Pirates/MLB category, Page 147

A 17-year-old girl testified Monday she thought it was “super cool” when Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Felipe Vazquez responded to her social media message in which she wished him a happy birthday in July 2017. Six weeks later, with her parents away for the day, Vazquez had sex with her...

When it comes to his career numbers as a pinch hitter, Wilmer Difo is hovering at the Mendoza Line. His batting average in that role was even worse when he was with the Washington Nationals. What once served as a scarlet letter, Difo now wears like a badge of honor....

INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 7-4) defeated Toldeo (Tigers), 6-5. 1B Christian Bethancourt (.333) hit a walk-off single to score CF Travis Swaggerty (.200) in the bottom of the ninth. Swaggerty hit his third home run and had three RBIs. LF Chris Sharpe (.258) and RF Dustin Fowler (.258) also homered. RHP Shea...

If the Pittsburgh Pirates were going to beat the San Francisco Giants, it would require the third walk-off win in as many games. Not only that, but the Pirates were without the player who hit the heroic home run Saturday night as catcher Jacob Stallings was removed from the game...

The Pittsburgh Pirates are hoping first baseman Colin Moran and corner infielder/outfielder Phillip Evans return from the injured list this week and “perhaps even avoid a rehab assignment,” general manager Ben Cherington said Sunday afternoon on his weekly radio show. Moran (groin) and Evans (hamstring) were placed on the 10-day...

BRADENTON (Low-A, 7-4) Four pitchers combined on a no-hitter in a 2-0 victory over Dunedin (Blue Jays). RHP Jose Maldonado, an international free agent signing, started and went two innings, striking out four and walking one. RHP Cameron Junker, a 2019 10th-round pick out of Notre Dame, followed with a...

Echoing a rallying cry from their glory days, Pittsburgh Pirates fans chanted the surname of Johnny Cueto in an attempt to once again rattle the San Francisco Giants starting right-hander at PNC Park. Unlike the 2013 NL wild card game, Cueto didn’t drop the ball. By the end, however, Pirates...

Derek Shelton hasn’t hesitated to ask Adam Frazier to move to left field in late-game situations, knowing “he’s more than willing” to play wherever needed for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Shelton, however, made it clear once again Saturday that he has no intention of moving Frazier away from second base. “I’m...

INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 5-4) beat Toledo (Tigers), 6-2. RHP James Marvel started and went 5.1 innings, giving up two runs on six hits and striking out six. RHO Shea Spitzbarth pitched a scoreless inning of relief to get the win. C Andrew Susac went 2 for 4 with a home run...

During the Pirates’ 3-2 victory Friday night against the San Francisco Giants, the winning team struck out 17 times and only four of its 13 batters hit safely. Second baseman Adam Frazier made what looked like the defensive play of the game – in left field – until he was...

Gregory Polanco leads the Pittsburgh Pirates in stolen bases with four, but that’s not the reason he remains in right field and bats fifth in the order with a .202 batting average (before Friday). Mitch Keller has the highest ERA (7.81) and WHIP (1.81) among Pirates starters, but manager Derek...

Testimony in the sexual assault trial of former Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Felipe Vazquez will begin Monday morning in a Westmoreland County courtroom. Twelve jurors and two alternates were seated Friday for what is expected to be a three-day trial after Vazquez was accused of having sexual relations with a 13-year...

The Pirates announced Friday that fully vaccinated fans will no longer need to wear a face mask at PNC Park. On Thursday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention eased public health guidelines for mask wearing, allowing people to safely stop wearing masks inside in most places as well as...

INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 4-4) lost 6-5 to Toledo (Tigers). The Indians scored all five of their runs in the second inning, which was highlighted by a three-run homer by DH Anthony Alford. 1B Christian Bethancourt also homered in the second. Alford and RF Dustin Fowler finished with two hits apiece. Matt...

On another night, perhaps in a game with a different outcome, the confluence of Wil and Will would have been a story worth retelling for years. But at PNC Park on Thursday night, Wil Crowe’s mostly effective five-inning start and Will Craig’s first major-league home run weren’t enough to prevent...

The Pittsburgh Pirates lost another first baseman Thursday when Phil Evans was placed on the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring strain. Evans, who is hitting .216, replaced Colin Moran (left groin strain) at first base and batted third Wednesday before leaving the 4-1 loss to the Cincinnati Reds....

Thursday’s “First Call” shows little faith in the Pittsburgh Steelers to start 2021 on the right foot. A former Pitt Panther basketball player is getting his coaching start in the Bronx. Meanwhile, a former Penguin is hoping to continue his coaching career in Manhattan. And the Pirates need to get...

INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 4-3) won 5-3 over Toledo (Tigers). 1B Will Craig went 3 for 3, hit his third home run of the season and doubled. 2B Kevin Kramer belted a two-run homer in the third inning. SS Cole Tucker and DH Chris Sharpe doubled. Beau Sulser started and went five...

The Pittsburgh Pirates’ starting lineup didn’t offer much promise in the way of offense, with their top three hitters missing from the batting order and only three players hitting above the Mendoza Line. Even so, the Pirates found ways to get on base and put runners in scoring position against...

Ke’Bryan Hayes remains the most prominent Pittsburgh Pirates player on the injured list, though several pitchers are making progress in their recovery while one has paused from throwing. Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk called Hayes shifting from the 10-day to 60-day IL “more of a mechanical roster move,”...

When Adam Frazier got a leadoff single against the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night, it extended his hitting streak to tie his career-best at 12 games. Afterward, the Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman was more interested in talking about his second hit of the game. Frazier drove a Sean Doolittle four-seam...

INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 3-3) won 4-3 over Toledo (Tigers). The Indians had four hits, all of which were home runs. 1B Will Craig belted a pair of solo shots, including one in the seventh inning for what proved to be the winning run. CF Travis Swaggerty homered to lead off the...

The Cincinnati Reds had pounded the Pittsburgh Pirates for double-digit runs in three consecutive meetings, a streak that required a stopper after the Reds scored 39 runs on 42 hits – 20 for extra bases. JT Brubaker was just the man for the job. The Pirates right-hander held the Reds...

The Pittsburgh Pirates placed reliever Kyle Crick on the 10-day injured list with a right triceps strain and reinstated right fielder Gregory Polanco on Tuesday in a series of roster moves. Polanco has been out since May 4, though the Pirates never offered an explanation for his stay on the...

Before Ben Gamel’s first game with the Pittsburgh Pirates, manager Derek Shelton jokingly asked if the team’s newest acquisition — a natural outfielder — had ever played first base. If Gamel thought his first answer (two innings) was going to get him off the hook, he was in for a...