Pirates/MLB category, Page 50
Pirates farm report for Sept. 2, 2024: Jack Suwinski, Malcom Nunez lead Indy to blowout win
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 66-64) erupted for a 12-1 victory over Toledo (Tigers). RF Jack Suwinski (.214) was 3 for 5, doubled twice and knocked in three runs. 3B Malcom Nunez (.256) was 4 for 5 with an RBI single and two-run double. LF Joshua Palacios (.225) hit a sacrifice fly. 1B...
Reynolds, McCutchen homer in 8th as Pirates rally late to top Cubs
Through seven innings, Monday’s game at Wrigley Field looked to be more of the same for the continually slumping Pittsburgh Pirates, who were trailing by three, having managed zero runs on the night. But eighth-inning home runs by Bryan Reynolds and Andrew McCutchen sparked a late-game rally, lifting them to...
Pirates GM Ben Cherington emphasizes the ‘need to be better’ in international scouting
A day after Luis Ortiz tossed six one-hit innings against the Cleveland Guardians, Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington touted the right-hander as one of their international signing success stories and an example for recent changes in that department. Cherington addressed the firings of international scouting director Junior Vizcaino and...
Pirates farm report for Sept. 1, 2024: Indians smack 4 homers to rally past Louisville
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 65-64) overcame a seven-run deficit to beat Louisville (Reds), 10-9. It was the biggest comeback victory for the Indians since 2005. C Dylan Shockley (.245) hit a two-run homer in the seventh inning for the winning run. Shockley went 2 for 4. 3B/2B Nick Yorke (.328) was 3...
Alex Cobb tosses 6 perfect innings, Guardians hit 4 solo homers to top Pirates
Where Mitch Keller allowed his most hits of the season, the Pittsburgh Pirates couldn’t find a way to get on base against Cleveland Guardians left-hander Alex Cobb. Cobb was perfect through six innings, and the Pirates couldn’t hit him until they hit him. Isiah Kiner-Falefa broke up the perfect game...
Pirates activate relievers Ryan Borucki, Colin Holderman as rosters expand to 28
The Pittsburgh Pirates ended the rehabilitation assignments Sunday for left-handed pitcher Ryan Borucki and right-hander Colin Holderman, adding key relievers to their bullpen as active rosters expanded to 28. Borucki (0-0, 5.40 ERA) was activated from the 60-day injured list. He made only four appearances this season and has been...
Pirates farm report for Aug. 31, 2024: Anthony Solometo throws 6 scoreless in Altoona win
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 64-64) lost 6-0 to Louisville (Reds). CF Ji-Hwan Bae (.353) went 1 for 3 with a triple, a walk and his 13th stolen base. SS Liover Peguero (.258) went 1 for 2 with two walks. RHP Luis Cessa (4-6, 4.44) started and went five innings, giving up one...
Luis Ortiz stymies Guardians as Pirates end 4-game losing streak
Luis Ortiz is quietly building a scoreless streak during the Pittsburgh Pirates’ free fall in the second half of the season. Ortiz enjoyed his second strong start in a row and a rattled bullpen ended a string of disappointing performances as the Pirates beat the AL Central-leading Cleveland Guardians, 3-0,...
Pirates’ David Bednar discusses struggles, demotion
David Bednar’s struggles had reached epic proportions (the Pittsburgh Pirates ex-closer owned an ERA of 10.97 in 11 appearances in August). Since the All-Star break, the Bucs’ two-time all-star has been downright miserable after a first half that saw him convert 19 consecutive save opportunities during one stretch. But the...
Pirates’ Andrew McCutchen doubles, homers while batting cleanup in return from ILVideo
Pirates designated hitter Andrew McCutchen, already a revered figure in the Pittsburgh clubhouse, earned additional respect from his teammates by playing through a nagging knee ailment in early August during the club’s eventual 10-game losing streak. Knee inflammation ultimately sidelined McCutchen on Aug. 17, as he headed to the 10-day...
Pirates farm report for Aug. 30, 2024: Matt Fraizer delivers walk-off homer for Altoona
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 63-63) and Louisville (Reds) were suspended with the game tied 5-5 going into the 10th inning. The game will resume at 6:05 p.m. Saturday. Next: Saturday vs Louisville (Reds), 7:05 p.m. ALTOONA (Double-A, 53-71) defeated New Hampshire (Blue Jays), 7-5, in 10 innings thanks to a walk-off three...
Pirates allow 10 runs, 16 hits in defeat to Cleveland, dropping 4th straight
In their recent series against the Chicago Cubs, the Pittsburgh Pirates averaged nearly eight runs a game but still managed to get swept. The Pirates traveled to Cleveland on Friday to begin a series against the Guardians, and, again, offensive production was solid. But Bailey Falter, Carmen Mlodzinski and Domingo...
Pirates remove struggling David Bednar from closer’s role, will have closer by committee
Amid a season of struggles highlighted by a disastrous appearance Aug. 28 against the Chicago Cubs, right-handed reliever David Bednar was removed from the closer’s role, Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton announced Friday. Per Shelton, the Pirates will operate by committee when it comes to who takes the hill in...
Pirates reinstate Andrew McCutchen from injured list
The Pittsburgh Pirates reinstated designated hitter Andrew McCutchen from the 10-day injured list (left knee inflammation) ahead of Friday’s series opener in Cleveland vs. the Guardians. McCutchen last played Aug. 16 and has appeared in 101 games on the year. The 37-year-old is hitting .235 with 16 home runs and...
Mark Madden: Of all the Pirates’ problems, league’s 2nd-lowest payroll is by far the biggest
The Pittsburgh Pirates not only have collapsed, but they also have lost games in grand fashion. On Wednesday, the Pirates led Chicago, 10-3, at PNC Park but got beat 14-10. That was an award winner, exploding sewer pipe division. It had so many great elements: • Hottie gymnast Livvy Dunne...
‘That’s 100% who I am’: Pirates lefty Bailey Falter uses elite extension to fool hitters
Bailey Falter realized in high school in Chino Hills, Calif., that something was different about his fastball. The left-handed pitcher found it weird that his velocity was only registering in the mid- to high-80s but he was “just absolutely blowing it by those guys.” When Falter was in the minor...
Tim Benz: An all-Pirates setlist request for Green Day’s concert at PNC Park
From a Pirates perspective, the best thing you can say about the month of August is that it’s almost over. At least it is at PNC Park. The beleaguered Buccos don’t return home until Sept. 5 against the Washington Nationals. Between now and then, though, there is one event worth...
Pirates farm report for Aug. 29, 2024: Matt Gorski goes 4 for 4, belts 20th homer for Indy
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 63-63) outslugged Louisville (Reds), 10-6. RF Matt Gorski (.255) went 4 for 4 with a double, a two-run homer, his 20th, and four RBIs. LF Jack Suwinski (.194) went 1 for 4 with his fourth homer. CF Billy Cook (.282) went 2 for 5 with two RBIs. DH...
No, Mark Cuban is not buying the Pirates
In case you needed a reminder: Billionaire Mark Cuban is not buying his hometown Pittsburgh Pirates. Not today. Not tomorrow. Not ever. The topic came, yet again, Wednesday after the Pirates collapsed in epic fashion, blowing a 10-3 lead to the Chicago Cubs en route to a 14-10 loss. Pittsburgh...
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Pirates stunned by collapse against Cubs, Cruz’s position switch
There was a stunned silence in the home clubhouse as Pittsburgh Pirates players packed their equipment into travel bags Wednesday afternoon following a shellacking of a sweep by the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs didn’t just win a three-game series at PNC Park. They poured it on in every way imaginable,...
U mad, bro?: Oneil Cruz’s move to CF and Steelers’ 0-3 preseason have fans riled up
Two Pittsburgh topics dominated my social media interactions and my inbox this week: • Concern over the Steelers 0-3 preseason. • Oneil Cruz’s move to center field. I assume Penguins fans will start fretting about Sidney Crosby’s lack of a contract extension soon enough. But today is not that day....
Pirates farm report for Aug. 28, 2024: Termarr Johnson hits 1st Double-A homer in Altoona win
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 62-63) swept a doubleheader from Louisville (Reds), winning both games by a 2-1 score. In the first game, RHP Bubba Chandler (2-0, 1.17) started and went five innings, allowing one unearned run on three hits with two walks and five strikeouts. RHP Isaac Mattson (3.14) worked two perfect...
Livvy Dunne aghast after Pirates blow large lead, ruin Skenes’ start
The Pirates blew a 7-run lead to the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday. Livvy Dunne noticed. Dunne’s boyfriend, rookie pitcher Paul Skenes, started the game and left after five innings with a comfortable 10-3 lead. Not so fast. The Pirates’ bullpen collapsed and gave up 11 runs. Six of those runs...
Pirates blow 7-run lead, as Cubs rally late to sweep series in Oneil Cruz’s debut in center field
The Pittsburgh Pirates hit a new low — one they are hoping is rock bottom — by blowing a seven-run lead over the final three innings against the Chicago Cubs. Their decision to make a late-August position switch by moving Oneil Cruz to center field backfired when Christian Bethancourt hit...
Pirates DH Andrew McCutchen close to returning, 3B Ke’Bryan Hayes still up in the air
The Pittsburgh Pirates are on the verge of getting designated hitter Andrew McCutchen back and remain cautiously optimistic third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes will play again this season. Where McCutchen tested his left knee by running the bases and taking batting practice Tuesday, when he became eligible to come off the...
