Pirates/MLB category, Page 116

A day after losing Oneil Cruz to an injury expected to keep the shortstop out four months, the Pittsburgh Pirates knew their resolve would be tested by a visit from the World Series champions. The Houston Astros took advantage of Cruz’s absence and Roansy Contreras’ control issues to beat the...

Bryan Reynolds wanted to get off to a good start this season, but the Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder didn’t imagine it would be the best opening week of anybody in baseball. Reynolds was named MLB player of the week Monday after leading the National League with 12 hits, 28 total bases,...

Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz underwent surgery late Sunday night to repair his fractured left ankle and is expected to miss four months. Drs. Greg Altman and Darren Frank performed the operation at Allegheny General Hospital to stabilize the fractured fibula and addressed the injury to the syndesmosis, according to...

Oneil Cruz’s fractured ankle is a gut punch for the Pittsburgh Pirates on many levels. Not the least of which is that the injury dampens the early momentum within the fan base and the belief that the team was on a fast ascent after nine games. Now, though, the 6-3...

Rodolfo Castro’s heart dropped when Oneil Cruz fractured his left ankle in an awkward slide and home-plate collision Sunday, feeling a sense of sorrow and frustration for his friend and fellow Dominican. “It hurts a lot because he’s like my brother, and it hurts the team, too,” Castro said through...

INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 5-4) beat Louisville (Reds), 8-1, for its fifth straight victory. LF Tucupita Marcano (.500) was 2 for 4 with three RBIs. 2B Nick Gonzales (.207) also knocked in two runs. CF Travis Swaggerty (.286) was 2 for 5 with an RBI, including a double and triple. C Endy...

The Pittsburgh Pirates got a big win from starting pitcher Johan Oviedo but suffered an even bigger loss when manager Derek Shelton revealed shortstop Oneil Cruz fractured his left ankle during a home plate collision. The sight of Cruz writhing in pain on the dirt as benches cleared in the...

As much as the Pittsburgh Pirates have embraced the swagger and electric energy that Dauri Moreta has brought to their bullpen, they are marveling at one of the right-handed reliever’s pitches. While playing catch with Moreta, Duane Underwood Jr. couldn’t help but notice that Moreta’s slider moves two ways, first...

After an awkward slide and collision with Chicago White Sox catcher Seby Zavala, Oneil Cruz was in obvious pain, and his left leg bent at an odd angle underneath him. Cruz slid backward to inch away from home plate before turning onto his right side. As benches cleared in the...

INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 4-4) opened the season with four straight losses followed by four straight wins, beating Louisville (Reds), 5-4. RHP Mike Burrows (2.70) started but left the game with an injury in the second inning. LHP Cam Alldred (1-0, 0.00) pitched 2.1 scoreless innings, allowing one hit and striking out...

Vince Velasquez got goosebumps in anticipation of making his first start for the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park, and the right-hander had extra motivation in facing his former Chicago White Sox teammates. What Velasquez didn’t have was control. Velasquez was pulled in the third inning after allowing five runs on...

In an alternate universe, Friday’s game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago White Sox might have eclipsed four hours in length. The teams combined for 22 runs and 30 hits in 80 at-bats, with seven pitchers taking the mound. But with MLB’s rule changes, highlighted by the pitch clock, Friday’s...

INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 3-4) ran its winning streak to three with a 5-3 win over Louisville (Reds). SS Tucupita Marcano (.500) went 3 for 5 with three doubles and three runs scored. C Endy Rodriguez (.211) was 2 for 4 with an RBI. CF Travis Swaggerty (.276) went 1 for 5...

The first pitch of the day was right down the middle. The catcher never moved his glove. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro was so proud of it that he was eager to offer proof when approached for comment. “Did you throw a strike, Governor?” a reporter asked. “You bet I did,”...

The black-clad crowd chanted M-V-P during the introduction of Andrew McCutchen in his return for the Pittsburgh Pirates, bringing back that Buctober feeling to PNC Park. The trade that sent McCutchen to the San Francisco Giants five years ago came full circle when fans later serenaded the player the Pirates...

In front of an expected sellout crowd at PNC Park for the home opener, the Pittsburgh Pirates paid homage to their 2013 team that advanced to the National League Divisional Series and ended a streak of 20 consecutive losing seasons. Former battery mates A.J. Burnett and Russell Martin reunited for...

Pirates fans waited five years for this moment. No. 22 is back. Andrew McCutchen returned as a Pirate to PNC Park on Friday for the team’s home opener and was embraced by about 40,000 people in attendance. “To wear No. 22 again,” he said, “there is nothing else like it.”...

Plenty of indicators prior to first pitch Friday afternoon pointed to a pretty full house at PNC Park for the Pirates’ 2023 home opener. For starters, there were the full parking lots full of tailgating fans and backed-up masses of people eager to get in the ballpark well before the...

Andrew McCutchen understands he has a job to do as the Pittsburgh Pirates’ designated hitter and No. 3 hitter in the batting order. But he’s also embracing the nostalgia of his first game back at PNC Park in six years. “You don’t separate it. You embrace it,” he said before...

David Bednar has made the southward drive from his home in Mars to Pittsburgh’s North Shore countless times. Now in Year 3 with the Pirates, showing up to work at PNC Park is nothing new for the 28-year-old closer, who, in addition to having pitched a total of 109 games...

Perhaps the most difficult part of Andrew McCutchen’s day was meeting with a room full of reporters Friday morning — before his first cup of coffee. But that was OK. Because the best part of his day already had happened. All he had to do was walk inside PNC Park...

The start of a new baseball season brings hope, beginning with the first pitch. The annual tradition of fans gathering at PNC Park for the Pittsburgh Pirates’ home opener inspired North Side resident Mark T. Fatla to think of the people over the years making their way to the ballpark,...

Friday was opening day for the Pirates’ home schedule. Or Opening Day. Depending on how you feel about it. (Thanks, Jim Bouton.) There is a groundswell of enthusiasm for the Pirates given their 5-2 start after a 13-9 victory over the Chicago White Sox. Friday was supposed to be a...