Pirates/MLB category, Page 66
Pirates cut ties with Ben Heller, claim IF/OF Niko Goodrum
One day after he gave up seven runs in the 10th inning against the Minnesota Twins, the Pittsburgh Pirates designated right-handed reliever Ben Heller for assignment. The 32-year-old allowed 11 earned runs in two appearances for the Pirates, giving up nine hits, one walk and four hit batters to post...
Mark Madden: Paul Skenes may be the Pirates’ marquee attraction, but don’t ditch Mitch
Pittsburgh has a new baseball hero. It’s Mitch the Pitch, and he’s at the top of today’s rotation of refreshing sports notes! • Forget Skenes day. The most exciting day in the Pirates rotation is Keller day. Mitch Keller has won six straight starts. In those six victories, Keller has...
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Pirates ‘better than one call’ but would like to see umpires get it right
Henry Davis had just watched video replay of the first-inning foul tip that was called a passed ball and cost the Pittsburgh Pirates a run in a game they lost in extra innings to the Minnesota Twins on Sunday. So it would be safe to assume the Pirates catcher wasn’t...
Pirates farm report for June 9, 2024: Dustin Peterson’s 3-run homer helps Altoona beat Richmond
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 26-35) lost 8-3 to Columbus (Guardians). RF Canaan Smith-Njigba (.229) homered as part of a three-run fourth inning. SS Liover Peguero (.274) doubled and had a walk. CF Gilberto Celestino (.288) also was 1 for 3 with a double. LHP Michael Plassmeyer (1-6, 8.74) allowed four runs on...
Twins take advantage of Pirates reliever Ben Heller’s disastrous 10th to prevent sweep
After a bullpen game Saturday followed by a short start from rookie Jared Jones, the Pittsburgh Pirates were down to their last reliever when the game went into extra innings. So they turned to right-hander Ben Heller, in hopes his second appearance would fare better than his first. Instead, it...
With Twins in town against Pirates, Plum’s Alex Kirilloff moves from PNC Park rotunda to playing field
Alex Kirilloff only had to look over his right shoulder Sunday to see how far his love of baseball has taken him. Kirilloff, a Plum graduate, started in left field for the Minnesota Twins at PNC Park — a literal stone’s throw from where he stood in 2013 as a...
Pirates farm report for June 8, 2024: Gilberto Celestino hits walk-off 2-run double for Indy
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 26-34) scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth for a 4-3 walk-off win over Columbus (Guardians). CF Gilberto Celestino (.287), who went 2 for 4, delivered the game-winning hit, a two-run double. RF Jake Lamb (.320) went 2 for 4 with a run scored and two...
Preparing to succeed: How Connor Joe became the most consistent player in Pirates’ lineup
When Connor Joe’s name is mentioned, the reflex response from the Pittsburgh Pirates has been to talk about his preparation. Joe is nothing if not prepared, a label he wears as a badge of honor. But Joe is changing the conversation, as the first baseman/outfielder has been the most consistent...
Rowdy Tellez homers, knocks in 3 runs, Pirates’ bullpen sharp in shutout of Twins
Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Rowdy Tellez’s body of work this season has been largely bereft of celebratory moments. Stepping in to defend then-struggling closer David Bednar in early April and issuing a slight reprimand to Pirates fans for booing Bednar, in addition to Tellez’s own production shortcomings, have painted a...
‘We want to keep winning’: Pirates GM Ben Cherington focused on improvement
The Pittsburgh Pirates resided in last place in the NL Central, seven games behind the Milwaukee Brewers, but only a half-game back in wild-card standings. So Pirates general manager Ben Cherington believes teams “have a pretty good idea” of what is and isn’t working this season. Even though the Pirates...
Tim Benz: Debating the idea that the Steelers get more media, fan protection than other Pittsburgh teams
CBS Sports’ Aditi Kinkhabwala was on a recent edition of the Ultimate Cleveland Sports Show. She’s a veteran of covering the Steelers and the AFC North for the NFL Network. During the episode, one of the hosts advanced the opinion that the Cleveland Browns are criticized in that city less...
Pirates farm report for June 7, 2024: Jake Lamb homers in Indianapolis loss
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 25-34) lost 7-3 to Columbus (Guardians). 1B Jake Lamb (.316) went 2 for 3 with a double and his fourth home run. LF Gilberto Celestino (.281) went 2 for 4 with his second homer. 3B Malcom Nunez (.262) went 1 for 4 with a run scored. DH Matt...
Mitch Keller tosses six shutout innings, Oneil Cruz, Connor Joe homer as Pirates beat Twins
Mitch Keller had kept the Minnesota Twins off the scoreboard for five-plus innings when he faced a full count with the bases loaded when the Pittsburgh Pirates ace showed confidence in his sweeper, a pitch he has worked to sharpen. If it wasn’t a strike, Keller was hoping for a...
Injured Pirates starter Martin Perez ‘pain-free,’ continues rehab of groin strain
In a batch of injury injury news pertinent to the starting rotation, Pittsburgh Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk revealed that lefty Martin Perez is “pain free” and will begin throwing from a slope soon, likely this weekend with the Minnesota Twins visiting PNC Park. Perez has been sidelined...
Mark Madden: Despite growing optimism for the Pirates, front office failings can’t be ignored
There is legit optimism concerning the Pittsburgh Pirates for the first time in a long time. Paul Skenes is a phenom, Jared Jones isn’t far behind and Mitch Keller is a solid No. 3 starter. Their rotation could win a playoff series right now. The trick is getting there. That’s...
Nick Gonzales’ love of hitting yielding results for the Pirates
With muscles rippling on his back and a quiet determination in his eyes, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ second baseman has the look of a running back unafraid of contact, despite a 5-foot-9, 190-pound physique. But that’s not Nick Gonzales. He tried football at Cienga High School in Vail, Ariz., and held...
Pirates farm report for June 6, 2024: Indianapolis pitchers touched up for 23 runs
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 25-33) gave up seven home runs and was clobbered by Columbus (Guardians), 23-5. RHP Domingo German (0-3, 7.97) started and went five innings, allowing eight runs on nine hits, including two homers. He walked three and struck out three. LHP Geronimo Franzua (6.75) was touched up for six...
Dodgers chase Bailey Falter early, pummel Pirates bullpen to avoid sweep
The Pittsburgh Pirates were eyeing a sweep of one of baseball’s best teams Thursday night at PNC Park, with Bailey Falter hoping to follow the solid performances of Jared Jones and Paul Skenes against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Unfortunately for the Pirates, those hopes took a big dent early, as...
Pirates add Justin Bruihl to bolster left-handed depth in bullpen
Relief pitcher Justin Bruihl has been with four MLB teams in four seasons, including the Pittsburgh Pirates, who added him to the roster Thursday in a quest for left-handed bullpen depth. He joins Aroldis Chapman as the only left-handed relievers on the team. Bruihl knows stability is promised to few...
Shohei Ohtani, other Dodgers discuss nuances between Jared Jones, Paul Skenes after seeing both this week
After being sent down on strikes 14 times in 11 innings against Paul Skenes and Jared Jones the past two nights, the Los Angeles Dodgers are talking about the similarities and differences between the Pittsburgh Pirates’ two rookie flamethrowing pitchers. “They both throw hard. But what really stands out is...
U mad, bro?: Pittsburgh fans not wild about state of Steelers QBs, Bryan Rust’s New York state of mind
A June swoon? Not for “U mad, bro?” At least not to start the month. We are already coming in hot for the early summer. Who is catching the heat? A two-time Stanley Cup champion. Both Steelers QBs. Derek Shelton and Ben Cherington. And the entire Steelers wide receiver depth...
Tim Benz: 80 years after D-Day, remembering baseball’s connection to World War II
It may have been 80 years ago, but Alex Vasselo can distinctly recall the news broadcasts from June 6, 1944. As an 11-year-old in McKees Rocks, he listened to them all day. “I still remember how they explained the actual leaving from England, with all the ships and everything. And...
Pirates’ Aroldis Chapman hits 104 mph twice for MLB’s fastest pitches this yearVideo
The chess match between Pittsburgh Pirates starter Paul Skenes and Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani lived up to expectations Wednesday night at PNC Park. Ohtani hit a two-run homer and managed a single off Skenes in the Pirates’ eventual 10-6 win, but Skenes fanned Ohtani in the top...
Pirates farm report for June 5, 2024: Andres Alvarez belts 4 hits in Indianapolis win
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 25-32) smoked Columbus (Guardians), 11-6. SS Andres Alvarez (.272) went 4 for 5 with a triple, three runs scored and his second stolen base in the leadoff spot. DH Brenden Dixon (.200) went 2 for 5 with a two-run homer, his first. CF Matt Gorski (.272) went 2...
Pirates’ Paul Skenes, Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani trade highlights in much-anticipated showdown
Thanks to a free ticket, a teenage Paul Skenes was in attendance when Shohei Ohtani made his home pitching debut for the Los Angeles Angels against the Oakland Athletics in April 2018. Skenes watched in awe as the Japanese superstar, a two-time AL MVP who was then only a 23-year-old...
