Pittsburgh Pirates / MLB category, Page 199
Adam Frazier follows superstitions to find groove, as Pirates 2B leads majors in hits
Adam Frazier always has the same explanation for his hitting groove, one that doesn’t defy logic so much as it shows his superstitious nature. Knock on wood. The Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman got plenty of knocks in the 6-4 win over the Atlanta Braves in 10 innings on Thursday night,...
Pirates farm report for May 20, 2021: Plum’s Kirilloff homers against Indy
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 9-5) fell 3-2 to St. Paul (Twins) in the resumption of a suspended game from Wednesday and won 7-3 in the scheduled game on Thursday. Plum native Alex Kirilloff, down from Minnesota on a rehab assignment as he recovers from a wrist injury, homered in both games for...
Pirates rely on bullpen, 2-run rally in 10th to beat Braves, snap 3-game skid
After blanking the Atlanta Braves over the final four frames in front of the biggest crowd the Pittsburgh Pirates have seen this season, Derek Shelton didn’t hesitate to call his bullpen’s performance “outstanding.” “I would say it’s right near the top,” the Pirates manager said. In a game filled with...
Jury finds Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Vazquez guilty of sexual assault of a teen girl
A Westmoreland County jury late Thursday found former Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Felipe Vazquez guilty of sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl. The jury found Vazquez guilty on 15 counts, including the most serious charges of statutory sexual assault, unlawful contact or communication with a minor, indecent assault and corruption of...
First Call: Injury preventing Antonio Brown from finalizing Tampa contract; trio of dominance from ex-Pirates pitchers
Thursday’s “First Call” features a snag in Antonio Brown’s contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. We celebrate a happy anniversary with Evgeni Malkin. You can already bet on who may be next year’s Trevor Lawrence in the NFL Draft. And a trio of former Pirates dusted their competition. A.B.’s knee...
By working to shorten swing, Gregory Polanco becoming more productive for Pirates
Gregory Polanco picks up on tendencies, so when St. Louis Cardinals starter Jack Flaherty got him to ground into a forceout, the Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder knew what pitch to expect his next time up. So Polanco was expecting Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina to call for a fastball from Flaherty....
Pirates farm report for May 19, 2021
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 8-4) had its game with St. Paul (Twins) suspended in the eighth inning with the score tied 2-2. It will resume at 7:05 p.m. Thursday. Next: Thursday at St. Paul (Twins), 8:05 p.m. ALTOONA (Double-A, 8-5) was blanked 2-0 by Harrisburg (Nationals). Travis MacGregor started and pitched five...
Starter Trevor Cahill injured in 2nd inning as Cardinals thump Pirates for 2-game sweep
Derek Shelton doesn’t have a crystal ball, so the Pittsburgh Pirates manager couldn’t have predicted the bases-loaded predicaments his starting pitcher would face in the second inning at St. Louis. The Cardinals intentionally walked a batter to get to Trevor Cahill, only for Jack Flaherty to strike him out to...
Pirates’ Ildemaro Vargas hopes to take advantage of his versatility
The first conversation Ildemaro Vargas had with manager Derek Shelton upon joining the Pittsburgh Pirates was about which position he is most confident and comfortable playing. The Pirates value versatility above all and claimed Vargas off waivers from the Chicago Cubs because he is a switch hitter who can play...
Pirates’ Ke’Bryan Hayes will start rehab assignment at Triple-A in ‘next day or so’
Pittsburgh Pirates rookie third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes is the closest he has been to returning to play since going on the injured list April 4 with a wrist injury. Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Hayes is “responding well” to participating in a simulated game in...
Pirates farm report for May 18, 2021: Another dominant outing for Roansy Contreras
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 8-4) won 7-3 over St. Paul (Twins). LF Anthony Alford went 3 for 4 with a double and three RBIs. 3B Hunter Owen was 2 for 4 with three RBIs. 1B Christian Bethancourt singled twice and RF Chris Sharpe doubled. Beau Sulser started and earned the win, pitching...
Pirates send Chad Kuhl to Indianapolis to begin rehab assignment
Chad Kuhl, who has been on the injured list since April 22 with right shoulder discomfort, will start a rehab assignment Wednesday when he pitches for the Triple A Indianapolis Indians against the St. Paul (Minn.) Saints. Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton said Kuhl is expected to throw about 45...
Pirates to return to 100% capacity July 1; tickets for remaining games on sale next week
The Pittsburgh Pirates are increasing capacity to PNC Park starting in June, the team announced Tuesday. PNC Park will have an increased capacity of about 55%, with an approximate 3-foot social distancing between seating allotments, starting June 3, per the team’s announcement. That capacity will be in effect for all...
Investigator testifies Pirates pitcher Vazquez knew Scottdale girl was ‘too young’
Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Felipe Vazquez, during a police interrogation at his Strip District apartment in September 2019, initially claimed he knew his teen accuser was young and told investigators her age was why he refused to communicate with her over the previous two years. Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Michael Thompson,...
Pirates great Rennie Stennett dies at age 72
Rennie Stennett, who made baseball history twice by his mere presence in the Pittsburgh Pirates lineup as a rookie and later with seven hits in seven at-bats in a game, died Tuesday morning in Coconut Creek, Fla., after a battle with cancer. He was 72. We are saddened to relay...
Erik Gonzalez’s mindset as important to Pirates as his glove
Two hours before first pitch Friday night at PNC Park, Erik Gonzalez was confronted with a question that can perplex the oldest, wisest and most talented players. “How do you handle the mental pressure inherent in the game of baseball?” Gonzalez thought about it for several seconds before he conceded...
Cardinals jump on Pirates early to claim victory
The way was cleared for the Pittsburgh Pirates to threaten and perhaps even defeat the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday night. Starting pitcher J.T. Brubaker settled down after allowing five runs in the first three innings and the bullpen threw 2⅓ innings worth of zeroes at the Cardinals. Then, Gregory...
Pirates claim infielder Ildemaro Vargas off waivers, designate Troy Stokes Jr.
The Pirates claimed infielder Ildemaro Vargas off waivers from the Chicago Cubs on Monday. Vargas, 29, is 3 for 21 this season with two doubles and two RBIs. The switch-hitter, who has played second base and shortstop this season, was designated for assignment May 15. To make room on the...
Teen testifies to sexual relationship with ex-Pirates pitcher Felipe Vazquez, says initial contact was ‘super cool’
A 17-year-old girl testified Monday she thought it was “super cool” when Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Felipe Vazquez responded to her social media message in which she wished him a happy birthday in July 2017. Six weeks later, with her parents away for the day, Vazquez had sex with her...
Ready in a pinch: Pirates’ Wilmer Difo credits preparation for leading majors in pinch hits
When it comes to his career numbers as a pinch hitter, Wilmer Difo is hovering at the Mendoza Line. His batting average in that role was even worse when he was with the Washington Nationals. What once served as a scarlet letter, Difo now wears like a badge of honor....
Pirates farm report for May 16, 2021
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 7-4) defeated Toldeo (Tigers), 6-5. 1B Christian Bethancourt (.333) hit a walk-off single to score CF Travis Swaggerty (.200) in the bottom of the ninth. Swaggerty hit his third home run and had three RBIs. LF Chris Sharpe (.258) and RF Dustin Fowler (.258) also homered. RHP Shea...
Jacob Stallings injured, Pirates strand nine runners in loss to Giants
If the Pittsburgh Pirates were going to beat the San Francisco Giants, it would require the third walk-off win in as many games. Not only that, but the Pirates were without the player who hit the heroic home run Saturday night as catcher Jacob Stallings was removed from the game...
Pirates GM Ben Cherington hopes Colin Moran, Phillip Evans can avoid rehab assignments
The Pittsburgh Pirates are hoping first baseman Colin Moran and corner infielder/outfielder Phillip Evans return from the injured list this week and “perhaps even avoid a rehab assignment,” general manager Ben Cherington said Sunday afternoon on his weekly radio show. Moran (groin) and Evans (hamstring) were placed on the 10-day...
Pirates farm report for May 15, 2021: 4 Bradenton pitchers combine on no-hitter
BRADENTON (Low-A, 7-4) Four pitchers combined on a no-hitter in a 2-0 victory over Dunedin (Blue Jays). RHP Jose Maldonado, an international free agent signing, started and went two innings, striking out four and walking one. RHP Cameron Junker, a 2019 10th-round pick out of Notre Dame, followed with a...
Jacob Stallings hits 2-run, walk-off home run to lift Pirates past Giants
Echoing a rallying cry from their glory days, Pittsburgh Pirates fans chanted the surname of Johnny Cueto in an attempt to once again rattle the San Francisco Giants starting right-hander at PNC Park. Unlike the 2013 NL wild card game, Cueto didn’t drop the ball. By the end, however, Pirates...
