Pirates/MLB category, Page 216

On Thursday, Pittsburgh Pirates President Frank Coonelly announced that the team plans to extend the netting at PNC Park to or near the foul poles. “Fan safety at PNC Park is of paramount importance,” Coonelly said in a statement. “We have once again engaged our netting experts to re-evaluate our...

The Pittsburgh Pirates, who two years ago became one of the first teams to extend protecting netting to the ends of the dugouts, won’t wait for Major League Baseball to demand further safety for its fans. President Frank Coonelly said Thursday the team plans to extend the netting at PNC...

If the returns are an indication, Pittsburgh Pirates fans’ bid to get Josh Bell elected as the starting first baseman in the All-Star Game may go down to the wire. Bell, Freddie Freeman of the Atlanta Braves and Anthony Rizzo of the Chicago Cubs are the first base finalists in...

HOUSTON — The Pittsburgh Pirates were hoping to give rookie Dario Agrazal a little early run support against Houston in his second career start. They ended up giving him much more than that to help him earn his first major league win. Josh Bell hit his 21st homer, Corey Dickerson...

While stumping for Josh Bell’s candidacy to become a starter for the National League in the All-Star Game, Pittsburgh Pirates president Frank Coonelly praised the team’s ability to crawl out from under adversity. While doing so, he suggested that former Pirates infielder David Freese’s critical comments last year about attitudes...

INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 41-35) were defeated 2-1 by Columbus (Indians). LHP Black Weiman (0-1, 4.15) took the loss after giving up the winning run in the eighth inning. Weiman went 1 2/3 innings with a run on three hits and two walks. LHP Cam Vieaux (2-0, 3.82) allowed a run in...

Frank Coonelly looks back eight years to the 2011 MLB Draft and remembers “a lot of internal discussion and debate” about Josh Bell and his stated commitment to play collegiately at Texas. Bell, a high school senior at Dallas Jesuit at the time, had written letters to every major league...

HOUSTON — Houston’s Gerrit Cole tried not to think too much about what it would be like to face his former team leading up to Tuesday night’s meeting with the Pittsburgh Pirates. After turning in a solid performance to lead the Astros to a 5-1 win over the Pirates he...

INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 41-34) defeated Louisville (Reds), 8-3. The Indians took a commanding, early lead with five first-inning runs. RHP Eduardo Vera (4-5, 5.66) went seven innings, allowing two runs on four hits, five strikeouts and a walk. Seven Indians recorded at least one RBI. 2B Darnell Sweeney (.308) drove in...

Nick Burdi, who hasn’t pitched for the past two months but started the season as an important member of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ bullpen, had season-ending surgery Tuesday to relieve symptoms of arm pain diagnosed as neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome. The surgery was performed by vascular surgeon Dr. Robert Thompson. Nick...

INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 40-34) beat Louisville (Reds), 3-1. RHP Mitch Keller (6-1, 2.89) struck out six and allowed just one run in 7 1/3 innings en route to the win. C Steven Baron (.197) hit a second-inning, two-run homer to put the Indians ahead 2-0. 2B Kevin Kramer (.271) also drove...

The time of reckoning has arrived for the Pittsburgh Pirates, but it doesn’t have to be an unpleasant situation. Optimists might argue you should label the next 26 games as an opportunity. The stretch that begins Tuesday at Minute Maid Park in Houston and concludes July 25 against the St....

INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 39-34): Defeated Pawtucket (Red Sox), 4-3. 2B Nick Franklin (.191) hit a two-run single in the top of the seventh to put the Indians ahead 3-2. After Pawtucket tied it in the bottom of the eighth, C Christian Kelley (.207) singled in the winning run in the top...

In one breath, Clint Hurdle called it one of the best wins he’s watched in nine years as manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates. In another, he downplayed the importance of one game. They overcame four deficits, including three-run margins in the ninth and 11th innings, before Kevin Newman’s full-count, bases-loaded...

The Pittsburgh Pirates have not named a starter for Wednesday’s game in Houston, although general manager Neal Huntington suggested minor-leaguer Dario Agrazal is a candidate. Joe Musgrove will pitch Thursday, the sixth day after his most recent start. “As we look at the bigger picture, we’re looking at the rest...

As Francisco Cervelli awaits clearances to return from his sixth documented concussion, he made it clear playing catcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates remains his preference. Cervelli has been out since May 26 after Joc Pederson’s broken bat hit him in the mask against the Los Angeles Dodgers. It marked the...

Jameson Taillon, who hasn’t pitched in a game or even picked up a baseball to throw it since May 1, said Sunday he plans to start an off-to-the-side throwing program, maybe as soon as the upcoming road trip. The Pittsburgh Pirates will be in Houston and Milwaukee, starting Tuesday through...

Chris Archer still isn’t producing like the top-of-the-rotation starter the Pittsburgh Pirates hoped for when they surrendered a bounty to acquire him late last summer. But at least the Pirates finally are consistently competitive in games the veteran starts. Archer was solid — if a little inefficient — over five...

There’s undercurrent of fans and others within baseball who believe that participation in an MLB Home Run Derby can undermine a player’s performance the remainder of that season. Do not count Clint Hurdle among that group’s school of thought. At all. “People say, ‘Oooh, the season the guys have had...

Jason Martin is back for his second stint with the Pittsburgh Pirates this season. The rookie outfielder was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis on Saturday as the corresponding move when the Pirates placed Gregory Polanco on the injured list. With his speed and strong defensive reputation, Martin has a skillset that...

After having only five at bats over the prior eight days, Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Gregory Polanco was placed on the 10-day injured list Saturday because of posterior left shoulder inflammation. Polanco had surgery on that shoulder nine months ago after he had suffered a dislocation in it during an awkward...

INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 38-33) defeated Pawtucket (Red Sox), 4-3. The Indians outhit the Red Sox, 14-4, with five Indians recording two or more hits. SS Cole Tucker (.320) finished 3 for 5 with a double, RBI and a run. 2B Nick Franklin (.192) went 2 for 4 with an RBI double....

The Pittsburgh Pirates and San Diego Padres entered Friday night’s game with the two worst team ERAs in the majors in June. So, of course, they engaged in a pitcher’s duel. Jose Osuna drove in pinch runner Steven Brault for the go-ahead run in the seventh inning, and the Pirates...