25 save opportunities before the injury. All this was being done on a team that would eventually earn their first ... Read More
Cumpton Unable to Get Run Support in 2-1 Loss to Reds
Brandon Cumpton gave another solid spot start for the Pirates allowing only two runs in seven innings of work, but the run support wasn't there yet again in a Bucs 2-1 loss to the Reds on Thursday afternoon. Cumpton experienced trouble in the first by walking Joey Votto and allowing a hit to Brandon Phillips. However, he would get out of the inning clean by striking out Jay Bruce and getting Todd Frazier to fly out. Cumpton would then retire 12 of the next 15 batters he faced until the sixth ... Read More
Big Inning Hurts Morton Again in 5-2 Pirates Loss
Charlie Morton became victim of the big inning once again as the Reds struck for three in the fifth en route to a 5-2 victory over the Pirates on Wednesday night. The Pirates held leads of 1-0 and 2-1 thanks to a bases loaded walk by Travis Snider in the first and an Andrew McCutchen solo shot in the third. The solo shot for Cutch was his third homer in as many games as the centerfielder remains the only offense for the Bucs as of late. "There's times when our approach has been good," said ... Read More
Pirates Gameday 4/23: Lineups, Hurdle Talks Walker, Pinch Hitting Success
Good afternoon from PNC Park where the Pirates (9-12) look to secure at least a series split with the Reds (9-11). Charlie Morton (0-2, 4.32 ERA) takes the hill against Alfredo Simon (2-1, 0.86 ERA). Tomorrow's Starter Undecided Manager Clint Hurdle said that the team has not declared a spot-starter for tomorrow afternoon's series finale against the Reds. However, it can be speculated that Brandon Cumpton will be that guy as he has been scratched from his start tonight for AAA ... Read More
Pirates Owned by Cueto in 4-1 Defeat
Johnny Cueto exercised his PNC demons from last year as he went the distance defeating the Pirates 4-1 on Tuesday night in front of 11,926 fans. Pirates starter Edinson Volquez virtually matched Cueto for six innings before allowing the Reds to break through in the seventh. Jay Bruce and Todd Frazier both singled to lead off the inning and scored on a Brayan Pena RBI single. He looked to have had a double, but was called out on a challenge by Pirates manager Clint Hurdle. Frazier would later ... Read More
Polanco Leads Strong Core of Minor Leaguers
Indianapolis (12-5) - Gregory Polanco enters today first in the International League in batting average (.406)...Polanco also leads the International League in hits (28) and is tied for fourth in total bases (42)...Polanco has hit safely in 14 of his first 17 games of the season...Brandon Cumpton enters today sixth in the International League in ERA (1.42)...Casey Sadler if fifth among International League starters in baserunners per 9.0 innings pitched (8.55). Altoona (6-9) - Elias Diaz has ... Read More
Pirates Gameday 4/22: Lineups, Hurdle Talks Hot Hitting
Good afternoon from PNC Park where today the Pirates look to build on last night's 6-5 walk-off victory over the Reds. Edinson Volquez (1-0, 1.71 ERA) faces Johnny Cueto (1-2, 1.50 ERA) in Cueto's first appearance at PNC since last October's NL Wild Card game. Suspensions Handed Out The MLB has announced the suspensions of players involved in Sunday's Easter Brawl during the third inning of the Pirates-Brewers matchup. Martin Maldonado was issued a 5-game suspension for striking Travis Snider. ... Read More
Walker Walks-Off Reds 6-5
Neil Walker's two out single in the bottom of the ninth capped off a back-and-forth battle between the Reds and Pirates that saw the Bucs get the last laugh in a 6-5 victory on Monday night. It was a game that saw the Reds take control early thanks to RBI's by Brandon Phillips and Todd Frazier in the first and third innings only to see the Pirates strike back on four straight pitches in the fourth that was capped off by an Ike Davis grand slam. "I don't think we had him breaking the bat on the ... Read More
Pirates Gameday 4/21: Lineups, Snider Comments on Brawl
Good afternoon from PNC Park where today the Pirates (8-11) start a four game series with the Cincinnati Reds (8-10). Francisco Liriano (0-3, 3.96 ERA) will look for his first win of the season against Mike Leake (2-1, 2.95 ERA). Travis Snider on Yesterday's Brawl On how the confrontation started -- "When I saw Carlos Gomez take his helmet off and push the umpire to the side acting like he's going to physically do something to our pitcher who said something to him and walked away. That's ... Read More
Wandy Rodriguez to the 15-Day DL with Right Knee Inflammation
Wandy Rodriguez has been placed on the 15-Day disabled list with right knee inflammation. Hurdle on the injury -- "Wand is not sure how he hurt his knee. He had gone to the training room after his last start and complained of some right knee discomfort. They scheduled a MRI appointment for today. He saw a doctor and said he felt it a couple of times in his last start and didn't think anything of it. They extracted a large volume of fluid from his knee today." Hurdle on a replacement for ... Read More