Pittsburgh Pirates / MLB category, Page 196
Pirates’ Mitch Keller shows frustration as command issues continue against Dodgers
After another start in which he struggled with fastball command, Mitch Keller was in no mood to make excuses just because the Pittsburgh Pirates were playing the reigning World Series champions. The right-hander’s frustration level with the recurring theme of his season was palpable following a 6-3 rain-shortened loss to...
First Call: Steelers’ Devin Bush ‘100%’ sure he can cover Browns’ Jarvis Landry; Ray Shero’s new job; Dave Parker turns 70
Thursday’s “First Call” features a bold Devin Bush, as the Steelers linebacker talks about tough tasks in coverage. There are a few newsworthy items about some former Penn State stars. A familiar Penguins face is heading out to Minnesota to reunite with Bill Guerin. Plus, we wish a happy birthday...
U mad, bro?: Pirates pitiful mishaps, odious ownership, putrid Penguins playoff goaltending have readers ranting
A precarious Penguins future. Pathetic Pirates performances. Odious ownership. Oh, and, of course, last week’s edition of this column. That’s what has readers ravenous in this week’s “U mad, bro?” But that’s pretty standard by now, isn’t it? We kick things off with a tweet about the Penguins from Wayne....
After 60 games, the Pirates can compare this season to last while focusing on the future
When the Pittsburgh Pirates reached 60 games last year, it was with relief. They had completed baseball’s shortened season amid the coronavirus pandemic — even if it went down as one of the worst in franchise history. “I think last year was such an unknown; we were hoping to get...
Justin Turner homers twice off Tyler Anderson to lead Dodgers past Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates found ways to get runners in scoring position against the Los Angeles Dodgers, as eight of their first 12 batters reached base. What they couldn’t do was bring them home. Justin Turner outdid them in two swings. The red-bearded third baseman hit a pair of solo home...
Pirates farm report for June 9, 2021: Rodolfo Castro stays hot in Altoona
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 16-15) were held to two hits and lost to Nashville (Brewers), 9-4. RHP Steven Wright started and was tagged for six runs, all earned, in 1.1 innings, giving up six hits and walking three. SS Cole Tucker, hitting leadoff, went 1 for 4 with a double and two...
Pirates pitching prospect Jose Soriano could need 2nd Tommy John surgery
When the Pittsburgh Pirates selected Jose Soriano with the top pick in the Rule 5 Draft in December, they took a risk on a 22-year-old right-hander who still was recovering from Tommy John surgery. When Soriano dealt with discomfort in his right elbow, team physicians found a significant setback: new...
Pirates rookie Ke’Bryan Hayes, on home run being erased: ‘I just thought I hit the base’
When Ke’Bryan Hayes hit the ball, he had no idea that he didn’t touch ‘em all. A day after Pittsburgh Pirates rookie third baseman and top prospect had a home run erased after he missed the bag while rounding first base in the first inning of a 5-3 loss to...
First Call: Minkah Fitzpatrick wanted fifth-year option for Steelers’ teammate; Gerrit Cole’s awkward Spider Tack response
Wednesday’s “First Call” features interesting comments by Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick on some recent front office decisions. Gerrit Cole gives a bizarre explanation about Spider Tack. Levon Kirkland sees a lot of himself in a potential NFL star linebacker. And yet another entertaining game out west between the Colorado...
Pirates farm report for June 8, 2021: Roansy Contreras stumbles in Altoona win
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 16-14) handled Nashville (Brewers), 6-1. RHP James Marvel started and allowed one run on four hits in 5.2 innings with five strikeouts. RHP Wil Crowe, RHP Tyler Bashlor and RHP Braeden Ogle each pitched a scoreless inning of relief. LF Anthony Alford went 2 for 4, hit his...
After Ke’Bryan Hayes home run erased, Dodgers pounce on Pirates
It was the home run trot that was not, a play that started with fireworks but ended with a blank. How a Ke’Bryan Hayes homer was officially scored as a putout became the inexplicable storyline for the Pittsburgh Pirates after the rookie third baseman failed to touch first as he...
Pirates rookie Ke’Bryan Hayes has 1st-inning homer wiped out when he misses 1st base
Maybe Lloyd McClendon had the right idea when the former Pittsburgh Pirates manager marched off with first base in protest of a call 20 years ago this month. Eleven days after rookie first baseman Will Craig made an epic error by chasing Javier Baez of the Chicago Cubs in a...
Pirates activate IF/OF Phillip Evans, reinstate RHP Mitch Keller from IL for Dodgers series
The Pittsburgh Pirates have activated infielder/outfielder Phillip Evans to the major league roster and reinstated right-hander Mitch Keller from the injured list, manager Derek Shelton announced Tuesday afternoon. “It’s nice,” Shelton said. “Anytime you add guys back that are part of your regular group, it’s important.” To make room on...
Pirates reliever Clay Holmes finds confidence in pitch repertoire, scoreless streak
When Garth Brooks spent two weeks in spring training with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2019, Jameson Taillon teased the country music star for taking live batting practice against Clay Holmes. It’s not just that Holmes strikes an imposing presence on the mound but that the right-hander has nasty stuff. The...
Tim Benz: Pirates don’t want PNC Park to be ‘soft’ spot to land for up-and-down Dodgers
As they prepare to host the defending World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodgers, this must’ve felt good for any Pittsburgh Pirates player or official who happened to check the Los Angeles Times in advance of the three-game series which starts Tuesday. The headline read as follows: “Dodgers still waiting for...
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Pirates are almost back to Opening Day lineup, so what’s next?
Derek Shelton had to be delighted the Pittsburgh Pirates finally had Adam Frazier, Ke’Bryan Hayes, Bryan Reynolds and Colin Moran back at the top of their batting order and Chad Kuhl on the mound. Just like Opening Day at Wrigley Field. Since then, Hayes missed two months with a left...
Pirates farm report for June 6, 2021: Lolo Sanchez’s HR gives Greensboro walk-off win
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 15-14) lost 4-1 to Columbus (Indians). 1B Christian Bethancourt (.308) had two of the Indians’ five hits and knocked in the lone run with a double. LF Phillip Evans (.216) was 1 for 3 with a walk as he continued his rehab assignment as he recovers from a...
Pirates welcome back Colin Moran, but Marlins take advantage of error to avoid series sweep
The Pittsburgh Pirates welcomed Colin Moran back with open arms, inserting him into the starting lineup at first base and in the cleanup spot of the batting order after a 28-day absence. And Moran made an immediate impact, fielding a pair of grounders in the top of the first inning...
GM Ben Cherington: Expect Pirates to reach 85% vaccination threshold by end of the week
The Pittsburgh Pirates soon will be allowed to take off their masks in the dugout and bullpen and loosen road restrictions, as they are expected to reach the 85% vaccination threshold by the end of the week. Pirates general manager Ben Cherington revealed the vaccination update Sunday afternoon on his...
Pirates activate Colin Moran, place Mitch Keller on covid-IL
The Pittsburgh Pirates have their starting infield back together again but lost a starting pitcher to the covid-injured list. Pirates manager Derek Shelton announced Sunday morning that first baseman Colin Moran will be activated from the injured list, but right-hander Mitch Keller will go on the covid-IL. Keller was removed...
Pirates farm report for June 5, 2021: Phillip Evans doubles twice on rehab assignment
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 15-13) beat Columbus (Indians), 3-2. 1B Phillip Evans went 2 for 4 with two doubles as he continued his rehab assignment as he recovers from a hamstring injury. 3B Hunter Owen went 2 for 4 with a home run, his second, and three runs scored. C Joe Hudson...
Stallings comes through again as Pirates top Marlins in 12 innings
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates had to wait a lot longer than they wanted to celebrate, but they wound up notching one of their more stirring wins of the season. Jacob Stallings’ run-scoring single in the bottom of the 12th inning lifted the Pirates to an 8-7 victory over the...
Chris Stratton shows value for Pirates during lengthy relief appearance
Chris Stratton already had washed out with the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Angels when he landed with the Pittsburgh Pirates a little more than two years ago. The right-hander never had lived up to his pedigree of being the Giants’ first-round draft pick in 2012. Despite once being...
Pirates farm report for June 4, 2021: Colin Moran drives in 4 for Indianapolis
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 14-13) moved over .500 with a doubleheader sweep of Columbus (Indians), 5-2 and 10-3. In the second game, 1B Colin Moran went 2 for 4 with a double and four RBIs as his rehab assignment for a groin injury continued. Phillip Evans singled and drove in a run...
Pirates score season-high 9 runs to pound Marlins, as Mitch Keller leaves with ‘heat illness’
For the first two months of the season, the storyline for the Pittsburgh Pirates was an anemic offense that struggled to produce runs and ranked among baseball’s worst in several categories. There was hope that the return of Ke’Bryan Hayes to the lineup would reverse that trend, providing a boost...
