Pirates/MLB category, Page 278
5 Pirates thoughts on busy 9-game stretch to start season
The Pittsburgh Pirates are only nine games into the season, but it feels like mid-July with all the news that has swirled around the team since Opening Day. It started with unexpected bullpen failures, followed by a four-game sweep of Cincinnati Reds, who don’t look to be as improved as...
Pirates’ Chris Archer, Reds’ Yasiel Puig suspended for roles in brawl
Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Chris Archer could miss his next scheduled start after he was suspended five games and fined an undisclosed amount of money by Major League Baseball for throwing behind Derek Dietrich of the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday. Pirates pitcher Chris Archer and Reds outfielder Yasiel Puig, as well...
Tim Benz: Pirates’ loss to Cubs a comedy and tragedy
I’m not sure if it was more comedy or tragedy. But I know one thing about the Pirates’ loss to the Cubs Monday afternoon. I sure don’t want to see a sequel. Chicago whipped the Pirates, 10-0, in the Cubs’ home opener. Perhaps better said, the Pirates stumbled off a...
Pirates minor league report: April 8, 2019
Pirates INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 1-3) was idle. The Indians have yet to name a probable starting pitcher for Tuesday’s series opener against Toledo (Tigers). Next: Tuesday at Toledo, 6:35 p.m. ALTOONA (Double-A, 5-0) won 6-3 over Erie (Tigers) to remain undefeated. RHP Pedro Vasquez (1-0, 1.50) picked up the win after...
Pirates’ winning streak snapped in blowout loss in Cubs’ home openerVideo
First, Brad Brach escaped a tough situation. Then Brandon Kintzler, Randy Rosario and Pedro Strop finished the job. Chicago’s beleaguered bullpen stepped up after Jon Lester departed with left hamstring tightness, leading the Cubs over the Pittsburgh Pirates, 10-0, in their home opener Monday. “That will build their confidence. They...
Image of Pirates-Reds brawl draws comparison to artwork
An image from Sunday’s brawl between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds has gotten the attention of the web and gone viral. The screengrab from the broadcast shows Reds slugger Yasiel Piug appearing to take on the entire Pirates team. Tempers got hot after Pirates starter Chris Archer threw the...
Tim Benz, Mark Madden talk Penguins-Islanders, Antonio Brown vs. JuJu, Pirates bats
In this week’s “Madden Monday,” Mark Madden and I hit on the big three: The Penguins, Steelers and Pirates. We start with the Penguins and their upcoming series with the Islanders. Mark likes the Penguins in six games. I’m thinking five. Yet somehow, I’m still expecting every game to be...
Tim Benz: Winning with bats a good sign for Pirates
They needed that. Yeah. It’s early in the season. And yes, what Pittsburgh baseball purist doesn’t like back-to-back 2-0 wins? That’s what high-grade starts from Jordan Lyles and Joe Musgrove gave the Pirates on Thursday and Friday nights against the Reds. Twelve combined innings of starting pitching, no runs allowed....
Offense breaks out after brawl as Pirates finish sweep of Reds
Felipe Vazquez was so certain trouble was brewing Sunday at PNC Park, he felt it through walls, down a hallway, up some stairs and into the clubhouse. It was the fourth inning of what would become the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 7-5 victory against the Cincinnati Reds, and the final blow in...
Pirates notebook: Jason Martin puts ‘crazy’ days behind him
Jason Martin described his first three days with the Pittsburgh Pirates as “crazy,” but he got down to a business Sunday at PNC Park in a game marred by a benches-clearing dustup in the fourth inning. He singled, doubled and recorded his first major league RBI in his second consecutive...
Benches clear, 5 ejected after Pirates’ Chris Archer throws behind Reds’ Derek Dietrich
The Pittsburgh Pirates’ two most valuable relief pitchers, Keone Kela and Felipe Vazquez, were ejected in the top of the fourth inning Sunday after Pirates and Cincinnati Reds players rushed onto the field when Pirates starter Chris Archer threw behind Derek Dietrich. Also ejected were Reds manager David Bell, right...
Pirates’ Clint Hurdle still heeds former Braves’ manager Bobby Cox’s advice on newspapersVideo
Clint Hurdle said Sunday he refuses to read newspaper articles concerning the Pittsburgh Pirates. He gets along well with reporters covering the team, speaking with them twice a day during the season and even engaging them in the offseason. But he prefers to develop his own opinions about his team...
Pirates minor league report: April 6, 2019
Pirates INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 0-3) lost 7-4 to Columbus (Indians). OF/DH Eric Wood (.250) and CF Bryan Reynolds (.273) both hit home runs. RHP Alex McRae (0-1, 7.71) recorded seven strikeouts in a losing effort with three walks and four earned runs. Next: Sunday at Columbus, 2:05 p.m. ALTOONA (Double-A, 3-0)...
Pirates bullpen showing it’s the strength it was meant to be after rocky start
The Pittsburgh Pirates bullpen blew four leads over the season’s first four games, costing the team three early wins. But after turning a three-run, seventh-inning lead into an extra-innings loss Wednesday, the Pirates group of relievers is beginning to show it is the team strength it was expected to be....
Kevin Newman’s 10th-inning RBI double gives Pirates 6-5 victory over Reds
The moment Kevin Newman struck the first-pitch sinker he saw, Josh Bell helped lead a cavalcade out of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ dugout late Saturday afternoon. With Francisco Cervelli at first base and one out in the bottom of the 10th inning, Newman lined a double into the left-field gap. As...
Pirates notes: Gregory Polanco to begin playing in rehabilitation games
There’s increasing light at the end of the proverbial tunnel for the Pittsburgh Pirates’ very injury-thinned outfield. Longtime starting rightfielder Gregory Polanco is scheduled to begin playing in minor-league games Sunday when he reports to the Single-A Bradenton Marauders for a rehabilitation assignment. Polanco has not played since suffering an...
Backup catcher Jacob Stallings sees first action of season for Pirates
The final member of the 25-man Pittsburgh Pirates Opening Day roster is making his season debut. Jacob Stallings was in the lineup batting seventh and at catcher for Saturday’s home game against the Cincinnati Reds. The 29-year-old is the organization’s No. 3 catcher but made the club at the end...
Jason Martin makes MLB debut, singles as Pirates leadoff hitter Saturday
The Pittsburgh Pirates wasted little time giving Jason Martin his first taste of Major League Baseball. “First hitter of the game for us,” manager Clint Hurdle said with a smile Saturday morning, about three hours prior to Martin’s MLB debut began as the Pirates’ left fielder and leadoff hitter against...
Pirates minor league report: April 5, 2019
Minor League Report Pirates INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 0-2) fell 5-4 to Columbus (Indians) in 11 innings on a walk-off single. RHP Mitch Keller (0-0, 0.00) did not record a decision after allowing two earned runs on three hits with six strikeouts and five walks in 4.2 innings. RHP Montana DuRapau (0-1,...
Pirates shut out Reds for the third time, 2-0
His fastball deserted him for a time. His teammates struggled to offer the run support every pitcher needs. But Joe Musgrove had two good friends on his side: Catcher Francisco Cervelli and his slider. They were more than enough to help the Pittsburgh Pirates (3-3) defeat the Cincinnati Reds (1-6)...
Pirates notebook: Starting pitchers keeping games close
Keeping in mind the early-season sample size, Pittsburgh Pirates starters were just short of dominant through the first five games. After Jameson Taillon allowed four runs in the opener in Cincinnati, Taillon, Trevor Williams and Jordan Lyles surrendered only one run in 23 innings. Overall, the four starters have a...
Jason Martin arrives from Triple-A as Kyle Crick goes on Pirates’ injury list
Many thoughts went through Jason Martin’s head when he was called up to the Pittsburgh Pirates before he even played one game for Triple-A Indianapolis this season. He made several phone calls, and his parents reacted quickly, flying from California with his sister and fiancée to be in the PNC...
First call: Pirates pitchers performing, hitters failing; Capitals clinch division
In “First Call” Friday, some interesting early numbers for the Pirates. The Capitals win the Metro. And the Lightning continue to chase history. That’s a good `start` A week into the season, the Pirates starting rotation has been every bit as good as you think it has. Granted, they have...
Tim Benz: Joe Musgrove’s health essential to Pirates rotation fulfilling promise
It was said so many times last year, it almost became a running joke. “You know, that Joe Musgrove. He’s more than just a pitcher. He’s an athlete!” If you heard it once, you heard it a thousand times. From teammates, coaches, fans and media that cover the team. “Joe...
Pirates minor league report: April 4, 2019
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 0-1) lost on the road, 10-4 to Columbus (Indians). RF Patrick Kivlehan (.250) and Will Craig (.333) hit home runs for the Indians. SS Cole Tucker (.400) finished 2 for 5, leaving four runners on base. RHP J.T. Brubaker (0-0, 3.86) did not record a decision after pitching...
