Kevin Gorman stories, Page 11
Nick Gonzales delivers bases-loaded sacrifice fly to lift Pirates to walk-off win over Phillies
Nick Gonzales watched Isiah Kiner-Falefa drop a bunt that rolled slowly down the third base line before stopping in fair territory, leaving the bases loaded for the Pittsburgh Pirates with no outs in the ninth inning. “I was as excited as if someone hit a homer,” Gonzales said. “To see...
Endy Rodriguez exits with right elbow issue, leaving Pirates shorthanded at catcher
When Endy Rodriguez was sidelined Friday night due to right elbow discomfort, it left the Pittsburgh Pirates with only one catcher against the Philadelphia Phillies. Pirates manager Don Kelly pulled Rodriguez after he experienced issues with his right elbow in the second inning. “We were just monitoring that,” Kelly said....
Framber Valdez strikes out 11 as Astros beat Pirates following long rain delay
After the start of the game was delayed three hours, 22 minutes by rain, Framber Valdez made short work of the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Houston left-hander struck out the side in the first inning on his way to recording a season-best 11 strikeouts in an 8-2 win Thursday night before...
Mike Burrows shines in start as Pirates shut out Astros to even series
Mike Burrows came out full of adrenaline, only to find himself in a 3-0 count against Houston Astros leadoff batter Jeremy Pena. That’s when Burrows came to a realization about the first two starts of his major-league career and slowed the game down. Burrows began by recovering to strike out...
Paul Skenes Q&A: Pirates ace speaks frankly about lack of run support in quality starts
Paul Skenes walked off the field to an ovation Tuesday night from the crowd of 15,891 at PNC Park after the 23-year-old right-hander recorded eight strikeouts and allowed one run over eight innings. The applause was more appreciation than celebration, as the Pittsburgh Pirates trailed the Houston Astros, 1-0. Skenes...
Pirates showing trust in Chase Shugart in big moments, as reliever embraces fireman role
After retiring 13 consecutive San Diego Padres, Andrew Heaney allowed two doubles in a span of three batters before Pittsburgh Pirates manager Don Kelly turned to the bullpen in the sixth inning. With two outs, a runner on second base and the Pirates protecting a two-run lead, Chase Shugart came...
While chasing Clemente, Andrew McCutchen spoke up and showed the Pirates leadership
Andrew McCutchen started the weekend by staring down then shouting at the umpire after his controversial called third strike cost the Pittsburgh Pirates the go-ahead run in a loss to the San Diego Padres. The 38-year-old designated hitter challenged his teammates in a closed-door meeting by telling them to earn...
Andrew McCutchen hits historic homer but Padres rally with 4-run 7th to beat Pirates
Andrew McCutchen moved into a tie with a franchise icon, but the Pittsburgh Pirates blew a chance to win successive series for the first time this season. McCutchen got the Pirates going when he hit a two-run home run in the third inning — his 240th with the Pirates —...
Pirates GM remains mum on timeline for promotion of top prospect Bubba Chandler
As Bubba Chandler plays the waiting game to be promoted, the man who makes that call remains non-committal about a timeline for baseball’s top pitching prospect to make his major-league debut. Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said Sunday on his weekly radio show that Chandler’s efficiency and where he...
Great company: Andrew McCutchen homers to tie Roberto Clemente among Pirates’ leadersVideo
As franchise icons and jersey numbers go, Andrew McCutchen ranks behind Roberto Clemente in both categories. When it comes to home runs for the Pittsburgh Pirates, however, they are now tied. McCutchen hit a two-run homer against the San Diego Padres on Sunday, and his 240th with the Pirates ties...
Bailey Falter completes amazing month with another scoreless start as Pirates blank Padres
Bailey Falter brought new meaning to Mayday, causing opponents to use the distress signal with a masterful month on the mound. The Pittsburgh Pirates left-hander completed one of the best months for a starting pitcher in franchise history, finishing with only three earned runs for an 0.76 ERA in six...
Former Pirates All-Star Josh Harrison announces retirement after 13 MLB seasons
Josh Harrison developed from a super utility player into a two-time All-Star and one of the charismatic characters for the Pittsburgh Pirates during their three-year stretch of clinching wild-card playoff berths. Known for the dynamic play despite his diminutive stature and for the joy he brought to the game, the...
Full Count: Pirates await arrival of top prospect Bubba Chandler, a ‘superstar in the making’
Bubba Chandler already is one of the top prospects in baseball — rising to No. 2 in MLB Pipeline and No. 3 in Baseball America rankings — so the 22-year-old pitcher needs no endorsements to explain his potential. Chandler got a glowing one anyway. “I think he’s a superstar in...
Bucs Beat Q&A: Pirates lefty Bailey Falter getting into swing of being a single-digit pitcher
Bucs Beat Q&A: Pirates lefty Bailey Falter You ended up working out a deal with Adam Frazier for No. 26? For giving up 26, he bought me a new bag and some new Srixon clubs. I’m excited to use them. I’m not a big golfer, but I’m excited because I’ve...
Controversial call with bases loaded leaves Pirates stunned as Padres hold on for close win
When Robert Suarez threw a 99-mph fastball below the strike zone on a full count with two outs and the bases loaded in the top of the eighth inning, Henry Davis flipped his bat and started to take off his wrist protector in celebration. Instead of Davis drawing a walk...
Former Pirates president Mark Sauer, who called for changes to baseball’s inequities, dies at 78
Mark Sauer transformed from an executive for three major sports franchises, including the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1990s, to become a passionate advocate for educational equality in retirement. Sauer died May 22 in Delray Beach, Fla. He was 78. After serving as deputy chief operating officer of MLB’s St. Louis...
Double take: Brewers rally for 3 runs on 3 doubles in 8th, beat Pirates for series split
The Pittsburgh Pirates bounced back from a bad start, thanks to grinding start from Bailey Falter, a prolific home run from Oneil Cruz and a go-ahead two-run double from Adam Frazier. Just as the Pirates were on the brink of winning successive series for the first time this season, the...
Pirates star Oneil Cruz breaks Statcast exit velocity record with a 122.9-mph home run
Adam Frazier was watching video of his at-bat in the Pittsburgh Pirates dugout when he heard the crack of Oneil Cruz’s bat, just in time to look up and see the ball clear the right-field stands at PNC Park and reach the Allegheny River on a bounce. “I’m just glad...
Mitch Keller provides quality start, Oneil Cruz drives in winning run as Pirates top Brewers
Mitch Keller dealt with his share of ups and downs early in his major-league career with the Pittsburgh Pirates that mentally steeled the right-hander and taught him how handle adversity with aplomb. Keller had lost six consecutive decisions, a run of futility not seen since Quinn Priester lost seven straight...
Full Count: Henry Davis’ development behind plate is promising sign for Pirates
The infielder in Pittsburgh Pirates manager Don Kelly was amazed at the deke by catcher Henry Davis, who stood statuesque awaiting a relay throw from Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Davis caught it and slapped a tag on an unsuspecting Spencer Steer sliding into home plate in the sixth inning of Wednesday’s 3-1...
Bucs Beat Q&A: Making 1st start for Pirates at PNC Park was ‘complete circle’ for Mike Burrows
How much did you take from your MLB debut at Yankee Stadium last September back to Triple-A Indianapolis? For me, it created perspective on what I needed to do down there to work on things. Down there, you can get really caught up in trying to prove that you’re ready...
‘Blessing in disguise’: Spencer Horwitz adds hot bat, improved defense to Pirates after surgery
Spencer Horwitz waited a long time to make his Pittsburgh Pirates debut, which was delayed by surgery on his right wrist in February that caused him to miss spring training and the first 45 games of the season. He has wasted no time making a positive impression. The 27-year-old first...
Pirates snap streak of not scoring more than 4 runs but are beaten by Brewers
Just when it appeared that neither Mother Nature nor the baseball gods could prevent the Pittsburgh Pirates from setting a major league record of dubious distinction Thursday night, they finally caught a break. The Pirates hadn’t scored more than four runs in 26 games when a one-hour, 50-minute rain delay...
Trade Paul Skenes? GM Ben Cherington downright dismissive of dealing Pirates star
As the Pittsburgh Pirates stumbled to a disappointing start to the season, the idea that they should consider trading star right-hander Paul Skenes has become a hot-button topic in baseball circles. Pirates general manager Ben Cherington smirked when asked about trading Skenes on Thursday afternoon, entertaining the question if not...
Amid historically bad offensive stretch, Pirates focus on finding a fix
The Pittsburgh Pirates are mired in an historic offensive slump, one that saw them match a major-league record Wednesday for most games without scoring more than four runs. When Spencer Horwitz drove in Andrew McCutchen with an RBI groundout in the ninth inning of an 8-5 loss to the Milwaukee...
