Kevin Gorman stories, Page 56

When Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton turned to Jose Hernandez for his first high-leverage situation, the rookie left-handed reliever was more excited than nervous. Not only were the Pirates clinging to a two-run lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers with the heart of the order coming to bat Tuesday night...

Andrew McCutchen delivered a no-doubt, three-run home run, and Jack Suwinski removed all doubts about the Pittsburgh Pirates’ good fortune by robbing the Los Angeles Dodgers of one. When Mookie Betts sent Robert Stephenson’s full-count slider 402 feet to left field, Suwinski reached over the wall to snag the ball...

When Pittsburgh Pirates chairman Bob Nutting said it was “definitely inside the realm of possibility” that they could sign a player to a nine-figure contract in late February, it raised some eyebrows. Mostly, it drew eye rolls. The Pirates have pushed their share of five-year plans on fans, selling hope...

The Pittsburgh Pirates locked up outfielder Bryan Reynolds with a guaranteed eight-year, $106.75-million deal that is the richest contract in franchise history, a source confirmed to the Tribune-Review. The deal, pending a physical, includes a $2 million signing bonus and a limited, six-team no-trade clause. It buys out two years...

Austin Hedges understands the power of personality, learning from his own shortcomings that the best way to get out of his own head was to concentrate on being a better teammate. Hedges has put that on display for the Pittsburgh Pirates this season, showing why manager Derek Shelton routinely refers...

The Pittsburgh Pirates are riding an MLB-best seven-game winning streak, have swept back-to-back series for the first time in almost five years and are off to their best start in three decades. The Pirates (16-7) are the hottest team and the biggest story in baseball, a reversal of fortunes in...

Vince Velasquez reduced his repertoire to essentially two pitches, and his four-seam fastball and slider were so effective the Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander produced his best performance of the season. Velasquez struck out 10 — nine on breaking balls — while tossing a two-hitter over seven scoreless innings in a 2-0...

Drew Maggi spent a lifetime chasing his dream of playing in the major leagues, but the two-hour drive from Altoona to Pittsburgh gave the 33-year-old infielder time to reflect on the journey by looking at photos from his 12 stops with six organizations over five minor-league levels. “It was a...

The Pittsburgh Pirates made several roster moves Sunday morning, including one that could involve a major league debut. The Pirates recalled infielder Drew Maggi from Double-A Altoona and placed outfielder Bryan Reynolds on the bereavement list. To make room on the 40-man roster, first baseman/designated hitter Ji-Man Choi (left Achilles...

One impressive streak came to an end for the Pittsburgh Pirates but not at the expense of the more important one. The string of 11 consecutive quality starts by Pirates pitchers ended when left-hander Rich Hill was pulled after five innings. Instead, they got a quality finish. Yohan Ramirez and...

Derek Shelton’s message to the Pittsburgh Pirates never wavered, even as they traded away top players amid a major rebuild and endured the embarrassment of successive 100-loss seasons. Shelton preached positivity and believing in the process, which has been rewarded with the best start in three decades and a contract...

That Andrew McCutchen is back with the Pittsburgh Pirates and they are within striking distance of first place in the NL Central is not lost on the 36-year-old right fielder/designated hitter, who has a point to prove. This isn’t the old Cutch, but rather a return to the Cutch of...

Carlos Santana turned his right shoulder, shrugging off a brushback pitch by Cincinnati Reds reliever Ian Gibaut. Santana shrugged off another before taking a called strike on a changeup. “I knew he was going to try to pitch inside, but I never lost my focus,” Santana said. “I wanted to...

The Pittsburgh Pirates spotted Roansy Contreras a four-run, first-inning lead with back-to-back home runs by Connor Joe and Jack Suwinski, then let the right-hander shut down the Cincinnati Reds. Contreras walked off to an ovation in the seventh inning after delivering the 10th consecutive quality start by a Pirates pitcher,...

When the Pittsburgh Pirates announced their inaugural Hall of Fame, Kent Tekulve started to wonder where he stacked up against the franchise’s all-time greats. Teke came to a humbling conclusion. “You almost think about it that, if I get really lucky and they work down the list far enough that...

After going extra innings in back-to-back games at St. Louis, the Pittsburgh Pirates welcomed their biggest blowout of the season with open arms and free-swinging bats. They were aggressive in attacking Colorado Rockies left-hander Kyle Freeland, scoring seven runs in the first two innings, and continued to pour it on...

Donald George Leppert spent four decades in baseball, and some of his most memorable moments in a lifetime filled with them came while playing for and coaching with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Leppert hit a home run on the first pitch of his first major-league at-bat, later served as the first...

Andrew McCutchen came through in the 10th inning again for the Pittsburgh Pirates. This time, the St. Louis Cardinals had an answer. Tommy Edman hit a bases-loaded single to score Tyler O’Neill and lift the Cardinals to a 5-4 walk-off win over the Pirates on Sunday afternoon at Busch Stadium...

A day after Rob Zastryzny allowed one run on one hit and two walks at St. Louis, the Pittsburgh Pirates placed the left-handed reliever on the 15-day injured list with left elbow discomfort. Pirates senior vice president of baseball operations Bryan Stroh, filling in for the general manager on the...

On Jackie Robinson Day, Andrew McCutchen paid tribute to the man who broke baseball’s color barrier with a home run and a hat tip. McCutchen, one of four Black American players on the Pittsburgh Pirates, hit a towering two-run leadoff homer in the top of the 10th inning to boost...

The Pittsburgh Pirates took a big bat out of the middle of their batting order when first baseman/designated hitter Ji-Man Choi was placed on the 10-day injured list Saturday with a strain of his left Achilles tendon. To replace Choi on the active roster, the Pirates recalled infielder/outfielder Tucupita Marcano...

When Oneil Cruz fractured his left ankle on Easter, the Pittsburgh Pirates didn’t just lose their starting shortstop but a leadoff hitter who proved he could get on base, hit for power and whose speed made him a threat on the basepaths. Cruz slashed .282/.331/.541 with 18 extra-base hits and...

When Ben Cherington dabbed a black towel on the beads of perspiration on his forehead while talking to reporters Wednesday morning near the home dugout at PNC Park, it appeared the Pittsburgh Pirates general manager was battling the sunshine on his face. Then again, he could have been sweating about...