Pirates/MLB category, Page 232

I’m not sure if it was more comedy or tragedy. But I know one thing about the Pirates’ loss to the Cubs Monday afternoon. I sure don’t want to see a sequel. Chicago whipped the Pirates, 10-0, in the Cubs’ home opener. Perhaps better said, the Pirates stumbled off a...

Pirates INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 1-3) was idle. The Indians have yet to name a probable starting pitcher for Tuesday’s series opener against Toledo (Tigers). Next: Tuesday at Toledo, 6:35 p.m. ALTOONA (Double-A, 5-0) won 6-3 over Erie (Tigers) to remain undefeated. RHP Pedro Vasquez (1-0, 1.50) picked up the win after...

An image from Sunday’s brawl between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds has gotten the attention of the web and gone viral. The screengrab from the broadcast shows Reds slugger Yasiel Piug appearing to take on the entire Pirates team. Tempers got hot after Pirates starter Chris Archer threw the...

In this week’s “Madden Monday,” Mark Madden and I hit on the big three: The Penguins, Steelers and Pirates. We start with the Penguins and their upcoming series with the Islanders. Mark likes the Penguins in six games. I’m thinking five. Yet somehow, I’m still expecting every game to be...

They needed that. Yeah. It’s early in the season. And yes, what Pittsburgh baseball purist doesn’t like back-to-back 2-0 wins? That’s what high-grade starts from Jordan Lyles and Joe Musgrove gave the Pirates on Thursday and Friday nights against the Reds. Twelve combined innings of starting pitching, no runs allowed....

Felipe Vazquez was so certain trouble was brewing Sunday at PNC Park, he felt it through walls, down a hallway, up some stairs and into the clubhouse. It was the fourth inning of what would become the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 7-5 victory against the Cincinnati Reds, and the final blow in...

Jason Martin described his first three days with the Pittsburgh Pirates as “crazy,” but he got down to a business Sunday at PNC Park in a game marred by a benches-clearing dustup in the fourth inning. He singled, doubled and recorded his first major league RBI in his second consecutive...

The Pittsburgh Pirates’ two most valuable relief pitchers, Keone Kela and Felipe Vazquez, were ejected in the top of the fourth inning Sunday after Pirates and Cincinnati Reds players rushed onto the field when Pirates starter Chris Archer threw behind Derek Dietrich. Also ejected were Reds manager David Bell, right...

Pirates INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 0-3) lost 7-4 to Columbus (Indians). OF/DH Eric Wood (.250) and CF Bryan Reynolds (.273) both hit home runs. RHP Alex McRae (0-1, 7.71) recorded seven strikeouts in a losing effort with three walks and four earned runs. Next: Sunday at Columbus, 2:05 p.m. ALTOONA (Double-A, 3-0)...

The Pittsburgh Pirates bullpen blew four leads over the season’s first four games, costing the team three early wins. But after turning a three-run, seventh-inning lead into an extra-innings loss Wednesday, the Pirates group of relievers is beginning to show it is the team strength it was expected to be....

The moment Kevin Newman struck the first-pitch sinker he saw, Josh Bell helped lead a cavalcade out of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ dugout late Saturday afternoon. With Francisco Cervelli at first base and one out in the bottom of the 10th inning, Newman lined a double into the left-field gap. As...

There’s increasing light at the end of the proverbial tunnel for the Pittsburgh Pirates’ very injury-thinned outfield. Longtime starting rightfielder Gregory Polanco is scheduled to begin playing in minor-league games Sunday when he reports to the Single-A Bradenton Marauders for a rehabilitation assignment. Polanco has not played since suffering an...

The final member of the 25-man Pittsburgh Pirates Opening Day roster is making his season debut. Jacob Stallings was in the lineup batting seventh and at catcher for Saturday’s home game against the Cincinnati Reds. The 29-year-old is the organization’s No. 3 catcher but made the club at the end...

The Pittsburgh Pirates wasted little time giving Jason Martin his first taste of Major League Baseball. “First hitter of the game for us,” manager Clint Hurdle said with a smile Saturday morning, about three hours prior to Martin’s MLB debut began as the Pirates’ left fielder and leadoff hitter against...

Minor League Report Pirates INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 0-2) fell 5-4 to Columbus (Indians) in 11 innings on a walk-off single. RHP Mitch Keller (0-0, 0.00) did not record a decision after allowing two earned runs on three hits with six strikeouts and five walks in 4.2 innings. RHP Montana DuRapau (0-1,...

His fastball deserted him for a time. His teammates struggled to offer the run support every pitcher needs. But Joe Musgrove had two good friends on his side: Catcher Francisco Cervelli and his slider. They were more than enough to help the Pittsburgh Pirates (3-3) defeat the Cincinnati Reds (1-6)...

Keeping in mind the early-season sample size, Pittsburgh Pirates starters were just short of dominant through the first five games. After Jameson Taillon allowed four runs in the opener in Cincinnati, Taillon, Trevor Williams and Jordan Lyles surrendered only one run in 23 innings. Overall, the four starters have a...

Many thoughts went through Jason Martin’s head when he was called up to the Pittsburgh Pirates before he even played one game for Triple-A Indianapolis this season. He made several phone calls, and his parents reacted quickly, flying from California with his sister and fiancée to be in the PNC...

In “First Call” Friday, some interesting early numbers for the Pirates. The Capitals win the Metro. And the Lightning continue to chase history. That’s a good `start` A week into the season, the Pirates starting rotation has been every bit as good as you think it has. Granted, they have...

It was said so many times last year, it almost became a running joke. “You know, that Joe Musgrove. He’s more than just a pitcher. He’s an athlete!” If you heard it once, you heard it a thousand times. From teammates, coaches, fans and media that cover the team. “Joe...

INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 0-1) lost on the road, 10-4 to Columbus (Indians). RF Patrick Kivlehan (.250) and Will Craig (.333) hit home runs for the Indians. SS Cole Tucker (.400) finished 2 for 5, leaving four runners on base. RHP J.T. Brubaker (0-0, 3.86) did not record a decision after pitching...

Despite one late hiccup, this was more like how manager Clint Hurdle drew it up for the late innings when the Pittsburgh Pirates exited spring training. Three relievers combined for four scoreless innings Thursday night in the Pirates’ 2-0 victory against the Cincinnati Reds, the performance coming after the bullpen...

Clint Hurdle got his closer back Thursday, but he didn’t expect setup man Keone Kela to pitch Thursday night when the Pittsburgh Pirates opened a four-game series against the Cincinnati Reds. Felipe Vazquez and Kela are considered the top pitchers in a bullpen that hasn’t found its rhythm in the...