Pirates/MLB category, Page 48
Lack of offense spoils solid start by Paul Skenes as Pirates are shut out by Cardinals
A quality start by Paul Skenes — one run over six innings, to be exact — seems like it should be a winning recipe for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Unfortunately for them, that’s not how things played out Monday at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, as the Cardinals rode seven scoreless...
Pirates call up Nick Yorke from Triple-A, adding red-hot bat, versatile defender to roster
The Pittsburgh Pirates called up second baseman Nick Yorke from Triple-A Indianapolis on Monday. Yorke, ranked No. 6 on the club’s prospects list per MLB Pipeline, joined the club in St. Louis, with the Pirates beginning a four-game series at Busch Stadium vs. the Cardinals. The 22-year-old is in line...
Could All-Star outfielder Bryan Reynolds be the next prominent Pirate to switch positions?
There was something different about the pregame drills Bryan Reynolds was doing along the left-field line Sunday, as the Pittsburgh Pirates All-Star outfielder was on his knees fielding grounders in foul territory. That Pirates bench coach Don Kelly used a fungo bat to hit balls to Reynolds while wearing an...
On Roberto Clemente Day, Pirates honor the late Hall of Famer by wearing his retired No. 21
Derek Shelton rarely wears a game jersey in the dugout, but the Pittsburgh Pirates manager proudly wore his home white with the No. 21 on the back as MLB celebrated Roberto Clemente Day. What made it even better for Shelton is he wore it for a win that involved a...
Pirates farm report for Sept. 15, 2024: Endy Rodriguez’s 2 hits help Curve cap season with victory
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 73-68) fell to Rochester (Nationals), 6-3. CF Jack Suwinski (.234) doubled, walked and had two RBIs. 1B Jake Lamb (.266) went 2 for 4 with a double and RBI. 2B Ji Hwan Bae (.341) had the only other hit for the Indians. RF Nick Yorke (.333), Malcom Nunez...
Rookie RF Billy Cook shines on Roberto Clemente Day as Pirates top Royals
All of the Pittsburgh Pirates wore No. 21 in celebration of MLB’s Roberto Clemente Day, but rookie Billy Cook paid tribute in ways that captured the essence of the late Hall of Fame right fielder’s style of play. Cook prevented the Kansas City Royals from scoring a run, turning a...
Pirates farm report for Sept. 14, 2024: Joshua Palacios homers in Indianapolis loss
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 73-67) gave up three runs in the top of the 12th to suffer an 8-6 loss to Rochester (Nationals). RF Joshua Palacios (.283) went 3 for 4 with a three-run homer, his third, a double and his fifth stolen base. LF Billy McKinney (.299) went 3 for 4...
‘Good in center field now’: Pirates’ Oneil Cruz embracing challenge of switch from shortstop
When the Pittsburgh Pirates moved Oneil Cruz from shortstop to center field, the greatest concern for talent evaluators was not whether he could play the position but rather if he would be willing. Blessed with size, speed and an elite arm, the 6-foot-7 Cruz has shown in flashes how the...
Bobby Witt Jr.’s 2 extra-base hits, 3 RBIs boost Royals past mistake-prone Pirates
Bobby Witt Jr. is one of baseball’s burgeoning stars, and the Kansas City Royals shortstop showed the Pittsburgh Pirates why he’s an American League MVP candidate. The 24-year-old Witt recorded his 100th RBI of the season on a solo home run in the first inning, then added two more on...
Pirates farm report for Sept. 13, 2024: Termarr Johnson reaches bases 5 times for Altoona
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 73-66) defeated Rochester (Nationals), 6-3. SS Nick Yorke (.340) went 2 for 4 with two walks and an RBI. RF Jack Suwinski (.232) also had two hits and drove in a run. 1B Malcom Nuñez (.258), LF Joshua Palacios (.270) and 3B Andrés Alvarez (.269) each drove in...
Pirates pummeled by Royals, ending 4-game winning streak
The Pittsburgh Pirates’ Friday night loss to Kansas City couldn’t totally be boiled down to a single play, yet one sequence in the second inning undoubtedly was killer in their 8-3 defeat by the Royals at PNC Park. With one out, starter Luis Ortiz committed a throwing error to first...
Whether Pirates third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes can return this season ‘still to be determined’
The Pittsburgh Pirates got some more clarity on the back issues bothering Ke’Bryan Hayes but don’t appear too optimistic that the Gold Glove third baseman will be ready to return for games this season. Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Hayes was recommended rehabilitation after being examined by...
Parking advisory set for Backyard Brawl and Pirates game
Motorists beware! Pittsburgh’s North Shore is hosting two big games Saturday afternoon that will be played around the same time. Officials have announced plans and advice to help fans avoid some gridlock. The Pittsburgh Pirates host the Kansas City Royals at 1:05 p.m. at PNC Park, followed by the Pitt...
Mark Madden: Between nostalgia and progression, Pirates face critical decision with Andrew McCutchen
If you look at the stats, re-upping Andrew McCutchen for next season seems a no-brainer. McCutchen is second on the Pirates in on-base percentage (.338) and home runs (20), third in OPS (.771) and runs (64). He’s hiked his batting average to .241, respectable by today’s standard. At 37, McCutchen...
‘You don’t see that play often’: How the Pirates turned a rare 5-4-6 double play against Marlins
The Pittsburgh Pirates were clinging to a two-run lead with runners on first and second base with no outs in the fifth inning when Paul Skenes threw a 2-2 sinker low and away to Connor Norby, having no idea that the resulting bouncer would produce a rare double play. How...
Pirates farm report for Sept. 12, 2024: Joshua Palacios belts single, double, triple for Indy
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 72-66) beat Rochester (Nationals), 6-2. DH Joshua Palacios (.271) went 3 for 4 with an RBI double, a single and a triple. C Jason Delay (.286) was 2 for 4 with a pair of RBI singles. 2B Ji Hwan Bae (.344) was 1 for 2 with a two-run...
U mad, bro?: A Steelers victory, a Pirates win streak — yet plenty of complaints from Pittsburgh sports fans
A Week 1 victory for the Pittsburgh Steelers and a Pirates’ four-game win streak have done very little to quell the pessimism running rampant through the Pittsburgh sports scene. Mercifully, I provide for you “U mad, bro” as macabre therapy. You can thank me later. We begin with an email...
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Pirates GM ‘not perfect’ but makes a case for continuity over cost
For all of the reactions to Ben Cherington’s public vote of confidence in Derek Shelton returning as Pittsburgh Pirates manager next season, one of the most interesting is the assumption that it really isn’t his to say. The suggestion is that Cherington is only the general manager and answers to...
Pirates farm report for Sept. 11, 2024: Nick Yorke homers, goes 4 for 4 for Indianapolis
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 71-66) won 6-4 over Rochester (Nationals). RHP Thomas Harrington (4-1, 3.51) started and went 6⅔ innings, allowing two runs on three hits, including a home run, walked two and struck out four. LHP Brady Fiegl (3.93) tossed 1⅓ scoreless innings and RHP Connor Sadzeck (4.33) surrendered two runs...
Bailey Falter takes no-hitter into 7th, as Pirates beat Marlins for series sweep
Derek Shelton made no secret of the need for left-hander Bailey Falter to follow a bullpen game against the Miami Marlins by providing a strong start for the Pittsburgh Pirates in the series finale. Falter went above and beyond, delivering the finest performance of his career by throwing six no-hit...
Pirates GM Ben Cherington: ‘Fully expect’ Derek Shelton to return as manager in 2025
Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington gave a vote of confidence to Derek Shelton, saying he expects him to return next season despite the likelihood of missing the playoffs for a fifth consecutive season as the field manager. “I fully expect Shelty to be the manager in 2025,” Cherington told...
Pirates farm report for Sept. 10, 2024: Bubba Chandler strikes out 10 in 6 innings in Indy
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 70-66) routed Rochester (Nationals), 13-3. RHP Bubba Chandler (4-0, 1.59) started and struck out 10 in six innings, allowing no runs on one hit and two walks. He was perfect through five innings. Indianapolis pounded out 15 hits to support him. CF Ji Hwan Bae (.343) went 2...
Andrew McCutchen hits 3-run shot for 10th 20-homer season as Pirates top Marlins
There was no flair for the dramatic from Andrew McCutchen, except that he didn’t drop his bat until he saw the long fly ball that sailed 403 feet clear the left-center fence for a three-run home run. It was another milestone moment for McCutchen with the Pittsburgh Pirates, marking the...
Pirates catcher Endy Rodriguez ready to return to playing in games at Double-A Altoona
Missing an entire season after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right elbow was challenging enough for Endy Rodriguez, but it made the Pittsburgh Pirates catcher appreciate how much baseball means to him. “I think being out all year makes me love the game a little bit more,” Rodriguez said,...
Paul Skenes strikes out 9 to set rookie club record, Pirates hold on to beat Marlins
Paul Skenes took care of business right away, breaking the franchise mark for most strikeouts by a rookie pitcher that stood for nine decades by fanning the second batter he faced. The Pittsburgh Pirates phenom then tried to put the record out of reach. Skenes had nine strikeouts and allowed...
