Pirates/MLB category, Page 76
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: After strong start, Pirates spiral as strengths turn to weaknesses
A seven-game road trip that ended with being swept by the New York Mets turned the Pittsburgh Pirates upside down as their strengths became weaknesses, and they spiraled after a strong start. It’s bad enough the Pirates (11-8) have lost six of their past eight games, but the fashion of...
Pirates farm report for April 17, 2024: 5 Indianapolis pitchers blank St. Paul
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 8-9) won a 1-0 pitchers’ duel with St. Paul (Twins). C Carter Bins (.286) went 2 for 4 and hit a walk-off single to score CF Gilberto Celestino. 2B Nick Gonzales (.388) went 1 for 4 with a double and two strikeouts. LF Canaan Smith-Njigba (.300) went 1...
Led by 2-run homers by Starling Marte, Harrison Bader, Mets sweep Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are dealing with their share of problems, but none is more glaring than their sudden offensive ineffectiveness. The New York Mets held the Pirates to five hits — none over the final four innings — and got two-run homers by Starling Marte and Harrison Bader for a...
Out of alignment: Bothersome back issue sidelines Pirates 3B Ke’Bryan Hayes again
Even before Ke’Bryan Hayes was a late scratch from the starting lineup Tuesday at the New York Mets, the Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman knew lower back tightness could become an issue this season. The 2023 NL Gold Glove winner told TribLive during the opening homestand that his back continues to...
Pirates farm report for April 16, 2024: Nick Gonzales racks up 4 more hits in Indy win
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 7-9) outslugged St. Paul (Twins), 10-6. 2B Nick Gonzales (.397) went 4 for 5 with a double and a triple. DH Canaan Smith-Njigba (.286) went 3 for 3 with a walk, a double, two runs scored and two RBIs. CH Ji Hwan Bae (.500) went 2 for 4...
Jared Jones shows ruthless efficiency but bullpen blows lead as Mets beat Pirates
Jared Jones continues to shove with a ruthless efficiency, recording seven strikeouts without a walk while holding the New York Mets to one hit in five shutout innings. That the Pittsburgh Pirates practiced caution with his innings limit, pulling the rookie right-hander after 59 pitches, backfired when their bullpen blew...
Alika Williams embracing utility role for Pirates, proving his bat is better than expected
Alika Williams never had played anywhere but shortstop or second base before this season, when he started taking grounders at other infield positions and even shagging flies in the outfield. Williams knew his best chance of making the Pittsburgh Pirates out of spring training might be as a utility player,...
Aroldis Chapman ejected after giving up 3 runs in 8th inning as Mets rally past Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates endured another meltdown in the back end of their bullpen. This one belonged to Aroldis Chapman, who appeared angered that the strike zone was being squeezed. The seven-time All-Star reliever was ejected by home plate umpire Edwin Moscoso after surrendering a two-run double in a three-run eighth...
Paul Skenes not atop Pirates’ shortlist of candidates to plug hole in starting rotation
Pittsburgh Pirates starter Marco Gonzales was direct during spring training when discussing the club’s top overall prospect, fellow pitcher Paul Skenes, complimenting his abilities and predicting Skenes “probably (is) going to take one of our jobs eventually.” With Sunday bringing news of Gonzales heading to the injured list with a...
Pirates farm report for April 14, 2024: Hudson Head’s 3-run homer lifts Grasshoppers to win
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 6-9) lost to Toledo (Tigers), 16-6. 3B Malcom Nunez (.271) blasted a solo homer and had two RBIs. PH Eli Wilson (.500) also hit a solo home run. DH Liover Peguero (.356) had an RBI double. CF Gilberto Celestino (.265) was 2 for 4 with an RBI and...
Grand slam by Jack Suwinski, 300th HR by Andrew McCutchen help Pirates split with PhilliesVideo
The Pittsburgh Pirates were looking for a series split in their fourth and final game against the Philadelphia Phillies Sunday at Citizens Bank Park, and Jack Suwinski’s sixth-inning grand slam provided the necessary boost, powering his club to a 9-2 win. Pirates starter Mitch Keller (2-1, 4.50 ERA) recorded his...
Pirates’ Andrew McCutchen blasts elusive home run No. 300 in victory over PhilliesVideo
Andrew McCutchen probably can testify better than most that good things come to those who wait. And McCutchen, seeking his 300th career home run since Aug. 22 of last year, when he hit No. 299 off St. Louis’ Adam Wainwright, certainly had put in time searching for that elusive milestone....
Marco Gonzales heads to injured list as Pirates suffer early blow to starting rotation
Only a few weeks into the 2024 campaign, the Pittsburgh Pirates must deal with an early blow to their starting rotation, as lefty Marco Gonzales was placed on the 15-day injured list because of a left forearm muscle strain, the club announced Sunday. Last season, as a member of the...
Pirates farm report for April 13, 2024: Bubba Chandler throws 4 no-hit innings for Altoona
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 6-8) was swept by Toledo (Tigers) in a doubleheader, 13-4 and 3-2. In a makeup game from Thursday, SP Cam Alldred (10.00) yielded seven runs in the bottom of the first inning. Alldred lasted two innings. The bullpen didn’t fare much better as Kade McClure (16.88) surrendered four...
Nick Castellanos single lifts Phillies to walk-off win over Pirates
With one swing, Nick Castellanos turned jeers to cheers. After being booed following a strikeout in the seventh inning, Philadelphia Phillies fans celebrated when Castellanos delivered the winning single for a 4-3 walk-off win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park. After striking out to strand...
First love: Now that Pirates 3B Ke’Bryan Hayes has a Gold Glove, focus turns to his hitting
Ke’Bryan Hayes finally has the hardware to prove he’s the best defensive player at his position in the National League, even if the Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman’s glove is missing its gold. Hayes uses an old Wilson model, so he isn’t allowed to adorn it with the gold patch that...
Pirates farm report for April 12, 2024: Another scoreless outing for Paul Skenes with Indy
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 6-6) lost 4-3 in 11 innings to Toledo (Tigers) as RHP Paul Skenes made his third Triple-A start. Skenes (0.00) pitched 3⅓ scoreless innings, allowing three hits, all singles, and a walk with eight strikeouts. He has 19 strikeouts in 9⅓ innings with Indy. RHP Ryder Ryan (9.00)...
David Bednar bounces back to earn save as Pirates capitalize on Phillies errors for win
The Liberty Bell on their City Connect uniforms wasn’t the only thing with a crack in it for the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday night, as their defense dealt with a night full of self-inflicted damage. David Bednar proved there’s no cracks in his confidence. The Pittsburgh Pirates’ All-Star closer rebounded...
Pirates outfielder Edward Olivares continues hot streak with 3rd consecutive 2-hit game
Even on days when the Pittsburgh Pirates aren’t making much contact, Edward Olivares continues to collect hits. The 28-year-old outfielder, acquired from the Kansas City Royals in December, had his third consecutive two-hit game for the Pirates by going 2 for 4 in Thursday’s 5-1 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies....
Pirates farm report for April 11, 2024: Lonnie White Jr. hits 4th homer for Greensboro
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 6-5) and Toledo (Tigers) were rained out. The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader at 2:35 p.m. Saturday. Next: Friday at Toledo (Tigers), 7:05 p.m. ALTOONA (Double-A, 3-2) and Harrisburg (Nationals) were rained out. The game will be made up as part of a...
Jared Jones delivers another quality start but surrenders 2 homers as Phillies top Pirates
Jared Jones faced the toughest test of his young career against a Philadelphia Phillies lineup filled with All-Stars, and the Pittsburgh Pirates rookie right-hander engaged in a duel with lefty Ranger Suarez. Jones went strikeout-for-strikeout with Suarez, matching him with 31 called strikes and whiffs. The difference, however, came as...
Pirates reinstate setup man Colin Holderman from 15-day IL in time for Phillies series
The Pittsburgh Pirates ended the rehabilitation assignment of right-handed reliever Colin Holderman and reinstated him from the 15-day injured list. Holderman, who lost 15 pounds due to an illness in spring training, allowed three runs in two-thirds of an inning in his first appearance on March 29 but held opponents...
U mad, bro?: Pirates fans push back on booing of David Bednar, idea of Barry Bonds in team Hall of Fame
This week, I didn’t defend a hometown hero after he got booed at PNC Park. I suggested that a Pittsburgh sports pariah get inducted into the Pirates Hall of Fame. And I refused to advance a bogus politically correct women’s sports media narrative. So, as you could imagine, my social...
Analysis: Countdown on for Paul Skenes to check boxes, receive promotion to Pirates
As soon as the Baltimore Orioles promoted Jackson Holliday, the 2022 No. 1 overall pick and baseball’s consensus top prospect, it prompted speculation about when the Pittsburgh Pirates would do the same with top pitching prospect Paul Skenes. The answer is simple: Not yet. The 6-foot-6, 250-pound right-hander, the No....
Pirates farm report for April 10, 2024: Nick Gonzales belts 2 more doubles, scores winning run for Indy
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 6-5) beat Toledo (Tigers), 4-3. LF Billy McKinney (.258) singled home 2B Nick Gonzales in the top of the ninth for the game-winning score. Gonzales (.391) finished 2 for 5 with a pair of doubles. 1B Jake Lamb (.371) was 2 for 4 with two singles and an...
