Pirates/MLB category, Page 280
Tim Benz, Mark Madden discuss Roethlisberger, Bell, Penguins’ bad weekend, Pirates infield
Thanks to an off-day, this week’s “Madden Monday” comes on a Tuesday. We get into: • Josh Harris’ accusation that Ben Roethlisberger fumbled on purpose against the Bengals. Why is this information just coming out now? • Le’Veon Bell’s failed contract. The spin continues! LISTEN: Mark Madden, Tim Benz discuss...
Nick Kingham throws five scoreless innings as Pirates beat Rays
Nick Kingham did his best to put his stamp on the search for a fifth starter, pitching five scoreless innings against the Tampa Bay Rays. Kingham retired the first 11 batters he faced and allowed two hits and two walks while striking out five, as the Pittsburgh Pirates scored off...
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Pirates make predictable moves but focus on future
The Pittsburgh Pirates made some predictable moves Monday by naming shortstop Erik Gonzalez and third baseman Jung Ho Kang starters over Kevin Newman and Colin Moran. That the decisions came down to defense is the obvious reaction, as Gonzalez and Kang provide more experience and better range on the left...
Pirates tab shortstop Erik Gonzalez, third baseman Jung Ho Kang as starters
The Pittsburgh Pirates named Erik Gonzalez and Jung Ho Kang their starters at shortstop and third base, respectively, general manager Neal Huntington told reporters on Monday. Gonzalez was competing with Kevin Newman, a former first-round pick. Kang beat out incumbent Colin Moran, whose range was an issue last season and...
Kevin Kramer, Ke’Bryan Hayes among latest round of cuts for Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates made their third round of spring training cuts on Monday, reducing their roster to 40 players. Second baseman Kevin Kramer was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis, and third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes was one of eight players reassigned to minor-league camp. Hayes, ranked the club’s No. 2 prospect by...
Jameson Taillon strikes out six to lead Pirates past Red Sox
The Pittsburgh Pirates unveiled a lineup that might be a preview for Opening Day, and their ace looked like he was ready. Right-hander Jameson Taillon, who will start the opener on March 28 at Cincinnati, allowed four hits while striking out six without a walk in five innings as the...
Josh Harrison leads Tigers past Pirates
After parting ways with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Josh Harrison did damage against them for the Detroit Tigers. Batting leadoff, Harrison scored two runs and drove in another to lead the Tigers to a 6-3 victory over the Pirates on Saturday afternoon in a Grapefruit League game in Lakeland, Fla. The...
Jung Ho Kang leads power surge for Pirates in spring game
Jung Ho Kang hit his fifth homer of the spring as the Pittsburgh Pirates tied the Tampa Bay Rays, 6-6, in a spring training game Friday in Bradenton, Fla. Starling Marte homered for the second straight game, and Josh Bell and Francisco Cervelli each hit their second homers of the...
5 Pirates hit home runs off Phillies, snap 6-game Grapefruit League losing streak
Five Pittsburgh Pirates hit home runs off the Philadelphia Phillies to snap a six-game skid in the Grapefruit League with a 11-2 victory Thursday at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Fla. Trevor Williams allowed three hits and an unearned run but had four strikeouts with no walks in five innings. The...
Oddsmakers: Pirates have 125-1 chance of winning World Series
The Pittsburgh Pirates are projected to win 77.5 games and face 125-1 odds of winning the World Series this season, according to oddsmakers at SportsBettingDime.com. The site also projected the Houston Astros are 7-1 favorites to win the World Series, followed by the New York Yankees (8-1), Los Angeles Dodgers...
Jameson Taillon makes Grapefruit League debut, but Pirates lose to Twins
Jameson Taillon made his Grapefruit League debut, allowing three runs on five hits, striking out two and walking none in four innings for the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Minnesota Twins, however, used a five-run ninth inning to cruise to a 10-4 victory over the Pirates on Tuesday at LECOM Park in...
Cole Tucker, Jason Martin among latest round of Pirates’ spring training cuts
The Pittsburgh Pirates made their second round of spring training cuts Tuesday, reducing their roster to 49 players. Shortstop Cole Tucker, outfielder Jason Martin and right-handed pitchers Jesus Liranzo and Aaron Slegers were optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis, and right-hander Alex McRae was reassigned to minor-league camp. Tucker batted .389 with...
Nick Kingham rocked for 5 runs as Braves beat Pirates
The Atlanta Braves knocked Nick Kingham around Monday by scoring five runs on six hits and four walks in a 6-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates Monday in a Grapefruit League game in Orlando. Kingham got rocked in the first inning, allowing Ender Inciarte to hit a leadoff double followed...
Chris Archer throws three scoreless innings, but Yankees beat Pirates
Chris Archer had another strong start for the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday, allowing only a pair of singles while striking out four batters with no walks in three innings against the New York Yankees. The Yankees won 6-5 in Grapefriut League action. Archer struck out Greg Bird with two runners...
Pirates pitchers shelled in 10-1 loss to Twins
Pittsburgh Pirates pitching couldn’t solve the Minnesota Twins’ hitters Saturday in a 10-1 loss in Bradenton, Fla. Starter Clay Holmes allowed three hits and three runs — two earned — in three innings, and reliever Keone Kela had a horrific inning in the fifth, giving up four hits and four...
Pirates option top prospect Mitch Keller to Triple-A Indianapolis
The Pittsburgh Pirates made their first roster cut of spring training Saturday when they optioned their No. 1 prospect, pitcher Mitch Keller, to Triple-A Indianapolis. Keller, a 22-year-old right-hander who is ranked the No. 19 prospect by MLB Pipeline, allowed 10 runs (all earned) on 10 hits, including three home...
Ex-Pirate pitcher Esteban Loaiza gets 3-year federal sentence for drug trafficking
Former Pittsburgh Pirate pitcher Esteban Loaiza was sentenced in federal court in San Diego to three years in prison for drug trafficking on charges involving about 44 pounds of cocaine, federal prosecutors said. In a plea agreement in U.S. District Court, Loaiza, 47, of Imperial Beach, Calif., admitted he took...
Blue Jays belt seven homers in beating Pirates in both split-squad games
The Toronto Blue Jays hit seven homers in beating the Pittsburgh Pirates in a pair of split-squad games on Friday. In Bradenton, Trevor Williams made his spring debut and allowed two runs on five hits over three innings, striking out three and walking two in an 11-0 loss at LECOM...
Jameson Taillon, Josh Bell among 31 pre-arbitration Pirates to sign 2019 contracts
The Pittsburgh Pirates agreed to terms with 31 players on pre-arbitration contracts for the 2019 season. The list includes starting pitchers Jameson Taillon, Trevor Williams and Joe Musgrove and first baseman Josh Bell, second baseman Adam Frazier, shortstop Erik Gonzalez, third baseman Colin Moran. Others who signed: pitchers Dario Agrazal,...
Cole Tucker hits walk-off homer as Pirates beat Orioles
Cole Tucker hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth — his second of the game and the team’s fifth — to lift the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 5-4 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday in Bradenton, Fla. Erik Gonzalez and Adam Frazier hit home runs...
Pirates pitcher Aaron Slegers counting on another career changeup with new pitch
If anyone understands the arc from unusual angles and how the spin of a baseball can provide a career changeup, it’s Aaron Slegers. After a 7-inch growth spurt before his senior year of high school, Slegers changed his career arc from self-described “super-fringy” baseball player to major-college star to major...
Nick Kingham, Colin Moran pace Pirates past Red Sox
Nick Kingham retired the first nine batters he faced and allowed two hits in four innings as the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Boston Red Sox, 6-1, Wednesday in Fort Myers. Designated hitter Colin Moran went 2 for 2 with a walk, an RBI and two runs scored. Rightfielder J.B. Shuck...
Pirates prospect Cole Tucker adds charisma to the competition at shortstop
Cole Tucker compared his first foray at the Pittsburgh Pirates’ major league camp to being not just the new kid in class but the youngest. Last year, the shortstop prospect sat wide-eyed in the corner of the clubhouse, eavesdropping on the conversations of veterans David Freese, Jordy Mercer, Josh Harrison...
Pirates say it’s ‘likely’ Gregory Polanco could take at-bats in spring game
The chances of Pittsburgh Pirates rightfielder Gregory Polanco making an appearance in a game this spring is looking “more and more likely,” team director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday. Polanco is recovering from surgery after injuring his left (throwing) shoulder in an awkward slide last September. Adam Berry...
Chris Archer, Adam Frazier shine in spring debuts as Pirates beat Orioles
It was a good day for spring debuts for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Chris Archer got out of a first-inning jam and didn’t allow a hit while striking out the four of the seven batters he faced in two scoreless innings, and Adam Frazier got the scoring started with an RBI...
