Pirates/MLB category, Page 155
For Pirates, worst fears behind the plate catch up to them with injury to starter Roberto Perez
When Roberto Perez stumbled and fell while rounding second base Saturday and lay facedown in the infield dirt in Cincinnati, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ worst fears caught up to them. The Pirates signed Perez last November after trading Jacob Stallings to Miami, replacing the 2021 NL Gold Glove winner with a...
Tim Benz: Bad time for Pirates to have a massive step up in competition
It’s been a while since we’ve really checked in on the Pirates. The NFL Draft and the Penguins playoff push has kept us pretty busy. That stuff and, well, the abject inability to be competitive and the organizational disinterest in trying. Those things come into play as well. But, hey,...
Pirates farm report for May 8, 2022: Brendt Citta knocks in 2 runs in Curve victory
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 14-14) lost 5-1 to visiting Louisville (Reds). LF Oneil Cruz (.189) was 2 for 5. 1B Mason Martin (.253) was 1 for 4, and 3B Hoy Park (.188) went 1 for 3 to compile the Indians’ four hits. 2B Ji-hwan Bae (.261) was 0 for 4, DH Bligh...
Colin Moran blasts 2 home runs, including a grand slam, as Reds roll past Pirates
Colin Moran might have been seeking fastballs more than revenge against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The red-bearded Cincinnati Reds first baseman ended up getting both in the course of two swings. Designated for assignment by the Pirates in late November, Moran made them pay with a pair of home runs. His...
Pirates farm report for May 7, 2022: Oneil Cruz shows signs of life for Indianapolis
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 14-13) lost the completion of a game that was suspended because of rain on Thursday, 7-5, then won a regularly scheduled game, 8-2. In the completion, which resumed with the score tied 5-5 in the ninth, RHP Cristofer Melendez (1-1, 3.18) gave up two runs in the 10th...
Pirates lose catcher Roberto Perez to injury, set HR record in doubleheader split with Reds
The Pittsburgh Pirates saw their backup catcher get ejected, their starting catcher exit with an injury and were forced to break glass on their emergency catcher and ended up losing to the worst team in baseball. Then the Pirates made history. A dizzying doubleheader at Cincinnati ended in a split...
Pirates turn to Josh VanMeter at catcher after starter Roberto Perez injured, backup ejected
The Pittsburgh Pirates endured a double whammy when starting catcher Roberto Perez went down on the bases in the eighth inning Saturday against the Cincinnati Reds, leaving them without a backup. Perez collapsed while rounding second base on a Ben Gamel single and exited the game with left hamstring discomfort....
Pirates farm report for May 6, 2022: Omar Cruz has strong start in Altoona win
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 13-12) and Louisville (Reds) were rained out. Thursday’s game, which was suspended with the score tied 5-5 in the ninth inning, will be completed at 5:30 p.m. Saturday before the teams play a regular nine-inning game at 6:35 p.m. Friday’s game will be made up as part of...
Chase De Jong embraces grinder persona, multi-inning pitching role for Pirates
When the Pittsburgh Pirates purchased his contract last month, Chase De Jong received a text message from his agent that read: Congratulations. You deserve it. You’re the epitome of resiliency. A second-round draft pick who made his major league debut at age 23, De Jong never would have imagined his...
Friday’s Pirates-Reds game postponed by rain, rescheduled as July 7 split doubleheader
The Pittsburgh Pirates’ game against the Cincinnati Reds on Friday night at Great American Ball Park has been postponed due to rain and rescheduled as part of a split doubleheader on July 7. The Pirates and Reds already were scheduled to play on that date. Now, Game 1 will start...
Pirates farm report for May 5, 2022: Henry Davis homers again for Greensboro
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 13-12) was suspended due to weather against Louisville (Reds). The game was tied 5-5 in the ninth with the Indians up to bat in the bottom of the inning. The game will be completed at 5:30 p.m. Friday before the regularly scheduled game. Next: Friday at Louisville (Reds),...
Pirates look opportunity in the eye, starting with 4 games against struggling Reds
For those concerned the Pittsburgh Pirates have made no progress from last season, know this: Despite a 10-14 record (two games short of last season’s 12-12 after 24 games), there is opportunity looming that could change the team’s outlook. After Thursday’s off day — a welcome respite after playing 17...
First Call: Antonio Brown makes onstage return to Pittsburgh; Marc-Andre Fleury bounces back in playoffs
Former Steeler Antonio Brown will soon return to Pittsburgh to show off his musical talents. Marc-Andre Fleury is back on the winning track in Minnesota. A pair of former Penguins are looking for new coaching jobs. We look at the other Eastern Conference playoff series besides Penguins-Rangers. And the Pirates...
Pirates farm report for May 4, 2022: Matt Gorski hits 8th homer for Greensboro
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 13-12) mustered up just six hits and lost 1-0 to Louisville (Reds). RHP Jerad Eickhoff (1-2, 6.16) was the hard-luck loser. He gave up only two hits in four innings, but one of them was a solo home run by DH Ronnie Dawson in the first. LFP Cam...
Pirates recover in second game to earn split of doubleheader with Tigers
The gloves weren’t steady, and the bats provided only two hits with runners in scoring position over 18 innings. But Ben Gamel, Jose Quintana and Daniel Vogelbach performed well when it mattered most and Dillon Peters showed some good can surface, even in defeat. The result Wednesday for the Pittsburgh...
Pirates farm report for May 3, 2022: Henry Davis homers in Greensboro win
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 13-11) was doubled up by Louisville (Reds), 6-3. LHP Nathan Kirby (1.42) started and threw two scoreless innings. So did RHP Max Kranick (2.70). RHP Shea Murray (18.00) and RHP Matt Eckelman (0-1, 10.13) each gave up two runs in an inning of relief. CF Travis Swaggerty (.194)...
Pirates rained out in Detroit; doubleheader scheduled for Wednesday
Inclement weather in Detroit on Tuesday led to the postponement of the start of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ two-game series with the Tigers at Comerica Park. The game will be made up as part of a continuous doubleheader, starting at 1:10 p.m. Wednesday. The Pirates’ previously scheduled starting pitchers for Tuesday...
Pirates embrace unorthodox with pitching staff, where results are anything but ordinary
The Pittsburgh Pirates have embraced the unorthodox with their pitching staff, a bizarro world where roles are no longer defined in traditional terms and the results are anything but ordinary. Starters have become relievers, relievers have started, piggybacking has become popular and the closest thing the Pirates have to a...
Recovered from pneumonia, Pirates relief pitcher Anthony Banda rejoins roster in Detroit
The Pittsburgh Pirates will take an eight-man bullpen into Detroit on Tuesday for the start of a two-game series against the Tigers. When the Pirates activated left-handed pitcher Anthony Banda from the 10-day injured list (pneumonia) Tuesday, Aaron Fletcher — also a lefty — was sent to Triple-A Indianapolis. Banda...
Pirates farm report for May 1, 2022: Ji-hwan Bae’s leadoff homer helps lift Indy to victory
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 13-10) beat Iowa (Cubs), 3-1. CF Ji-hwan Bae (.254) led off the game with his third home run of the year. RF Bligh Madris (.243) was 2 for 2, including a double. DH Travis Swaggerty (.169) was 1 for 4. SS Rodolfo Castro (.246) was 0 for 4...
Padres take advantage of 3 errors to top Pirates, who lose 5 of 6 in homestand
Cole Tucker was pumped to be back in the Pittsburgh Pirates starting lineup Sunday, especially because of the opportunity to play his natural position at shortstop after stints at second base and in the outfield. Tucker would have been poised to replace Kevin Newman when he was placed on the...
Pirates outfielder Jake Marisnick put on ‘a clinic’ with pair of diving catches against Padres
When Derek Shelton watched the ball off Ha-Seong Kim’s bat sail down the left field line, the Pirates manager thought there was no chance Jake Marisnick would get to it in time. Marisnick was slightly more optimistic. The Pirates left fielder thought his chances of getting to the ball were...
Pirates farm report for April 30, 2022: Roansy Contreras throws 3 scoreless for Indy
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 12-10) topped Iowa (Cubs), 4-3. RF Canaan Smith-Njiba (.219) and pinch hitter Brendt Citta (.235) each hit a solo homer in the top of the ninth in a comeback victory. LHP Trey McGough (0.00) pitched two scoreless innings of relief to earn the win and RHP Cristofer Melendez...
Ke’Bryan Hayes scores on overturned call for walk-off win as Pirates snap 4-game skid
Ke’Bryan Hayes already had driven in the game-tying run in the 10th inning when Bryan Reynolds bounced a grounder off the glove of San Diego Padres first baseman Eric Hosmer and down the right field line. Hayes “tried to turn the jets on a little bit,” never slowing down as...
Pirates GM on keeping SS Oneil Cruz in minors: ‘That’s the right spot for him right now’
Ben Cherington will be the first to sing the praises of Oneil Cruz and immense talent of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ top prospect, yet the last to apologize for prioritizing his development over his promotion. When the Pirates lost two shortstops this week — Kevin Newman to a longer-term left groin...
