Kevin Gorman stories, Page 56
‘It’s vital’: At age 37, 1B Carlos Santana has provided major defensive upgrade for Pirates
Carlos Santana doesn’t want to hear about his age, scoffing at suggestions that, at 37, he’s too old to be an everyday player or that he’s nearing the end of his major-league career. The Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman is proving naysayers wrong this season, as he ranks at the top...
Pirates pound 17 hits to dominate Diamondbacks, move into 1st-place tie
When the Pittsburgh Pirates last played at PNC Park, they scored a grand total of nine runs over a six-game homestand against the Toronto Blue Jays and Colorado Rockies. This time, the Bucs brought their bats. Behind a seven-run fourth inning and Bryan Reynolds’ three-run homer in the fifth, the...
Backup catcher Jason Delay proves that production at plate plays for Pirates
Amid the clamoring for the Pittsburgh Pirates to promote top prospects Endy Rodriguez or Henry Davis, backup catcher Jason Delay has quietly proven to be more productive than anticipated. Where starting catcher Austin Hedges is hitting .143, Delay has a team-best .339 batting average (19 for 56) in 21 games...
Behind a pair of solo homers, Tyler Wells’ 1-hitter over 7 innings, Orioles blank Pirates
After not allowing a home run in his first five starts, Roansy Contreras gave up one in each of his past two starts. The Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander never had surrendered more than one homer in a game. The Baltimore Orioles changed that by the second inning. Adley Rutschman and Gunnar...
‘Nobody sees behind the scenes’: At 43, Pirates lefty Rich Hill has strict routine between starts
Rich Hill is the oldest pitcher in baseball, with more salt than pepper in his beard but fewer ice packs on his body than the average fan would expect from a 43-year-old in his 19th season in the major leagues. If you were expecting Hill to resemble Eddie Harris, the...
Cedric Mullins hits for cycle with 3-run homer vs. Pirates
The Baltimore Orioles were clinging to a one-run lead when Cedric Mullins came to bat with two on and two outs in the eighth inning, searching for the elusive hit to complete one of baseball’s rarest feats. Mullins drove Duane Underwood Jr.’s 1-1 changeup 376 feet to right field for...
‘I’m going to reach all of them:’ Pirates star Andrew McCutchen eyes milestone moments
For all the fanfare that surrounded his return to the Pittsburgh Pirates, Andrew McCutchen passed a major milestone in his baseball career this week with barely a written word or whisper of congratulations. If not for a daily milestone tracker kept by team historian Jim Trdinich as the five-time All-Star,...
Pirates RHP Vince Velasquez resumes throwing, ‘very encouraging’ news for elbow discomfort
The Pittsburgh Pirates got “very encouraging” news regarding starting pitcher Vince Velasquez, who has resumed throwing after leaving last Thursday’s start at Tampa Bay with right elbow discomfort. The 30-year-old right-hander is projected to throw a live bullpen session early next week. Velasquez probably will require a rehabilitation assignment before...
Pirates focus on development of Henry Davis, Endy Rodriguez as catchers despite big bats
With two of their top three prospects playing the same position, the Pittsburgh Pirates separated catchers Endy Rodriguez and Henry Davis so both could play behind the plate on an everyday basis. The Pirates sent Rodriguez to Triple-A Indianapolis and Davis to Double-A Altoona in an effort to accelerate their...
Rockies rough up Pirates on 11 hits, including a pair of Jurickson Profar home runs
With their seven-game losing streak behind them, the Pittsburgh Pirates looked to Luis Ortiz to provide the same kind of spark the rookie right-hander gave them in his major-league debut last September. Instead, they went down in flames. A tied game took a turn in the fourth inning, when first...
Pirates continue roster shuffle, adding hot bat from Triple-A
Ben Cherington said Monday he wasn’t satisfied with the Pittsburgh Pirates’ depth, so the general manager is shaking up the roster after they endured a season-worst, seven-game losing streak. A day after adding veteran Chris Owings to stabilize the shortstop position, the Pirates added a hot bat to the lineup...
After struggling amid Pirates’ losing streak, Rodolfo Castro gets redemption with homer
When Rodolfo Castro hit Kyle Freeland’s belt-high fastball, he knew that it had a chance. Then again, the Pittsburgh Pirates infielder hit the ball to left-center, the deepest part of PNC Park. So there was a moment of uncertainty as it sailed toward the bullpen and just over the outstretched...
Behind Mitch Keller’s shutout, Rodolfo Castro’s HR, Pirates top Rockies to snap 7-game skid
There was never a conversation about taking Mitch Keller out of the game, not with the way the Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander was dealing against the Colorado Rockies with confidence and pinpoint control. The pressure of pitching in a scoreless game was relieved when Rodolfo Castro hit a line drive over...
Pirates switch shortstops, adding Chris Owings, anticipate RHP Luis Ortiz starting Tuesday
Searching for stability at shortstop and a starting pitcher, the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday turned to Triple-A Indianapolis for a pair of roster moves made in hopes of stopping their seven-game losing streak. The Pirates selected the contract of 31-year-old Chris Owings and immediately inserted him into the starting lineup...
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Pirates seeking to find another flip side amid 7-game losing streak
Following a 10-1 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday, Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton attempted to explain how his team went from the hottest team in baseball to the coldest almost overnight. On April 23, the Pirates had won seven consecutive games to improve to 16-7 and move...
Blue Jays pound Pirates, who suffer 2nd consecutive sweep, drop 7th loss in a row
After suffering a second consecutive sweep that stretched their losing streak to seven games, the Pittsburgh Pirates can take comfort in one thing: At least they don’t play in the American League East. The Toronto Blue Jays followed the Tampa Bay Rays in sweeping a three-game series over the Pirates,...
Blue Jays batter Johan Oviedo early, get 14 hits to hand Pirates 6th consecutive loss
From the very first pitch, when George Springer belted Johan Oviedo’s 96 mph fastball for a single, the Toronto Blue Jays showed they arrived ready to hit. It took the Pittsburgh Pirates five innings to answer. The Blue Jays jumped out to a seven-run lead and pounded 14 hits to...
‘It shows he’s a really good hitter’: Bryan Reynolds rakes even as Pirates scuffle at plate
Bryan Reynolds doesn’t have an explanation for how he was riding a 10-game hitting streak while the rest of the Pittsburgh Pirates were scuffling at the plate, especially during their five-game losing streak. “I think hitting can be contagious both ways,” Reynolds said. “It’s hard to hit when nobody else...
Andrew McCutchen scratched after twisting left ankle, as scuffling Pirates endure injury bug
Andrew McCutchen was going through his normal pregame routine of taking fly balls in the outfield when he went to plant his foot and felt it give, then slipped and awkwardly twisted his left ankle. The Pittsburgh Pirates made an 11th-hour decision to scratch McCutchen from the starting lineup, where...
Pirates run into outs in shutout loss to Blue Jays, stretching losing streak to 5
The Pittsburgh Pirates got off to a strong start this season on the strength of their speed and aggressive baserunning. Against Toronto, the Pirates ran into outs. Pirates runners were thrown out twice at third base and once at home plate. As a result, they came up empty as the...
On the spot: With Vince Velasquez out, Pirates must find replacement for starting rotation
When the Pittsburgh Pirates placed Vince Velasquez on the 15-day injured list Friday, it marked the second time they were forced to replace a starting pitcher this season. The first was an easy decision: Johan Oviedo took the spot of JT Brubaker, who underwent Tommy John surgery. The second one...
Pirates place RHP Vince Velasquez on 15-day IL, activate reliever Chase De Jong
The Pittsburgh Pirates placed right-handed pitcher Vince Velasquez on the 15-day injured list with right elbow discomfort, one day after he was removed following the third inning of Thursday’s 3-2 loss at Tampa Bay. The Pirates also ended the rehabilitation assignment for right-handed reliever Chase De Jong, who was activated...
‘It’s incredible’: Pirates reliever Colin Holderman throws immaculate inning against Rays
Colin Holderman hates to lose, so the Pittsburgh Pirates right-handed reliever brought some anger to the mound while trailing the Tampa Bay Rays in the bottom of the seventh inning. “I’ll tell you what, I was pretty mad going into it,” Holderman said on the AT&T SportsNet postgame show. “I...
Rays hold off 9th-inning rally to hand Pirates 4th consecutive loss, sweep series
Not much was going right for the Pittsburgh Pirates against the best team in baseball. They lost starting pitcher Vince Velasquez to right elbow discomfort. They surrendered three solo home runs. And the home-plate umpire had an expanded strike zone. In the ninth inning, the Pirates finally caught some breaks...
Pirates RHP Vince Velasquez ‘optimistic’ after leaving game with right elbow discomfort
When Vince Velasquez clutched his right elbow in the third inning Thursday afternoon, it was a sign something wasn’t right for the Pittsburgh Pirates right-handed pitcher. Velasquez retired the side, but when he walked off the mound he told Pirates manager Derek Shelton he was having right elbow discomfort and...
