Pittsburgh Pirates / MLB category, Page 165
Roberto Perez’s 3-RBI night, another strong bullpen performance lead Pirates past Cubs
When the Pittsburgh Pirates signed catcher Roberto Perez, the focus was on his defense. After all, he was a two-time AL Gold Glove winner with Cleveland who had a reputation for working with talented pitchers. Perez wanted to proved he still has some pop. With a two-run single and a...
Starting time for Pirates-Cubs game changed to 8:05 p.m. because of weather forecast
The Chicago Cubs have changed the start time for Friday’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, moving it back to 8:05 p.m. (EST) because of a forecast of inclement weather throughout the morning and afternoon. The game, the second in a four-game series between the NL Central foes, was originally scheduled...
Confidence contagious in Pirates bullpen after 6 ‘outstanding’ scoreless innings against Cubs
The Pittsburgh Pirates have found signs of relief in a balanced bullpen where confidence is contagious, especially after five pitchers combined to throw six shutout innings to spark another comeback victory. Wil Crowe, Dillon Peters, Heath Hembree, David Bednar and Chris Stratton were dominant in the 4-3 win over the...
Pirates farm report for April 21, 2022: Liover Peguero collects 5 hits in Altoona sweep
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 7-7) was clobbered by Columbus (Guardians), 12-5. RHP Jerad Eickhoff (1-1, 8.18) gave up four runs on four hits and two walks with seven strikeouts in 4.2 innings. RHP Brad Case (11.12) was lit up for seven runs on seven hits with two walks in 1.1 innings. LF...
Yoshi Tsutsugo’s 2-run double, bullpen key Pirates’ comeback win over Cubs
For as much as the Pittsburgh Pirates are finding difficulty in getting a lead, their bullpen made protecting one a priority with a dominant performance against the Chicago Cubs. Yoshi Tsutsugo’s two-run double in the fifth inning delivered the go-ahead run, and five Pirates relievers combined to hold the Cubs...
Pirates option RHP Roansy Contreras to Triple-A, select Chase De Jong, DFA Luis Oviedo
The Pittsburgh Pirates shook up their pitching staff Thursday when they optioned top pitching prospect Roansy Contreras to Triple-A Indianapolis and selected the contract of Chase De Jong. To make room on the 40-man roster, the Pirates designated right-hander Luis Oviedo for assignment. Contreras (1-0, 3.52 ERA) was thriving in...
U mad, bro?: Pittsburgh fans tear into the Penguins, Pirates and even… the Maulers?
You didn’t think that just because the Pittsburgh Maulers are a start-up, minor league, spring football team that plays their home games in Birmingham, Ala., they’ll escape the wrath of “U mad, bro?”, did you? Hey, if “Pittsburgh” is in their name, they are not immune. The Steelers know this....
‘Game changer’: Pirates embrace pitch-calling device to improve pace, deter sign stealing
As a 33-year-old catcher in his ninth season in the major leagues who enjoyed the time-honored tradition of flashing fingers to signal pitch calls, Roberto Perez was skeptical about the introduction of pitch-calling technology. Wearing a push-button transmitter on the inside of his left forearm to call pitches was a...
Pirates farm report for April 20, 2022: Anthony Alford homers in Indy win
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 7-6) moved back over .500 with a 5-3 win over Columbus (Guardians). LF Anthony Alford (.167), on a rehab assignment with a wrist injury, went 1 for 4 with a home run. RF Cal Mitchell (.372) went 3 for 4 with a stolen base. LC Canaan Smith-Njigba (.235)...
Mitch Keller makes impressive start but Brewers get series sweep
Mitch Keller had the mentality that he wanted to get ahead on counts so he could lean heavily on his fastball, so it was a good sign when the Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander threw 18 of 20 first pitches for strikes. As efficient as Keller was, Milwaukee Brewers starter Brandon Woodruff...
Pirates lean on Ben Gamel’s glove, veteran mindset
Lucky for Ben Gamel, the right field grass at PNC Park was wet. It made his landing a little softer. Of course, it could have been a rock-strewn outfield, instead of the well-manicured carpet at PNC Park, and Gamel still might have left his feet to track down those two...
Pirates farm report for April 19, 2022: Sam Howard, Anthony Alford rehabbing with Indy
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 6-6) was doubled up by Columbus (Guardians), 4-2. LHP Sam Howard (0-1, 5.40), rehabbing a back injury, started and gave up a run on one hit and one walk in 1.2 innings. RHP Chase De Jong (2.08) allowed two runs on three hits and a walk in two...
DH Daniel Vogelbach embracing non-traditional look as leadoff hitter for Pirates
Daniel Vogelbach didn’t treat his return trip to Milwaukee as a homecoming, even though he spent the past two seasons playing for the Brewers. To him, it’s just another series he wants to win. That it coincided with the one-year anniversary of his two-home run game against the Pittsburgh Pirates...
Pirates homer twice off Corbin Burnes but 4-run 2nd inning boosts Brewers to win
The Pittsburgh Pirates knew they couldn’t count on Corbin Burnes to make many mistakes, given that the Milwaukee Brewers right-hander won the NL Cy Young Award last season. For five innings, Burnes was nearly untouchable. The Brewers took advantage of the Pirates’ mistakes in a four-run second inning and survived...
One batter too long: Brewers slam Pirates after Derek Shelton sticks with starter Zach Thompson in 4th inning
The way the game of baseball is played and managed in 2021, starting pitchers don’t often work beyond the fifth or sixth inning. But all Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton was trying to do Monday night at American Family Field in Milwaukee was get Zach Thompson through the fourth. It...
Pirates utility player Michael Chavis learns to harness his diverse skills in quest for playing time
Michael Chavis can do so much on a baseball field that he needs to be careful: Sometimes, he ends up trying to do too much. That was his dilemma with the Pittsburgh Pirates in spring training while competing for playing time. He settled down in the final days before the...
Pirates farm report for April 17, 2022: Luke Brown’s grand slam sparks Bradenton’s blowout win
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 6-5) lost 5-1 to St. Paul (Twins). SS Oneil Cruz (.219) was 0 for 4 but knocked in the lone run for the Indians. DH Travis Swaggerty (.194), Crus, 3B Rodolfo Castro (.333) and 1B Mason Martin (.359) combined to go 0 for 14 at the top of...
Workload doesn’t bother David Bednar in Pirates’ victory against Nationals
David Bednar stands 6-foot-1, 250 pounds, with a muscular upper body and the look of a guy who believes he can do almost anything. So it was no surprise when — several hours before the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 5-3 victory against the Washington Nationals on Sunday at PNC Park — the...
Pirates farm report for April 16, 2022: Rehabbing Anthony Alford doubles in Bradenton win
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 6-3) lost by a field goal to St. Paul (Twins), 16-13. Four Indianapolis pitchers gave up at least three runs. RHP Jerad Eickhoff (8.53) started and surrendered five runs on five hits and three walks in 2.2 innings. LHP Cam Alldred (0-1, 5.06) took the loss, allowing three...
Backup catcher Andrew Knapp delivers as Pirates beat Nationals
When the Pittsburgh Pirates were searching for a backup catcher before the season opener, they didn’t hesitate when Andrew Knapp became available because of his reputation behind the plate. With starter Roberto Perez out with a quad contusion after taking a foul tip off his left leg Friday night, Knapp...
Josh VanMeter ready, willing in case Pirates need to break glass on emergency catcher
When Roberto Perez took a foul tip off his left quad, the Pittsburgh Pirates turned to backup catcher Andrew Knapp but knew that they had to have someone else ready, in case of an emergency. That’s how Josh VanMeter learned he was the backup to the backup catcher, when Pirates...
Pirates farm report for April 15, 2022: Liover Peguero hits 2nd homer for Curve
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 6-2) lost 6-4 to St. Paul (Twins). RHP Cody Bolton (0-1, 4.50) started and went 2.1 innings, allowing three runs on three hits and two walks with four strikeouts. RF Jared Oliva (.267) went 3 for 4 with a pair of doubles. LF Canaan Smith-Njigba (.222) went 1...
With Pirates catcher Roberto Perez day to day, backup Andrew Knapp gets ‘ready to go’
Mitch Keller was on the mound when a Nelson Cruz foul tip hit Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Roberto Perez flush in the left leg, so the right-hander got a good view and was “definitely concerned.” “I saw it foul tip right down,” Keller said of Perez, who was set up on...
Nationals beat Mitch Keller in shift to pound Pirates, as C Roberto Perez leaves with injury
Whether it was the lack of command on his off-speed pitches or just plain bad luck, Mitch Keller got the shaft against the shift. The Washington Nationals repeatedly hit through defensive shifts against Keller on their way to pounding the Pittsburgh Pirates, 7-2, on Friday night before 13,076 at PNC...
Pirates’ Cole Tucker on 75th Jackie Robinson Day: Wearing No. 42 ‘a storybook thing’
Cole Tucker glanced at the Pittsburgh Pirates jersey hanging at his locker with No. 42 in Dodger blue before Friday’s game and couldn’t help but feel a connection to Jackie Robinson. As MLB celebrated the 75th anniversary of Robinson breaking baseball’s color barrier, the Pirates talked about the occasion as...
