Kevin Gorman stories, Page 3
Ryan O’Hearn homer highlights 4-RBI day as Pirates beat Baltimore to sweep 3-game series
What the Pittsburgh Pirates lacked more than pop in the middle of the lineup last season was the synergy to support a strong starting pitching performance. Braxton Ashcraft got both as he recorded a career-best eight strikeouts without a walk in six innings for a quality start against the Baltimore...
Pirates place infielder Jared Triolo (knee) on 10-day IL, recall outfielder Billy Cook
Just as the Pittsburgh Pirates were figuring out the left side of their infield, a knee injury has sidelined Jared Triolo and caused them to create a platoon at third base. The Pirates placed Triolo, a 2024 National League Gold Glove winner as a utility fielder and 2025 finalist, on...
‘I deserve to be booed’: DH Marcell Ozuna tries to snap out of funk, win over Pirates fans
When Marcell Ozuna came to bat, he was met with a chorus of boos from Pittsburgh Pirates fans at PNC Park. It was only his second home game, but Ozuna understands why they are voicing their displeasure. Ozuna was one of the Pirates’ big-ticket free agents — signing for $12...
Konnor Griffin creates cheers, savors silence in dazzling debut for Pirates in home opener
The electric environment for the home opener was interrupted Friday afternoon when Konnor Griffin stepped into the batter’s box for his first plate appearance with the Pittsburgh Pirates. The announcement that No. 6 was now batting brought a clamoring of cheers from the sellout crowd of 38,986 at PNC Park,...
Bob Nutting 1-on-1: After pumping up payroll, Pirates owner says ‘today really feels different’
Bob Nutting had every reason to smile before the Pittsburgh Pirates played their home opener Friday as PNC Park was abuzz with anticipation for the major-league debut of Konnor Griffin. The energy inside the ballpark was decidedly different because the Pirates pumped up their Opening Day payroll north of $100...
Konnor Griffin’s MLB debut has the baseball world talking about his potential for the Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates promoting Konnor Griffin to make his major league debut in the home opener was the talk of the baseball world Thursday, and with good reason. The 19-year-old shortstop is the consensus No. 1 prospect in the game, has dominated every level of the minor leagues and is...
Pirates to promote No. 1 prospect Konnor Griffin for MLB debut in PNC Park opener
Konnor Griffin will make his major-league debut in the home opener, as the Pittsburgh Pirates are promoting the 19-year-old shortstop who is the consensus No. 1 prospect in baseball. The Pirates announced the news by posting a video on social media Thursday morning under the caption, Opening Debut. It showed...
All-Star additions excited to make Pirates debuts at PNC Park in home opener
The first time Brandon Lowe visited PNC Park, he made a point to step onto the field and see the city skyline so that he could appreciate the view of one of baseball’s most beautiful ballparks. After seven seasons of playing at Tropicana Field and one makeshift season at a...
Paul Skenes returns to form with 5 strikeouts as Pirates pound Reds to win 3-game series
CINCINNATI — After being pulled two outs into the first inning of his Opening Day start against the New York Mets, Paul Skenes had a statistical line that sounds more appropriate for an April Fool’s joke. The Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander, who led the majors with a 1.97 ERA and was...
‘When Oneil Cruz goes, we go’: Pirates center fielder goes from lighting rod to lightning bolt
CINCINNATI – Bubba Chandler was in the tunnel of the visitor’s dugout when he heard commotion in the crowd and wondered who hit the home run, only to find out that Oneil Cruz crushed one. The Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder drilled Brandon Williamson’s 3-1 cutter 444 feet to right field,...
Pirates bats come alive as Ryan O’Hearn, Oneil Cruz, Bryan Reynolds homer in win over Reds
CINCINNATI — The Pittsburgh Pirates were struggling with runners in scoring position through their first four games, following a 6-for-39 showing in their series at the New York Mets by going 0 for 6 in their opener at the Cincinnati Reds. Ryan O’Hearn reacted to that statistic with a shrug....
Pirates hoping listless lineup can feed off hot bats of Brandon Lowe, Ryan O’Hearn
When the Pittsburgh Pirates added All-Stars Brandon Lowe and Ryan O’Hearn this offseason, it was with the intention of bringing some pop to a lineup that too often fell flat last season. Lowe and O’Hearn have been as advertised through the first four games, as both are batting better than...
Despite quality start by Braxton Ashcraft, Reds hold Pirates scoreless to win
The Pittsburgh Pirates couldn’t score through the first eight innings against the Cincinnati Reds, so their only hope came down to trying to manufacture a run against a pitcher seeking his first save. Filling in for Emilio Pagan, who had pitched the previous two games, Connor Phillips walked Marcell Ozuna...
Brandon Lowe makes powerful 1st impression on Pirates, with 3 home runs in opening series
Brandon Lowe is small but mighty and swings a big club, so the Bamm-Bamm nickname suits the two-time All-Star second baseman. The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired Lowe to be a bedrock in a batting order that lacked pop, and he made a powerful first impression by bashing a National League-best three...
Henry Davis delivers game-winning hit, then makes saving tag as Pirates beat Mets in 10
A day after the Pittsburgh Pirates took one on the chin in extra innings against the New York Mets, Henry Davis returned the favor. Davis drove in the winning run with a single in the 10th inning, then tagged Francisco Lindor at home plate to preserve the lead as the...
Luis Robert Jr. hits 3-run walk-off homer vs. Pirates rookie Hunter Barco, Mets win in 11th inning
Hunter Barco had never earned a save in his college or pro career, but the Pittsburgh Pirates put the rookie left-hander in position to do that by turning to him in extra innings. After getting out of a jam in the 10th inning, Barco gave up a three-run homer to...
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Oneil Cruz’s misplays in center field prove costly for Pirates in opener
Oneil Cruz could blame his Opening Day misplays in center field on the sun — and he did, to some degree — but that only accounts for one of his two first-inning gaffes in the 11-7 loss to the New York Mets. If only it were a matter of why...
Paul Skenes makes early exit amid 5-run 1st inning as Mets pound Pirates in season opener
Paul Skenes made a stunning exit on Opening Day as the Pittsburgh Pirates ace and National League Cy Young Award winner got an early hook after allowing five runs with two outs in the first inning. The New York Mets scored five runs while batting around the order before the...
Early exit: Pirates’ Paul Skenes doesn’t survive 1st inning at Mets in opener
It was a short-lived Opening Day for Paul Skenes, as the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner didn’t survive the first inning of the season opener Thursday afternoon against the New York Mets. It was a stunning early exit at Citi Field, as Skenes was yanked with two outs...
For Don Kelly, 1st Opening Day as Pirates manager represents a fresh start in dream job
Don Kelly has made no secret that he cherishes every moment of managing the Pittsburgh Pirates, and the season opener at the New York Mets on Thursday marked the first Opening Day as their skipper for the Mt. Lebanon and Point Park alum. Kelly shared an inspired message with his...
Paul Skenes leans into leadership as Opening Day starter wants to will the Pirates to win
Paul Skenes will be the first to admit that he wasn’t the leader of the Pittsburgh Pirates last season, instead taking a deferential disposition toward franchise icon Andrew McCutchen and other veteran players. Now that Skenes has asserted his dominance as a two-time All-Star starting pitcher, the reigning National League...
Previewing the Pirates: Rebuilt bullpen could see Dennis Santana, Gregory Soto as closers
For the Pittsburgh Pirates, the final bullpen moves came down to their starting pitching, but the biggest decision will be who serves as closer. From the outset of spring training, the bulk relief role was going to be determined by who won the fifth spot in the rotation. When Carmen...
Lefty Hunter Barco scoreless in relief but Braves beat Pirates in Grapefruit League finale
Hunter Barco made the final cut for the Pittsburgh Pirates, then showed why he’s ready for a relief role. The 6-foot-4 left-hander tossed 2 1/3 scoreless innings to finish spring training with a 2.31 ERA after being scored upon once in five appearances. It was the way the game started...
Pirates reassign RHP Mike Clevinger in final cuts; Hunter Barco, Jose Urquidy make team
The Pittsburgh Pirates made their final cut of spring training, reassigning right-handed pitcher Mike Clevinger to minor league camp in a move that determined the final two spots in the bullpen. The 35-year-old Clevinger was 1-0 with a 5.02 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 15 strikeouts against 10 walks and a .200...
Previewing the Pirates: With Konnor Griffin out of mix, Jared Triolo could be key at shortstop
The storyline that dominated spring training for the Pittsburgh Pirates was whether 19-year-old Konnor Griffin, the consensus top prospect in baseball, would be their starting shortstop on Opening Day. When the Pirates opted to reassign Griffin to minor league camp Saturday, it painted a clearer picture of who would be...
