Predictably, prospect Josh Bell and pitcher Gerrit Cole were popular topics when Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Neal Huntington spoke to media Sunday. Below are some highlights of said press conference. On whether Bell's promotion had been planned or was in reaction to Kang's injury: “David Freese is now going to be the third baseman, and that opens up some at-bats at first base. Clint will make the decision on a daily basis with what gives him the best lineup to win that night. We ... Read More
Defensively, Pirates’ Bell a continued work in progress
Sunday afternoon against the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Miami Marlins will be looking for their first sweep of the season since July 7-9 against the Cincinnati Reds. In Game One of this series against the Pirates, the Marlins prevailed in a seesaw game by a 6-5 score. And Saturday, Miami won again 3-1 behind six innings of shutout baseball from starting pitcher David Phelps. Sunday's game concludes a seven-game road trip for the Marlins — while the Pirates are looking to end this skid going ... Read More
Phelps golden against Pirates
Miami Marlins starting pitcher David Phelps was too much for the Pittsburgh Pirates' offense to handle, and the road team came away with a 3-1 victory Saturday night at PNC Park. Phelps, who tied a career-high with nine strikeouts, allowed two hits in six scoreless innings, good for a game score of 77. Phelps' strong pitching meant, for the first time, that the Pirates (62-58) lost a game started by Chad Kuhl. He had 10 ground ball outs while allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits ... Read More
Back-and-forth game vs. Marlins doesn’t end Pirates’ way
Reliever Felipe Rivero hadn't allowed a run in 8.2 innings for the Pittsburgh Pirates (62-57), but that all changed Friday night. Up 5-3 heading into eighth inning, Rivero gave up a home run to the Miami Marlins' Miguel Rojas and a game-tying RBI single to Christian Yelich. An inning later, Robert Andino hit an RBI single off Pittsburgh reliever Neftali Feliz that proved to be the game-winning run. The Marlins (63-59) won the game, 6-5. It was a back-and-forth game, one the Pirates were ... Read More
McCutchen powers Pirates’ fifth inning rally
Wednesday afternoon featured a pitching matchup between Ivan Nova and Matt Cain, and the Pittsburgh Pirates (62-56) came away with a 6-5 victory over the San Francisco Giants (66-54) to ensure a series sweep. Pittsburgh's Nova (9-6, 4.83 ERA) pitched well, allowing four runs on six hits in four innings. The former Yankee who the Pirates acquired around the trade deadline threw 62 pitches — and 42 of those were strikes. On the other side, for the Giants, Cain (4-8, 5.81 ERA) looked good early ... Read More
Ryan Vogelsong wins emotional start as Pirates top Giants
Ryan Vogelsong's return to San Francisco had a happy ending as the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the San Francisco Giants by an 8-5 score Monday night. Vogelsong (2-2) pitched with the Giants from 2011-15 before returning to Pittsburgh following a 2001-06 first stint with the Pirates. It was in 2000 when Vogelsong made his major league debut with the Giants. Vogelsong was recognized first pitch with a video honoring his time and accomplishments with the Giants. He received an ovation from ... Read More
Kuhl, offense lead Pirates in big win over Dodgers
There may have been a help wanted sign or two floating around Pittsburgh after the Pirates time and again left runners on base in Saturday's loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Consider the result, 24 hours later an answer to said signs. It was a game in which Starling Marte was a late scratch and frankly they did not need him by any means as the Pirates won, 11-3. This is the Pirates offense fans have loved for most of this season. Eleven runs on 16 hits ,both of which were highlighted by ... Read More
Cole struggles as Dodgers top Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates tied a club record in Saturday afternoon's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers (65-51). Unfortunately for Pittsburgh, it was the record for most men left on base (18), and the Pirates (58-56) lost 8-4 to a team that's where they want to be, in the Wild Card race. Additionally, the Pirates were 1-14 with men in scoring position. It was a night to forget for starting pitcher Gerrit Cole (7-8, 3.25 ERA, 1.33 WHIP), who gave up a season-high 12 hits in 4.1 innings of ... Read More
McCutchen, Mercer help Pirates end road skid
The Pittsburgh Pirates entered this game 2-8 in its last 10 road games, but that did not matter in a 5-1 defeat of the Los Angeles Dodgers Friday night. A three-run first inning set the Pirates on a path for victory against Dodgers starter Ross Stripling (3-4). After the Pirates successfully challenged a Josh Harrison lead-off single, Starling Marte's single set up the rest of the inning. Andrew McCutchen singled on a 1-2 Stripling pitch bringing home the first run of this game. The ... Read More
Pirates take series vs. Padres with 4-0 afternoon win
Thursday, the Pittsburgh Pirates (57-55) got what they desperately needed: a series win. The team beat the San Diego Padres 4-0 in an afternoon game to put Pittsburgh two games above .500. The Pirates started off the series with a 4-6 win Tuesday night before falling short in a 4-0 loss Wednesday night. Jameson Taillon (3-2, 2.85 ERA, 1.08 WHIP) threw out the first pitch for the Pirates, with shortstop Jordy Mercer and second baseman Josh Harrison both recording quick outs to get ... Read More