The St. Louis Cardinals jumped on Francisco Liriano early for three runs in the first and the Pirate offense couldn't repeat their 12-run barrage from a night ago in a 6-1 loss on Saturday night. Liriano started off his night allowing three straight hits --including a lead-off single by Matt Carpenter, who was the fifth player in-a-row to lead-off the game with a hit -- and five of the first seven Cardinals to reach base in route to a Pirates 3-0 hole after a half inning. "I tried to use ... Read More
Volquez Aims for Another Good Outing in Sunday Start
Edinson Volquez made positive strides ahead of his start on Sunday against the St. Louis Cardinals with a scoreless relief appearance against the Cubs on Thurdsay. The righty that was signed via free agency over the offseason didn't have the spring that Pirate management and fans hoped as he posted a 0-3 record with a 9.64 ERA in 14 spring training innings. Volquez made his first official Pirates appearance in the seventh inning of Thursday's 3-2 loss to the Cubs. He threw two scoreless innings ... Read More
Pirates Gameday: Lineups, Pirates Management and Hurdle on Extensions
Good afternoon from PNC Park where today the Pirates (3-1) take on the St. Louis Cardinals (2-2) in game 2 of this weekend 3-game series. Francisco Liriano (0-0, 0.00 ERA) will make his second start of the season against Joe Kelly (10-5, 2.69 ERA in 2013). Hurdle, Huntington receive contract extensions It was announced today that GM Neal Huntington and Manager Clint Hurdle were given contract extensions for three years, with club options for the 2018 season. "It's a really good decision," ... Read More
Cole Continues Dominance Over Cardinals in 12-2 Win
Gerrit Cole picked up where he left off against the Cardinals last postseason as he only allowed two runs -- a Matt Carpenter 2-run homer -- in seven strong as the Pirates defeated the Cardinals 12-2. Pedro Alvarez gave his starting pitcher a cushion when he hit solo-shots in his first two at bats. An opposite field shot into the IC Light Seats in the second and a mammoth shot that cleared the right-center field seats and hit off the top of a shaved ice concession stand in the fourth. Travis ... Read More
Pirates Gameday 4/4: Lineups, Hurdle Talks Cole, Cardinals Rivalry
Good afternoon from a rainy PNC Park where tonight the Pirates (2-1) will begin a 3-game series with the defending NL Champion, St. Louis Cardinals (2-1) in a rematch from last year's NLDS. Gerrit Cole (10-7, 3.22 ERA in 2013) will take the hill for the Bucs and will oppose Shelby Miller (15-9, 3.06 ERA in 2013). Hurdle's Quotes On the competitiveness of the Pirates and Cardinals when they face each other -- "Last year, we were 12 and 12 at the end and they won the biggest one which was the ... Read More
Does Travis Snider have a future with the Pirates?
When the Pittsburgh Pirates traded RP Brad Lincoln to the Toronto Blue Jays at the 2012 MLB trade deadline, the deal was not popular with Pirates fans. At the time, the Pirates were sitting pretty at 58-44, just three games back of first place in the National league Central Division. The biggest strength for the team that summer was the surprising bullpen, which had kept an offensively-challenged Pirates team in the division race all season. One piece of the pre-“Shark Tank” bullpen that ... Read More
Pirates Comeback Falls Short in 3-2 Loss to Cubs
Wandy Rodriguez needed a few innings to get back into form after being sidelined with an injury last year, but the offense wasn't able to bail him out as the Pirates dropped the final game of the opening series to the Chicago Cubs 3-2. The Cubs scored a run in the first three innings off of Wandy as he readjusted to pitching on the big league stage. His last start was June 5th in Atlanta when he was pulled from the game with an arm injury that sidelined him for the rest of the season. Emilio ... Read More
Pirates Gameday 4/3: Lineups, Hurdle Discusses Wandy, Sanchez’s Walk-Off
The Pirates (2-0) look to complete an opening series sweep against the Chicago Cubs (0-2) this afternoon at PNC Park (Weather Permitting). Wandy Rodriguez (6-4, 3.59 ERA in 2013) will face Jason Hammel (7-8, 4.97 ERA in 2013). Hurdle's Quotes On Wandy making his first start reg. season since his injury: We're going to run him out there and he's been in a good place all spring. Every building block he needed to take care of, he was able to take care of throughout March. This will be the next ... Read More
Pirates Walk-Off Cubs Again 4-3 in 16
Charlie Morton did his best Francisco Liriano as the righty fanned 6 batters while working around some jams but, the bullpen was unable to hold the lead and it took 16 innings for the Pirates to finally break through for a 4-3 victory in the longest game ever played in Pittsburgh at 5 hrs, 55 min (Prev. record was 5 hr 49 min vs. Houston on May, 27, 2006). Morton struck five betters out through the first three innings and retired six-straight batters before two errors by Jordy Mercer and ... Read More
Pirates Gameday 4/2: Hurdle Discusses First Base Platoon, Replay System
Good afternoon from PNC Park where tonight the Pirates (1-0) take on the Cubs (0-1) in game 2 of the opening series of the 2014 campaign. Charlie Morton (7-4, 3.26 ERA in 2013) will make his first start of the season and will face Edwin Jackson (8-18, 4.98 ERA in 2013). Hurdle's Quotes On the platoon situation at first base: "It won't be a cookie cutter platoon. I do believe there's better match-up opportunities for Gaby than this particular one today. Based on the spring he had last year, ... Read More