Pirates/MLB category, Page 74
Late-game bullpen struggles sink Pirates, who settle for series split with Milwaukee
The Pittsburgh Pirates let an opportunity to take three of four games from the Milwaukee Brewers slip through their fingers Thursday, falling 7-5 at PNC Park because of a late-game bullpen meltdown and a shaky start by Mitch Keller. Aroldis Chapman (0-2, 6.75 ERA) was charged with the loss and...
U mad, bro?: Pens fans fed up with Mike Sullivan; Pirates fans peeved over pitch counts; loud Kenny Pickett loyalists
At the time of this post, the Steelers haven’t made their first-round pick in the NFL Draft. So no one in Pittsburgh can be angry about that. Yet. Check back here next week. However, we do have Pitt fans prickly about Kenny Pickett, Penguins fans piping up about missing the...
Pirates farm report for April 24, 2024: Indy’s Nick Gonzales hits 2nd homer
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 12-11) defeated Omaha (Royals), 7-4. RHP Paul Skenes (0.53) went 4⅓ innings, allowing two runs (one earned) and five hits with seven strikeouts. 2B Nick Gonzales (.402) went 3 for 5 with two singles, his second home run of the season and two RBIs. SS Liover Peguero (.291)...
Pirates come up empty in 9th, as Brewers take advantage of mishaps in win
The Milwaukee Brewers took advantage of mishaps by the Pittsburgh Pirates to take a three-run lead, then nearly let it slip away in similar fashion in the final inning. The Brewers scored three runs in the third inning after reaching base on an error, one hit, two walks and two...
Pirates GM Ben Cherington doing balancing act with management of Paul Skenes, Jared Jones
When it comes to pitch counts and innings management, Ben Cherington is doing a balancing act between having open lines of communication and keeping the Pittsburgh Pirates’ plans close to the vest. The Pirates general manager on Wednesday afternoon addressed two hot-button topics surrounding the team: the pitch count of...
Paul Skenes’ scoreless streak ends at 14 innings as Pirates prospect records 7 strikeouts
Pittsburgh Pirates top pitching prospect Paul Skenes saw his scoreless streak end at 14 innings when he allowed his first runs of the season Wednesday afternoon at Omaha. Skenes had seven strikeouts and hit season highs by throwing 71 pitches in 4 1/3 innings in his fifth start for Triple-A...
Pirates closer David Bednar gets green light, finds groove to earn 2nd consecutive save
David Bednar had pitched the previous two games, so the Pittsburgh Pirates wanted to be careful before deciding whether the two-time All-Star closer was available for the ninth inning Tuesday night. Pirates manager Derek Shelton believed Bednar reported to PNC Park with the mindset that he wanted to pitch, so...
Pirates farm report for April 23, 2024: Veteran 1B Jake Lamb hitting .400 for Indy
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 11-11) lost 7-4 to Omaha (Royals). 1B Jake Lamb (.400) went 3 for 3 with two singles, a double, a walk and an RBI. 2B Nick Gonzales (.390) went 2 for 4 with two singles, a walk and a strikeout. CF Ji Hwan Bae (.429) finished 1 for...
Andrew McCutchen’s leadoff homer, Bailey Falter’s strong start lead Pirates past Brewers
After six games of scuffling, the Pittsburgh Pirates found a winning combination that worked for the second consecutive game: A leadoff home run and a quality start. Andrew McCutchen homered for the second consecutive game, and lefty Bailey Falter matched a career best with eight strikeouts over seven innings as...
Pirates put Andrew McCutchen at leadoff for a spark to end skid
With the Pittsburgh Pirates struggling offensively amid a six-game losing streak, manager Derek Shelton turned to a trusted veteran bat in search of a spark at the leadoff spot in the lineup. Andrew McCutchen understood the assignment. “I get it. It’s something that I’m familiar with,” McCutchen said. “When you...
Jared Jones sizzles again as Pirates beat Brewers to snap 6-game losing streak
Their losing streak was wearing on the Pittsburgh Pirates to the point that it showed in their body language, so Jared Jones provided the perfect antidote by turning the tables on the Milwaukee Brewers. The 22-year-old rookie right-hander strutted out to the mound with swagger, then unleashed eight fastballs that...
Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jakob Junis injured during Pirates batting practice at PNC Park
Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jakob Junis was hit in the back of the neck by a line drive during Pittsburgh Pirates batting practice Monday afternoon before the teams’ game at PNC Park. Trainers from both teams tended to Junis near the warning track in right field for 15 minutes before an...
Tim Benz: Pirates should give Jared Jones more pitches if he earns them
Russell Wilson’s first throwing attempt in Pittsburgh was a success. The new Steelers quarterback tossed out the first pitch at PNC Park on Friday night. The former minor league baseball player got a warm ovation as he delivered a strike from the top of the mound. Russell Wilson with a...
‘Losing my confidence’: Pirates SS Oneil Cruz candid about struggles with strikeouts
Oneil Cruz not only leads the major leagues in strikeouts but has more than twice as many as he does hits. The Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop, who set the Statcast record for exit velocity, appears as confounded as anyone about his struggles at the plate. After his 10th consecutive game with...
Pirates farm report for April 21, 2024: Yasmani Grandall homers as Indians blank St. Paul
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 11-10) shut out St. Paul (Twins), 5-0. The Indians finished with a 5-1 record during the homestand. LHP Eric Lauer (2-0, 2.37) tossed five no-hit innings with eight strikeouts. RHP Ben Heller, RHP Connor Sadzeck, RHP Kyle Nicolas and RHP Brent Honeywell Jr. combined to allow one hit...
‘Everybody is frustrated’: Pirates suffer 6th consecutive loss, 2nd straight series sweep
After racing out to the best record in baseball through the first 11 games, the Pittsburgh Pirates look lost amid a freefall that saw them suffer a sixth consecutive loss and second straight series sweep. The home clubhouse was mostly quiet and subdued after a 6-1 loss to the Boston...
Pirates GM Ben Cherington defends decision to limit innings for young starting pitchers
Ben Cherington didn’t just defend the Pittsburgh Pirates’ decision to limit Jared Jones to five innings at the New York Mets on Tuesday but also applauded the coaching staff for coming up with the plan. The 22-year-old rookie right-hander was pulled despite holding the Mets scoreless and to one hit...
Pirates farm report for April 20, 2024: 3 Greensboro pitchers combine on 4-hit shutout
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 10-10) was crushed by St. Paul (Twins), 12-4. LHP Michael Plassmeyer (1-3, 6.86) started and gave up two runs on five hits in four innings. He struck out four. LHP Jose Hernandez (23.14) then allowed two runs in one-third of an inning and RHP Kade McClure (16.88) was...
Pirates prospect Bubba Chandler, armed with new outlook and curveball, off to hot start in AltoonaVideo
Few people go through high school without navigating some sort of event or experience that becomes impossible to forget. Like gum stuck on the bottom of your shoe, whatever that teenage situation was, however trivial, it can stay with you for years. Pittsburgh Pirates pitching prospect Bubba Chandler had good...
Pirates continue to struggle with strikeouts, scoring runs in loss to Red Sox
The Pittsburgh Pirates addressed a troubling trend by increasing their hit total but had little answer for their most disturbing dilemma: They are struggling to stop striking out and score runs. The Boston Red Sox scored two runs in the first inning, and Masataka Yoshida provided the difference with a...
Mark Madden’s Hot Take: Plenty of questions surround Pirates’ player development
If you need reason not to trust the Pittsburgh Pirates’ developmental process, look no further than the most obvious example. Shortstop Oneil Cruz is 25, has all the raw talent in the world and doesn’t know how to play baseball. Cruz missed almost all of last season after breaking his...
Pirates farm report for April 19, 2024: Nick Gonzales, Ji Hwan Bae spark Indy
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 10-9) defeated St. Paul (Twins), 7-2. SS Nick Gonzales (.387) went 2 for 5 with an RBI double and a base hit. 3B Malcom Nunez (.317) was 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI single. CF Ji Hwan Bae (.476) was 1 for 3 with a...
Red Sox trample Pirates in Quinn Priester’s season debut
Before the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 8-1 loss to the Boston Red Sox on Friday night, manager Derek Shelton said sending Quinn Priester to Triple-A Indianapolis to start the season was a difficult decision. “Overall, it’s our belief that he is a good starting pitcher,” Shelton said. In his first start since...
Ke’Bryan Hayes returns to Pirates’ lineup while team keeps keen eye on his back tightness
Ke’Bryan Hayes returned to third base and the No. 3 spot in the Pittsburgh Pirates batting order Friday night after missing the previous two games against the New York Mets with tightness in his lower back. Manager Derek Shelton said he monitors Hayes’ back issue with daily conversastions. “The biggest...
Pirates’ Aroldis Chapman’s suspension reduced from 2 games to 1
After a meeting Friday morning among MLB officials and the Major League Players Association, Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman’s suspension was reduced from two games to one. He served the suspension Friday night when the Pirates played the Boston Red Sox at PNC Park. Chapman was ejected from the...
