Pirates/MLB category, Page 135
Albert Pujols hits historic homer, Cardinals rally past Pirates
Albert Pujols has had a love-hate relationship with PNC Park and the Pittsburgh Pirates, one that spans the lifetime of the ballpark: The St. Louis Cardinals slugger loves to hit there; the Pirates hate the results. The 42-year-old Pujols blasted a game-tying, two-run shot in the seventh inning for his...
Pirates All-Star closer David Bednar throws live batting practice, takes step toward returning
Dressed in full Pittsburgh Pirates uniform, David Bednar ran in from the bullpen, took the mound at PNC Park and threw warm-up pitches as if it was a save situation in the ninth inning. It was only a live batting practice session four hours before the start of a game...
Pirates farm report for Sept. 9, 2022: Quinn Priester’s 7 shutout innings lift Curve to victory
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 69-63) scored twice in the ninth inning to defeat Omaha (Royals), 7-5. LF Blake Sabol (.300) hit a two-run homer for the winning margin. Sabol was 2 for 3 with two runs scored. 3B Kevin Padlo (.284) was 1 for 4 with an RBI. C Jose Godoy (.211)...
Pirates rack up 15 hits, beat NL Central-leading Cardinals
Fans of the Pittsburgh Pirates got a taste of things that may happen far more regularly in the years to come Friday evening as a plethora of solid individual performances by the team’s youngsters contributed heavily in an 8-2 win over the St. Louis Cardinals at PNC Park. Roansy Contreras...
Pirates react to MLB rule changes to restrict shifts, add pitch timer, make bases bigger
When asked about the three MLB rules changes for 2023, Bryan Reynolds broke into a big smile. The Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder couldn’t hide his enthusiasm for the elimination of one in particular. Reynolds is sick of the shift, so he welcomes the requirement that teams must have a minimum...
Pirates closer David Bednar inches toward return, will throw BP session Saturday
All-Star closer David Bednar, who was 3-4 with a 2.70 ERA and 17 saves before being placed on the injured list Aug. 3 with lower back tightness, continues to inch his way back to action. According to Pittsburgh Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk, Bednar is slated to throw...
Pirates farm report for Sept. 8, 2022: Luis Ortiz throws 6 no-hit innings in Indy loss
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 68-63) gave up three runs in the bottom of the eighth to lose 5-4 to Omaha (Royals). RHP John O’Reilly (5-3, 5.56) took the loss, giving up three runs on five hits in two innings. RHP Luis Ortiz (3.60) started and gave up two unearned runs without allowing...
All-Star closer David Bednar named Pirates nominee for Roberto Clemente Award
Pittsburgh Pirates All-Star closer David Bednar, a Mars alum, was named the team’s 2022 nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award, one of MLB’s most prestigious individual honors. The Roberto Clemente Award recognizes a major league player who best represents the game “through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions,...
U mad, bro?: Fans rally around Mike Tomlin and Kedon Slovis, lash out about Pirates and … craft beer?
The No. 1 tip I give to young sports journalists entering the workplace these days is to diversify. Get experience in front of the camera, on the radio and in print. Do some play-by-play. Try anchoring. Host a talk show or podcast. Join the student newspaper. Apparently, my readers are...
Pirates see rookie Oneil Cruz’s improvement at the plate as an ‘encouraging sign’
After Jacob deGrom dominated the second game of a doubleheader that left the Pittsburgh Pirates humbled, manager Derek Shelton searched for superlatives to describe the New York Mets ace. “As screwed up as it sounds, you pick the small victories,” Shelton said, accentuating the strength of deGrom’s slider in the...
Pirates farm report for Sept. 7, 2022: Termarr Johnson hits 1st homer for Bradenton
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 67-62) lost 5-4 on a walk-off sacrifice fly to Omaha (Royals). RHP Travis MacGregor (1-2, 6.99) gave up the sacrifice fly that won the game while throwing 2.2 innings and allowing two unearned runs on two hits, walking two and striking out one. RHP Cody Bolton (3.33) started...
Franco Harris’ Steelers No. 32 joins roster of Pittsburgh pro team retired numbers
No. 32 became No. 14 when it comes to retired numbers by Pittsburgh’s pro sports franchises. The announcement Tuesday that No. 32 will – officially – never be worn again by any Pittsburgh Steelers player made for an aggregate 14 uniform numbers retired by the Steelers, Pirates and Penguins. Four-time...
Pirates go quietly in twinbill against Mets
If the Pittsburgh Pirates were going to split their doubleheader with the New York Mets, they needed to fare better against the starting pitcher in the nightcap than they did in the matinee. And with a two-time NL Cy Young Award winner on the mound for the Mets, the odds...
Pirates DFA Josh VanMeter, recall Hoy Park, claim 2 players off waivers
Josh VanMeter showed his value to the Pittsburgh Pirates in his versatility by playing six positions this season, including three games as a pitcher and once as an emergency catcher. But his bat proved to be the problem. After VanMeter hit only .187 with five doubles, two triples, three home...
Pirates farm report for Sept. 6, 2022: Endy Rodriguez goes 3 for 4 in Altoona win
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 67-61) was edged out by Omaha (Royals), 8-7. RHP Austin Brice (5.98) started and allowed seven runs on six hits in 1.2 innings. LHP Cam Alldred (2.18) pitched 2.1 scoreless innings of relief, allowing one hit and striking out four. C Carter Bins (.207) went 2 for 3...
Oneil Cruz homers into river, Mitch Keller throws 6 scoreless as Pirates pound MetsVideo
The Allegheny River has served as an inviting target for Oneil Cruz, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 6-foot-7 rookie shortstop with left-handed power and Statcast record-setting exit velocities. Finally, he made a splash. Cruz crushed a 422-foot home run that cleared the right field seats and bounced into the river in an...
Tim Benz: 50 years after retirement, Bill Mazeroski uses his Pirates Hall of Fame induction to campaign for teammates
As Saturday’s master of ceremonies for the inaugural Pirates Hall of Fame inductions, team play-by-play announcer Greg Brown delivered his best line as legendary second baseman Bill Mazeroski was receiving his commemorative gold jacket. “Maz asked me to read his speech. He didn’t want to get up here to do...
Weather postpones Pirates-Mets game, doubleheader planned Wednesday
The Pittsburgh Pirates are getting Labor Day off, but they will have to work overtime Wednesday. Monday’s Pirates’ game against the New York Mets was postponed due to inclement weather expected throughout the day, the first rainout of the season at PNC Park. Instead, the teams will play a split...
Pirates farm report for Sept. 4, 2022: Bethel Park’s Justin Meis, Santiago Florez combine on 1-hitter for Grasshoppers
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 67-60) beat Louisville (Reds), 9-4. LF Travis Swaggerty (.264) smacked a solo homer, his ninth of the year, and went 3 for 3 with two RBIs and two walks. SS Hoy Park (.236) was 2 for 4 with four RBIs, including a two-run home run. 3B Kevin Padlo...
Pirates 3B Ke’Bryan Hayes takes swings in cage, ‘looking to be in there’ for Mets series
After missing two games with left shoulder soreness, Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes said he expects to return to the lineup Monday for the New York Mets series. “I’m looking to be in there tomorrow, whether it be DH or in the field,” Hayes said following the 4-3 loss...
Pirates whiff in 9th-inning rally as Blue Jays pull off 3-game series sweep
Jordan Romano started the ninth inning with a one-run lead before back-to-back singles by Jack Suwinski and Cal Mitchell put the winning run in scoring position for the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Toronto Blue Jays closer then recorded three consecutive strikeouts to finish off a 4-3 win and three-game series sweep...
Steve Blass pays homage to former mentor Bill Mazeroski at Pirates’ Hall of Fame ceremony
In May 1964, a wide-eyed rookie pitcher named Steve Blass entered the Pittsburgh Pirates clubhouse at Forbes Field after being called up from the team’s Triple-A affiliate, the Columbus Jets. While the Pirates went 80-82 that season, they retained many key players who had contributed to the 1960 World Series-winning...
Pirates farm report for Sept. 3, 2022: Nick Gonzales homers, Quinn Priester earns win for Altoona
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 66-60) beat Louisville (Reds), 4-1, in a game shortened to seven innings by rain. RHP Osvaldo Bido (3-7, 4.48) started and pitched six scorless innings, allowing one hit and one walk and striking out seven. RHP Cody Bolton (3.06) gave up a solo home run in the seventh....
Bo Bichette’s 3-run double leads Blue Jays past Pirates in Hall of Fame game
On the night the Pittsburgh Pirates celebrated their history by inducting their inaugural hall of fame class, it was the Toronto Blue Jays who brought PNC Park alive with cheers. The chants of “Let’s go Blue Jays!” grew louder with the bases loaded in the seventh inning when Bo Bichette...
As Pirates honor inaugural 19-member Hall of Fame class, ceremony disrupted by protester
The Pittsburgh Pirates celebrated their 135-year history Saturday afternoon by inducting their long-awaited hall of fame, which involved the historic gesture of signing four Negro Leagues players to honorary contracts and including them in the inaugural class. The Pirates unveiled plaques for each honoree on the wall inside the Roberto...
