Pirates/MLB category, Page 113
Pirates closer David Bednar embraces role as native son
After making 13 of a possible 29 appearances in March/April — one inning almost every other day — David Bednar pitched just twice in the first 10 days of May. There wasn’t any need for a closer during the ongoing period when the Pittsburgh Pirates lost nine of 10 and...
Pirates farm report for May 11, 2023: Cal Mitchell homers in Indianapolis loss
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 16-19) blew a 5-1 lead and lost 8-7 to St. Paul (Twins). LHP Cam Alldred (5.00) started and allowed two runs, one earned, on one hit and three walks in three innings. He struck out five. RHP JC Flowers (4.15) walked four in one inning and gave up...
U mad, bro?: Pirates fans already turn sour from May slump; Penguins fans grumble about missing playoffs
The honeymoon appears to be over for the Pittsburgh Pirates. And for Penguins coach Mike Sullivan. And for football owner Antonio Brown. Pittsburgh sports fans chime in on all those topics and more in this week’s “U mad, bro?” We begin with “Frogger33” on Twitter. I was on WPXI’s “The...
‘I’m going to reach all of them:’ Pirates star Andrew McCutchen eyes milestone moments
For all the fanfare that surrounded his return to the Pittsburgh Pirates, Andrew McCutchen passed a major milestone in his baseball career this week with barely a written word or whisper of congratulations. If not for a daily milestone tracker kept by team historian Jim Trdinich as the five-time All-Star,...
Pirates farm report for May 10, 2023: Quinn Priester makes 2nd straight strong start
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 16-18) beat St. Paul (Twins), 4-2. RHP Quinn Priester (3-3, 5.40) won his second straight start, allowing two runs on six hits, including a home run, with two walks and four strikeouts in six innings. LHP Angel Perdomo (3.14), RHP Cody Bolton (2.19) and RHP colin Selby (3.21)...
Pirates out-executed in series-losing defeat to Rockies
A week ago, as the Pittsburgh Pirates’ eventual seven-game losing streak was getting underway, at least it could be said that the club was beating lesser opponents. That argument lost some steam Wednesday, however, with the Pirates falling 4-3 to the Rockies at PNC Park to drop two of three...
Pirates RHP Vince Velasquez resumes throwing, ‘very encouraging’ news for elbow discomfort
The Pittsburgh Pirates got “very encouraging” news regarding starting pitcher Vince Velasquez, who has resumed throwing after leaving last Thursday’s start at Tampa Bay with right elbow discomfort. The 30-year-old right-hander is projected to throw a live bullpen session early next week. Velasquez probably will require a rehabilitation assignment before...
Pirates focus on development of Henry Davis, Endy Rodriguez as catchers despite big bats
With two of their top three prospects playing the same position, the Pittsburgh Pirates separated catchers Endy Rodriguez and Henry Davis so both could play behind the plate on an everyday basis. The Pirates sent Rodriguez to Triple-A Indianapolis and Davis to Double-A Altoona in an effort to accelerate their...
Pirates farm report for May 9, 2023: Henry Davis blasts 2 more homers for Altoona
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 15-18) was beaten up by St. Paul (Twins), 11-3. LHP Caleb Smith started and gave up eight runs, all earned, on seven his and four walks in 3.2 innings. 2B Nick Gonzales (.267) went 1 for 4 with a double and a walk. C Endy Rodriguez (.260) was...
Pirates’ Josh Palacios learns hot bat doesn’t matter if your phone’s dead
When Josh Palacios went to dinner Monday night with Indianapolis Indians teammates Chavez Young and Vinny Capra, he never imagined that disaster would strike. He didn’t forget his wallet, and there was nothing wrong with the food at the hibachi restaurant in Minneapolis’ Mall of America. Those things the Pittsburgh...
Rockies rough up Pirates on 11 hits, including a pair of Jurickson Profar home runs
With their seven-game losing streak behind them, the Pittsburgh Pirates looked to Luis Ortiz to provide the same kind of spark the rookie right-hander gave them in his major-league debut last September. Instead, they went down in flames. A tied game took a turn in the fourth inning, when first...
Pirates continue roster shuffle, adding hot bat from Triple-A
Ben Cherington said Monday he wasn’t satisfied with the Pittsburgh Pirates’ depth, so the general manager is shaking up the roster after they endured a season-worst, seven-game losing streak. A day after adding veteran Chris Owings to stabilize the shortstop position, the Pirates added a hot bat to the lineup...
After struggling amid Pirates’ losing streak, Rodolfo Castro gets redemption with homer
When Rodolfo Castro hit Kyle Freeland’s belt-high fastball, he knew that it had a chance. Then again, the Pittsburgh Pirates infielder hit the ball to left-center, the deepest part of PNC Park. So there was a moment of uncertainty as it sailed toward the bullpen and just over the outstretched...
Behind Mitch Keller’s shutout, Rodolfo Castro’s HR, Pirates top Rockies to snap 7-game skid
There was never a conversation about taking Mitch Keller out of the game, not with the way the Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander was dealing against the Colorado Rockies with confidence and pinpoint control. The pressure of pitching in a scoreless game was relieved when Rodolfo Castro hit a line drive over...
Pirates switch shortstops, adding Chris Owings, anticipate RHP Luis Ortiz starting Tuesday
Searching for stability at shortstop and a starting pitcher, the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday turned to Triple-A Indianapolis for a pair of roster moves made in hopes of stopping their seven-game losing streak. The Pirates selected the contract of 31-year-old Chris Owings and immediately inserted him into the starting lineup...
Mark Madden: Steelers would be smart to pursue edge rusher Kyle Van Noy
If refreshing sports notes are wrong, you don’t want to be right! Something for everybody! • Pro Football Focus projects the Pittsburgh Steelers as a possible landing spot for free-agent veteran edge rusher Kyle Van Noy. Sounds like a good idea. Fourth-round draft pick Nick Herbig isn’t a known commodity....
First Call: Steelers get an ‘A’ offseason grade; Omar Khan deflects knowledge of Jets’ draft plans before trade
Pittsburgh Steelers management is still downplaying any prearranged knowledge of how pick No. 14 would work out upon completion of their draft-night trade with the New England Patriots. The Steelers are getting high marks for that deal as well as the rest of their offseason. The Pittsburgh Passion honors Franco...
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Pirates seeking to find another flip side amid 7-game losing streak
Following a 10-1 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday, Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton attempted to explain how his team went from the hottest team in baseball to the coldest almost overnight. On April 23, the Pirates had won seven consecutive games to improve to 16-7 and move...
Tim Benz: Pirates doing a lot to prove skeptics right; they better stop the trend this week
A week ago, the Pittsburgh Pirates looked like a team that could do no wrong. Now, for the Bucs, it’s a case of anything that can go wrong will go wrong. For as good as April was for the Pirates (ending the month 20-9), May has been every bit as...
Pirates farm report for May 7, 2023: Chris Owings’ 4 hits, 3 RBIs lift Indy past Toledo
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 15-17) beat Toledo (Tigers), 9-5. SS Chris Owings (.273) was 4 for 5 with a home run and three RBIs. LF Ryan Vilade hit a solo homer. 1B Aaron Shackelford (.301) was 2 for 3 with a home run and two RBIs. 3B Josh Bissonette (.246) was 1...
Blue Jays pound Pirates, who suffer 2nd consecutive sweep, drop 7th loss in a row
After suffering a second consecutive sweep that stretched their losing streak to seven games, the Pittsburgh Pirates can take comfort in one thing: At least they don’t play in the American League East. The Toronto Blue Jays followed the Tampa Bay Rays in sweeping a three-game series over the Pirates,...
Pirates farm report for May 6, 2023: Henry Davis doubles twice for Curve
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 14-17) clobbered Toledo (Tigers), 9-1. LF Cal Mitchell (.233) went 3 for 5 with a double and his third home run. 1B Ryan Vilade (.288) went 3 for 5 with his second homer, three RBIs and three runs scored. RF Canaan Smith-Njigba (.182) went 2 for 5. 2B...
Blue Jays batter Johan Oviedo early, get 14 hits to hand Pirates 6th consecutive loss
From the very first pitch, when George Springer belted Johan Oviedo’s 96 mph fastball for a single, the Toronto Blue Jays showed they arrived ready to hit. It took the Pittsburgh Pirates five innings to answer. The Blue Jays jumped out to a seven-run lead and pounded 14 hits to...
‘It shows he’s a really good hitter’: Bryan Reynolds rakes even as Pirates scuffle at plate
Bryan Reynolds doesn’t have an explanation for how he was riding a 10-game hitting streak while the rest of the Pittsburgh Pirates were scuffling at the plate, especially during their five-game losing streak. “I think hitting can be contagious both ways,” Reynolds said. “It’s hard to hit when nobody else...
Pirates farm report for May 5, 2023: Endy Rodriguez, Nick Gonzales pound out 3 hits apiece in Indy win
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 13-17) doubled up Toledo (Tigers), 6-3. C Endy Rodriguez (.279) went 3 for 4 with two runs scored and two stolen bases, his first of the season. 2B Nick Gonzales (.273) went 3 for 5 and stole his first base. CF Josh Palacios (.432) went 3 for 4...
