Pirates/MLB category, Page 139

The Pittsburgh Pirates were protecting a two-run lead with the bases loaded and two outs in the sixth inning. Derek Shelton didn’t send his starting pitcher to the on-deck circle. Not that the Pirates manager had any intention of pinch-hitting for Tyler Anderson, given the way he was cruising through...

Two of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ top prospects at Double-A Altoona, shortstop Oneil Cruz and right-hander Roansy Contreras, are dealing with forearm issues and will be evaluated this week by the team’s medical staff, general manager Ben Cherington said Sunday. Cherington revealed on his weekly radio show on 93.7 FM that...

INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 27-25) was outslugged by Iowa (Cubs), 9-7. RHP Max Kranick, coming off five perfect innings in his MLB debut last Sunday, started and went three innings, getting tagged for five runs on six hits, including a grand slam. 3B Hunter Owen went 2 for 3 with his seventh...

After Neil Walker took the mound at PNC Park to throw out the ceremonial first pitch Saturday afternoon, he delivered a couple of strikes for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Walker revealed he has accepted an invitation to announce who the Pirates select with the No. 1 overall pick in the MLB...

The Pittsburgh Pirates weren’t counting on Cody Ponce to pitch perfect in his spot start — the way Max Kranick did — but rather to avoid throwing the ball over the middle of the plate against Milwaukee. Where Kranick batted before he took the mound in his major league debut...

With injuries to Colin Moran and Erik Gonzalez making depth an issue at first base, the Pittsburgh Pirates acquired John Nogowski from the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday for cash considerations. Nogowski, 28, had been designated for assignment by the Cardinals on June 28. He started the season with the...

INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 27-24) fell 5-2 to Iowa (Cubs). The Indians managed just four hits. RF Christian Bethancourt (.294) had an RBI single, his 23rd of the season. 2B T.J. Rivera (.265) hit an RBI double. SS Cole Tucker (.208) was 1 for 4. RHP Steven Wright (3-4, 5.80) allowed three...

A day after getting a high five and social media shout-out from Milwaukee Brewers star Christian Yelich for leaning over the left field railing to catch a Bryan Reynolds foul ball, Christian Gale got an even bigger surprise. The 11-year-old from Kansas City, Mo., returned to PNC Park for the...

When the Milwaukee Brewers started hitting solo home runs, all JT Brubaker and the Pittsburgh Pirates could do was watch and learn. Willy Adames blasted one over the North Side Notch. Jace Peterson belted one off the batter’s eye.And Jackie Bradley Jr. bounced one off the left-center wall and into...

As soon as Erik Gonzalez left the field Thursday night, Ben Gamel sought out Pittsburgh Pirates assistant hitting coach Christian Marrero to ask if he could borrow his first baseman’s mitt. Gamel knew it was down to him to play first base. “I definitely wanted to go there,” said Gamel,...

Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Erik Gonzalez has been placed on the 10-day injured list with a right oblique strain, and super utility player Wilmer Difo’s contract was selected from Triple-A Indianapolis. To make room on the 40-man roster, the Pirates placed pitcher Trevor Cahill on the 60-day injured list. Gonzalez left...

It’s lucky that pitch count wasn’t a thing in 1956. No one would remember Don Larsen. Larsen pitched a perfect game in the ’56 World Series. It remains the only perfect game in World Series (and MLB postseason) history. The New York Yankees right-hander threw 97 pitches. He went through...

INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 27-23) beat Iowa (Cubs), 7-6, in 12 innings. 1B Christian Bethancourt went 3 for 5 and hit a two-run single in the bottom of the 12th for the decisive runs. RF Bligh Madris went 3 for 4 with two walks and an RBI. 3B Kevin Kramer went 2...

A fourth consecutive loss became the least of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ problems once Erik Gonzalez walked off the field after legging out an infield single. Gonzalez started at first base Thursday when Colin Moran was placed on the 10-day injured list with a fracture in his left hand, only to...

The Pittsburgh Pirates were making a pitching change with the bases were loaded and two outs in the fifth inning, which proved to be the perfect time to turn the attention to an announcement on the Jumbotron. Adam Frazier was trying to concentrate on the game against the Milwaukee Brewers...

The Pittsburgh Pirates placed Colin Moran on the 10-day injured list with fracture in his left hand, the latest setback for the first baseman. Moran was hit by a pitch in the first inning Monday by Kyle Freeland of the Colorado Rockies and pulled himself from the game. Moran didn’t...

Bryan Reynolds saw that Jon Gray’s first two pitches were sliders, and saw them well enough that he anticipated a fastball would follow. “Just sold out for a heater,” Reynolds said, “and I got it.” When Reynolds homered in the first inning Wednesday against the Colorado Rockies, it was his...

Thursday’s “First Call” raises a red flag for the Steelers when it comes to the release of David DeCastro. Former Steelers linebacker Bud Dupree gushes about his time in Pittsburgh. Could Steven Nelson come back to the Steelers secondary? The Pirates have their work cut out for them with the...

This week’s “U mad, bro?” sees some Steelers fans pushing back against criticism of the offensive line. Some misdirected Pirates fan rage. A sarcastic farewell to a Steelers free agent. And flat-out disdain for this column. I had an angry email exchange with Chris, who is a Pirates loyalist to...

INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 26-23) beat Iowa (Cubs) 2-1 in 10 innings. RHP Mitch Keller was effective in his second Triple-A start of the season, allowing one run on four hits with five strikeouts and one walk in four innings. He has allowed three earned runs in 9⅔ innings since being sent...

Less than a minute after Wednesday’s early-afternoon first pitch in Denver, the Pittsburgh Pirates had as many hits as they managed the entire game an evening earlier. Three pitches later, they had more runs than they had scored over the prior two games of the series at Coors Field. By...

Pitcher Steven Brault is expected to rejoin the Pittsburgh Pirates this weekend, team director or sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday. The veteran left-hander has been on the 60-day injured list since before the season began because of a left lat strain. In a video conference call with media, Tomczyk...

Two young right-handers who someday perhaps could anchor the top of the Pittsburgh Pirates rotation will get to share a national stage next month. Roansy Contreras and Quinn Priester were selected to participate in the MLB All-Star Futures Game. Contreras, 21, and Priester, 20, each rank among the Pirates’ top...

INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 25-23) lost 9-3 to Iowa (Cubs). LHP Cam Vieaux, in his first Triple-A start of the season, gave up seven runs, four earned, on five hits in 2⅔ innings. He allowed two home runs. 1B Will Craig went 1 for 4 and hit his eighth home run. SS...

Teams typically find their offense when they visit Coors Field. Not the Pittsburgh Pirates, at least not this week. The Pirates were shut out for a second consecutive day in Denver, nearly getting no-hit by German Marquez in a 8-0 loss to the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night. Marquez’s bid...