Pirates/MLB category, Page 54
Teoscar Hernandez hits walk-off single as Dodgers sweep Pirates, who lose 7th straight
As soon as Andrew McCutchen made contact, he nonchalantly dropped his bat and started to shrug his shoulders in celebration. It was that obvious that the Pittsburgh Pirates designated hitter had homered again. McCutchen sparked the Pirates to rally from a four-run deficit with a pair of two-run homers, including...
Despite 6-game skid, Pirates GM Ben Cherington believes playoff push is possible
That the Pittsburgh Pirates were riding a six-game losing streak into Sunday’s series finale against the Los Angeles Dodgers did little to damper Ben Cherington’s belief that the postseason is a possibility. The Pirates general manager said sitting 10 ½ games behind the first-place Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central...
With disastrous outings on his mind, Pirates reliever Ben Heller escapes bases-loaded jam
When Ben Heller loaded the bases against the first three Los Angeles Dodgers he faced, the right-handed reliever couldn’t help but have flashbacks to his previous outings for the Pittsburgh Pirates. The 33-year-old Heller allowed 11 earned runs on nine hits, one walk and four hit batsmen in a pair...
Dodgers score early against Paul Skenes as Pirates suffer 6th consecutive loss
Paul Skenes won the big-on-big matchups against Los Angeles Dodgers stars Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman. It was Teoscar Hernandez and Gavin Lux who gave the Pittsburgh Pirates rookie phenom fits. Hernandez became the first player to hit Skenes’ signature splinker for a home run in a three-hit game, and...
Pirates farm report for Aug. 10, 2024: Thomas Harrington takes loss for Indianapolis
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 51-58) managed five hits in a 3-0 loss to Nashville (Brewers). 1B Malcom Nunez (.266) and 2B Alika Williams (.311) each went 1 for 4 with a double. 2B Nick Yorke (.322) went 1 for 2. RHP Thomas Harrington (0-1, 6.10) started and gave up two runs on...
With Hall of Famer in family, Isiah Kiner-Falefa embraces Pirates’ identity
Every time Isiah Kiner-Falefa visited PNC Park, he would make a point to look up at Ralph Kiner’s retired No. 4 or visit the bronze bust of his hands holding a Louisville Slugger bat. They share more than a surname. Kiner-Falefa’s maternal grandfather is Ralph’s cousin who attended the University...
Dodgers tag Mitch Keller for 5 runs in 3rd inning, hand Pirates 5th consecutive loss
The Pittsburgh Pirates were hoping that Mitch Keller could stop their losing skid. Instead, the anchor of their pitching staff delivered his worst start of the season. Keller surrendered a two-run home run to Shohei Ohtani in a five-run third inning and gave up seven runs in a 9-5 loss...
Pirates farm report for Aug. 9, 2024: Bubba Chandler throws 7 scoreless, 2-hit innings in Triple-A debut
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 51-57) shut out Nashville (Brewers), 6-0. RHP Bubba Chandler was brilliant in his first Triple-A start, allowing two hits and a walk in seven scoreless innings. He fanned six. RHP Fineas De Bonta-Smith (4.05) and RHP Ryder Ryan (4.45) each pitched a scoreless inning without allowing a hit....
Pirates promote controversial pitcher Domingo German, who threw perfect game last season
The Pittsburgh Pirates selected the contract of controversial right-handed pitcher Domingo German – who produced the most recent perfect game in major league history – before Friday’s game at the Los Angeles Dodgers. German had a 31-28 record with a 4.41 ERA and 1.18 WHIP in 112 games (89 starts)...
Tim Benz: Why is everyone so mad at the Pirates? Can’t you tell they are doing us a favor?
Based on everything I’ve read online, seen on social media, and heard on sports talk radio, local sports fans are infuriated with the Pittsburgh Pirates lately. I can’t understand why. They did their part for the Western Pa. sports scene. Our beloved Buccos walked us right up to the start...
With season spiraling, Pirates count on starting pitching to serve as stoppers of losing streak
As the Pittsburgh Pirates attempt to put a disastrous homestand that ended with getting swept by the San Diego Padres in their rearview, they turn to their most reliable pitcher to serve as a stopper. Mitch Keller’s streak of 49 consecutive starts of pitching at least five innings ended against...
Pirates farm report for Aug. 8, 2024: Jared Jones gives up 1 hit, a homer, in 1st rehab start
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 50-57) managed four hits in a 3-1 loss to Nashville (Brewers). RHP Jared Jones (0-1, 6.75) started and pitched 2⅔ innings as he began a rehab assignment (lat). He allowed one hit – a two-run homer by Vinny Capra – with one walk and three strikeouts. RHP Mike...
David Bednar blows another lead, as Padres score 3 runs in 9th to sweep reeling Pirates
David Bednar was booed off the field by the home crowd after blowing another one-run lead in the ninth inning against the San Diego Padres, and the Pittsburgh Pirates closer offered no defense. Instead, Bednar swallowed hard and accepted the blame for failing to finish as the Pirates continued their...
Pirates place struggling reliever Colin Holderman on 15-day IL, DFA Edward Olivares
The Pittsburgh Pirates made a series of roster moves before Thursday’s game against the San Diego Padres, with the most prominent affecting a struggling high-leverage reliever. The Pirates placed right-hander Colin Holderman, who has a 16.62 ERA in his past five appearances, on the 15-day injured list with a sprained...
U mad, bro?: Colin Holderman can’t pitch; Oneil Cruz can’t field; Steelers can’t get Brandon Aiyuk to Pittsburgh
The Pittsburgh Steelers can’t pull off a trade for Brandon Aiyuk, and fans can’t escape me discussing it. Colin Holderman can’t pitch, and Oneil Cruz can’t get out of his own way. Also, readers apparently can’t find our Olympics coverage, and I apparently can’t find my dictionary. It’s the dog...
Pirates lefty Aroldis Chapman ties record for fastest recorded strikeout pitch at 104.7 mph
When Aroldis Chapman painted the inside corner with a sinker for a called third strike, all San Diego Padres star Manny Machado could do was stare back at the Pittsburgh Pirates left-hander in stunned silence. Chapman stood on the mound in his statuesque staredown pose before cracking a smile when...
Padres score 3 runs in 10th, hold on to hand Pirates their 3rd consecutive loss
Just after the Pittsburgh Pirates gave up the lead, Andrew McCutchen launched a home run to tie the score in the fourth inning, then added a two-run single in the sixth for the lead. With two runners in scoring position and the Pirates clinging to a one-run advantage, Aroldis Chapman...
Pirates farm report for Aug. 7, 2024: Indianapolis wins on Alika Williams sacrifice fly
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 50-56) beat Nashville (Brewers), 4-3, in 10 innings. SS Alika Williams (.315) went 1 for 4 and drove in the winning run with a sacrifice fly. RHP Connor Sadzeck (3-2, 4.28) pitched a scoreless ninth and 10th to pick up the win. DH Billy Cook (.289) went 1...
‘An ocean in the warning track’: How Pirates-Padres came to play after lengthy rain delay
The only things that came down faster than the rainstorm that interrupted the game at PNC Park on Tuesday night were the hyperbolic reactions from the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Diego Padres. When a flash flood clogged the drainage system with dirt and flooded the outfield, players and coaches likened...
Pirates farm report for Aug. 6, 2024: Omar Alfonzo goes 4 for 4 with homer in Greensboro debut
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 49-56) lost 8-4 to Nashville (Brewers). RHP Aaron Shortridge (1-1, 5.06) started and was touched up for seven runs on eight hits and two walks in four innings. LHP Michael Plassmeyer (8.21) pitched two scoreless innings. 1B Malcom Nunez (.267) went 1 for 3 with his 11th homer....
Pirates blanked by Padres following rain delay of nearly 3 hours
The Pittsburgh Pirates were slated to take on MLB’s stikeouts leader, Dylan Cease of the San Diego Padres on Tuesday night, but that showdown did not materialize as anticipated thanks to a rain delay that paused play in the middle of the second inning at PNC Park for 2 hours,...
After lengthy rain delay, Pirates to reward fans for their patience with 2 complimentary tickets
After a rainstorm flooded the warning track Tuesday night at PNC Park, the Pittsburgh Pirates are issuing two complimentary tickets to fans who endured the two-hour, 40-minute delay. “We appreciate the patience of our fans,” Pirates senior vice president of communications Brian Warecki said in a statement. “We will be...
Pirates manager Derek Shelton gets taste of practice intensity at Steelers training camp
Derek Shelton got his first taste of a Pittsburgh Steelers training camp at Saint Vincent College on Tuesday, and the Pirates manager was more fascinated by their coach than the old-fashioned campus setting. After an off day Monday, Shelton and general manager Ben Cherington accepted an invitation from Steelers coach...
Pirates’ Colin Holderman on ‘weird’ struggles: ‘I haven’t had this happen to me in my career’
Not only are things going badly for Pirates relief pitcher Colin Holderman, he’s also not completely sure what’s going on, or how to fix it. As recently as June 29, Holderman was 3-1 with a 1.21 ERA. After being tagged with a blown save and a loss while giving up...
After struggling at plate, Michael A. Taylor hoping to finish season strong for Pirates
As contradictory as it sounds, Michael A. Taylor found that when he stopped focusing on his results he delivered better outcomes for the Pittsburgh Pirates. That was easier said than done for Taylor, who got off to a red-hot start in the first week only to watch his batting average...
