Tony Watson was asked to make his longest outing of the season as the Pittsburgh Pirates were trying to hold on to a 1-run lead against the Chicago Cubs. Watson ended up getting the job done earning his first save of the season and the Pirates won by a 4-3 score. “It turned into a plan B where he had to go get six outs and he went out and got them," manager Clint Hurdle said. "He’s shown grit, he’s shown ability, he’s shown skill. It was a very gritty performance to get six outs and keep ... Read More
Pirates pregame 4/22: Kang, Hughes, Melancon discussed
The Chicago Cubs have won the first two games in this series, however the Pittsburgh Pirates still have an opportunity to earn a split if it were to match the aforementioned accomplishment. In last night's contest, the lead went back and forth, however the Pirates bullpen allowed an 8-5 lead to slip away in a 9-8 loss. Mark Melancon blew his first save in a 3-run top of the ninth inning. Tonight’s starters: In tonight's game Vance Worley [1-1 5.84 ERA] will take to the mound against ... Read More
Pirates, Melancon lose lead, game in ninth
The Pittsburgh Pirates could not hold an 8-5 lead and Mark Melancon blew his first save of the season falling 9-8 to the Chicago Cubs Tuesday. It was the Cubs that scored first in the top half of the opening inning. Francisco Liriano walked Dexter Fowler and hit Anthony Rizzo with a pitch putting the first two batters on base. Kris Bryant picked back up where he left off Monday with a double that scored Fowler. The Pirates got the run back in the first inning scoring in the frame for the ... Read More
Pirates pregame 4/21: Team faces left-hander for first time
The Pittsburgh Pirates continue its series against the Chicago Cubs tonight at 7:05 p.m. This is the second of four games. Last night the Pirates fell 5-2 due in large part to a three-run seventh inning against Arquimedes Caminero. Tonight’s starters: Starting for the Pirates in this contest is Francisco Liriano [0-1 2.08 ERA]. Liriano is 4-2 with a 2.30 ERA in nine career starts against the Cubs. Liriano went 1-0 with a 1.20 ERA in three starts last season against them. Liriano also has ... Read More
Pirates draw parallels with Bryant’s hype
Every major leaguer remembers his first call up. Kris Bryant is not different. “We were in New Orleans and we had a doubleheader and the second game got rained out," Bryant said. "Coach called me into the office, and we were just talking about the game. He [Marty Pevey] kind of just brought it up randomly in the middle of our conversation and told me I was going to the bigs. It was so random and so exciting, and a time I’ll never forget.” Bryant however is unlike many call-ups with the ... Read More
Pirates undone by seventh inning in loss
All Kris Bryant wanted to do was drive home the runners on base. What happened instead is too complicated to explain in print and sealed the Pittsburgh Pirates fate in a 5-2 loss to the Chicago Cubs. Bryant got the runs home with a double off the bullpen wall in left-center field, scoring Jorge Soler and Anthony Rizzo. Bryant advanced to third base on the throw home which skipped off Francisco Cervelli's glove. Bryant got caught in between third base and home plate and Arquimedes Caminero ... Read More
Pirates pregame 4/20: Burnett, McCutchen’s goals discussed
The Pittsburgh Pirates will start its first four game series of the season when it takes on the Chicago Cubs. This is a match-up of the second and third place teams in the National League Central. Tonight’s starters: A.J. Burnett [0-1 2.35 ERA] will pitch for the Pirates against Jake Arrieta [1-1 1.98 ERA] in tonight's game. Burnett is 7-4 against the Cubs with a 3.25 ERA in 13 career starts which span 83 innings. As a member of the Phillies last season Burnett posted an 0-2 record with ... Read More
Pirates complete sweep of Brewers
The Pittsburgh Pirates earned a sweep against the Milwaukee Brewers winning 5-2 Sunday afternoon. The win pushes the Pirates to .500 for the first time this season. For a second consecutive game, it was a chaotic first inning for both sides. In the top half, the Brewers had the bases loaded with two outs and Gerrit Cole [2-0] got Gerardo Parra to fly out to left field ending the threat. In the bottom half of the frame, the Pirates got three consecutive singles with Andrew McCutchen's ... Read More
Neal Huntington talks Kang, minor leagues
Pittsburgh Pirates Neal Huntington met with assembled media members prior to Sunday's game against the Milwaukee Brewers and discussed a variety of topics.There has been media speculation that the Pirates may send Jung-ho Kang to Triple-A Indianapolis. Huntington however had one question for the media. Why?"We have a ton of respect for what he did in Korea and what our scouts saw and for what we’ve seen so far," Huntington said. "Ten plate appearances into the season after 30-some plate ... Read More
Pirates pregame 4/19: Hurdle talks Cole’s progression, Shrek
The Pittsburgh Pirates have a chance to get its first three game series sweep of the season this afternoon against the Milwaukee Brewers. This season the Pirates are 4-1 against the Brewers. Today’s starters: In today's series finale, Gerrit Cole [1-0 3.27 ERA] will toe the rubber against Matt Garza [1-1 4.22 ERA]. Cole has a 1-2 career record against the Brewers posting a 3.27 ERA in five career starts. His last appearance against the Brewers was a 4-0 loss on Aug. 29 in which he pitches 7.1 ... Read More