Pirates/MLB category, Page 21

Sonny Gray seemed off at the start as the St. Louis Cardinals right-hander allowed the first two batters he faced to reach base. After walking Andrew McCutchen and giving up a double to Bryan Reynolds, Gray struck out the next three Pittsburgh Pirates on his way to recording nine strikeouts...

Paul Skenes appreciated the love he received Tuesday night from St. Louis fans. When the Pirates starter was pulled from the game with one out and a man on second in the seventh inning, he did so to a standing ovation from Cardinals fans. Paul Skenes got a standing ovation...

Wednesday’s “First Call” has a hunch about what Mike Tomlin is making from the Pittsburgh Steelers on his newest coaching contract. Diontae Johnson is talking himself up in Carolina. And we celebrate another happy Penguins anniversary. What it took We know Mike Tomlin signed a contract extension on Monday to...

INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 26-36) was edged out by Jacksonville (Marlins), 2-1. RHP Daulton Jefferies (6.10) started and allowed one run on four hits in 5.2 innings. He walked none and struck out two. LHP Geronimo Franzua (6.47) pitched 1.1 scoreless innings. LHP Brady Feigl (3.24) allowed one run on two hits...

Paul Skenes has yet to taste defeat in his young MLB career, and the St. Louis Cardinals weren’t about to change that Tuesday night. In his sixth MLB start, Skenes set new career-highs in pitches (103) and innings pitched (6⅓), dueling Cardinals starter Miles Mikolas while taking a no-decision in...

In an ongoing quest to bolster their bullpen, the Pittsburgh Pirates made a handful of transactions ahead of their three-game series in St. Louis, recalling righty Ryder Ryan from Triple-A Indianapolis, designating left-hander Jose Hernandez for assignment and scooping 28-year-old righty Dennis Santana off waivers from the New York Yankees....

Jared Triolo made an error March 28, missing a toss from shortstop Oneil Cruz at second base in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ season opener against the Marlins in Miami. It happens. But let’s put that gaffe in an interesting light. • Triolo more than made up for that second-inning error by...

One day after he gave up seven runs in the 10th inning against the Minnesota Twins, the Pittsburgh Pirates designated right-handed reliever Ben Heller for assignment. The 32-year-old allowed 11 earned runs in two appearances for the Pirates, giving up nine hits, one walk and four hit batters to post...

Pittsburgh has a new baseball hero. It’s Mitch the Pitch, and he’s at the top of today’s rotation of refreshing sports notes! • Forget Skenes day. The most exciting day in the Pirates rotation is Keller day. Mitch Keller has won six straight starts. In those six victories, Keller has...

Henry Davis had just watched video replay of the first-inning foul tip that was called a passed ball and cost the Pittsburgh Pirates a run in a game they lost in extra innings to the Minnesota Twins on Sunday. So it would be safe to assume the Pirates catcher wasn’t...

INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 26-35) lost 8-3 to Columbus (Guardians). RF Canaan Smith-Njigba (.229) homered as part of a three-run fourth inning. SS Liover Peguero (.274) doubled and had a walk. CF Gilberto Celestino (.288) also was 1 for 3 with a double. LHP Michael Plassmeyer (1-6, 8.74) allowed four runs on...

After a bullpen game Saturday followed by a short start from rookie Jared Jones, the Pittsburgh Pirates were down to their last reliever when the game went into extra innings. So they turned to right-hander Ben Heller, in hopes his second appearance would fare better than his first. Instead, it...

Alex Kirilloff only had to look over his right shoulder Sunday to see how far his love of baseball has taken him. Kirilloff, a Plum graduate, started in left field for the Minnesota Twins at PNC Park — a literal stone’s throw from where he stood in 2013 as a...

INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 26-34) scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth for a 4-3 walk-off win over Columbus (Guardians). CF Gilberto Celestino (.287), who went 2 for 4, delivered the game-winning hit, a two-run double. RF Jake Lamb (.320) went 2 for 4 with a run scored and two...

When Connor Joe’s name is mentioned, the reflex response from the Pittsburgh Pirates has been to talk about his preparation. Joe is nothing if not prepared, a label he wears as a badge of honor. But Joe is changing the conversation, as the first baseman/outfielder has been the most consistent...

Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Rowdy Tellez’s body of work this season has been largely bereft of celebratory moments. Stepping in to defend then-struggling closer David Bednar in early April and issuing a slight reprimand to Pirates fans for booing Bednar, in addition to Tellez’s own production shortcomings, have painted a...

The Pittsburgh Pirates resided in last place in the NL Central, seven games behind the Milwaukee Brewers, but only a half-game back in wild-card standings. So Pirates general manager Ben Cherington believes teams “have a pretty good idea” of what is and isn’t working this season. Even though the Pirates...

CBS Sports’ Aditi Kinkhabwala was on a recent edition of the Ultimate Cleveland Sports Show. She’s a veteran of covering the Steelers and the AFC North for the NFL Network. During the episode, one of the hosts advanced the opinion that the Cleveland Browns are criticized in that city less...

INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 25-34) lost 7-3 to Columbus (Guardians). 1B Jake Lamb (.316) went 2 for 3 with a double and his fourth home run. LF Gilberto Celestino (.281) went 2 for 4 with his second homer. 3B Malcom Nunez (.262) went 1 for 4 with a run scored. DH Matt...

Mitch Keller had kept the Minnesota Twins off the scoreboard for five-plus innings when he faced a full count with the bases loaded when the Pittsburgh Pirates ace showed confidence in his sweeper, a pitch he has worked to sharpen. If it wasn’t a strike, Keller was hoping for a...

In a batch of injury injury news pertinent to the starting rotation, Pittsburgh Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk revealed that lefty Martin Perez is “pain free” and will begin throwing from a slope soon, likely this weekend with the Minnesota Twins visiting PNC Park. Perez has been sidelined...

There is legit optimism concerning the Pittsburgh Pirates for the first time in a long time. Paul Skenes is a phenom, Jared Jones isn’t far behind and Mitch Keller is a solid No. 3 starter. Their rotation could win a playoff series right now. The trick is getting there. That’s...

With muscles rippling on his back and a quiet determination in his eyes, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ second baseman has the look of a running back unafraid of contact, despite a 5-foot-9, 190-pound physique. But that’s not Nick Gonzales. He tried football at Cienga High School in Vail, Ariz., and held...

INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 25-33) gave up seven home runs and was clobbered by Columbus (Guardians), 23-5. RHP Domingo German (0-3, 7.97) started and went five innings, allowing eight runs on nine hits, including two homers. He walked three and struck out three. LHP Geronimo Franzua (6.75) was touched up for six...