Pirates/MLB category, Page 254
Pirates minor league report for Aug. 2, 2019
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 56-54) lost 5-3 to Columbus (Indians). RHP Mitch Keller (7-4, 3.41) took the loss despite pitching a no-hitter through 4 1/3 innings. Keller finished with 12 strikeouts, a walk and four runs allowed on six hits in six innings. SS Cole Tucker (.275) went 2 for 4 with...
2 big innings help Pirates break slump, beat Mets to open homestand
As teammates on a last-place club, the trade deadline could’ve seen Melky Cabrera, Starling Marte or Felipe Vazquez playing elsewhere this weekend. Instead, Cabrera lined a two-run double off the bullpen fence and Marte hit a three-run homer Friday night as the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the New York Mets, 8-4,...
Pirates’ Kela: Telling truth led to 10-game suspension
Keone Kela told the truth in Cincinnati, and he is pretty sure that’s why he’s facing a 10-game suspension. The Pittsburgh Pirates reliever drew the harshest punishment of anyone involved in Tuesday’s brawl with the Reds. Kela stirred long-simmering nastiness when he threw a pitch over Derek Dietrich’s head, an...
Pirates’ Jameson Taillon needs elbow surgery, won’t pitch again this season
Jameson Taillon needs surgery to repair a tendon in his pitching arm, ending any hopes that he could throw again this season. Taillon needs surgery to fix an injured flexor tendon, said trainer Todd Tomczyk, not the ulnar collateral ligament that was repaired in 2014 during Tommy John surgery. The...
Pirates designate Jung Ho Kang for assignment
The glove was still there, but two seasons away from the majors was probably too much for Jung Ho Kang’s bat to overcome. “That’s our take on it,” manager Clint Hurdle said Friday after the Pirates designated the Korean infielder for assignment. “Love the growth of the man off the...
Fantasy Sports podcast: Football draft advice, MLB trade fallout, Reds-Pirates brawl
Fantasy football drafts are happening soon. Are you ready? Need some advice? Jeff Erickson of RotoWire gets you prepared in our weekly fantasy sports podcast. We look at where Steelers players Ben Roethlisberger, Vance McDonald and JuJu Smith-Schuster rank among star players at their respective positions. Also, Jeff tells us...
Tim Benz: Pirates-Reds brawl suspensions a complete joke
This column is going to be very difficult to follow. Judging by the comments section that normally accompanies my posts, some of you may feel that’s a common occurrence on my page. This time, though, it won’t be my fault. This time. No, today it’ll be Major League Baseball’s fault....
Pirates farm report for Aug. 1, 2019
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 56-53) won 11-5 over Toledo (Tigers). The Indians tallied three home runs, five doubles and 18 hits. RF Trayvon Robinson (.314) was 3 for 4 with a two-run homer and four RBIs. LF Jake Elmore (.355) went 3 for 6 with a double and two runs. 3B Ke’Bryan...
6 players, both managers suspended for Pirates-Reds brawl
The fallout from the Pittsburgh Pirates’ brawl with the Cincinnati Reds will hit players and managers of both teams where it hurts the most: on the roster and in the wallet. Six players plus managers Clint Hurdle and David Bell were suspended and given undisclosed fines for their part in...
First Call: Raiders’ 1st ‘Hard Knocks’ trailer; Baker Mayfield screaming; Jordan Lyles debuts with Brewers
Thursday’s “First Call” features the new trailer for “Hard Knocks,” with significantly less Antonio Brown than we expected. Jordan Lyles debuts in Milwaukee. Baker Mayfield gets testy in Cleveland. Michael Thomas resets the bar for wide receiver contracts in New Orleans. Corey Dickerson misses out on history in Philadelphia. This...
Tim Benz: Prepare for a 2021 Pittsburgh sports yinz-pocalypse
You think 2019 has been a crazy year for Pittsburgh sports so far? Antonio Brown was traded. Le’Veon Bell went to the New York Jets. And the Steelers jumped into the top 10 of the draft. The Penguins were swept out of the playoffs, but Mike Sullivan got a contract...
U mad, bro? Steelers fans invent reasons to be angry. Pirates fans have easier time
In this week’s “U mad, bro?” some Steelers fans are mad about gender reveals. Others are angry about semi-trucks. And Pirates fans are angry about everything. And I mean, everything. Somebody named Eli did not like how somebody else named Eli showed up to Steelers training camp. When he loses...
Pirates minor league report: July 31, 2019
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 55-53) won 6-4 over Toledo (Tigers). RF Kevin Kramer (.262) went 2 for 4 with a fifth-inning solo home run and two runs scored. DH Pablo Reyes (.286 with Indianapolis) was 2 for 3 with a two-run double and two runs. LF Jake Elmore (.352) finished 2 for...
Kevin Gorman: Not trading Felipe Vazquez was win for Pirates, technically speaking
When the clock struck 4 p.m. Wednesday afternoon and the Pittsburgh Pirates still possessed one of their only All-Stars, did they win or lose the trade deadline? That the Pirates didn’t deal closer Felipe Vazquez was met with disappointment in baseball circles, especially by the Los Angeles Dodgers. The left-hander...
Pirates lose on road to Reds, both teams behaveVideo
CINCINNATI — Clint Hurdle and David Bell had little interaction while exchanging lineup cards one day after their teams fought on the field. Luis Castillo made sure there wouldn’t be much to talk about in the game that followed. Castillo pitched into the eighth inning Wednesday, leading Cincinnati to a...
Pirates trade Corey Dickerson to Phillies
The Pittsburgh Pirates’ trade of Corey Dickerson to the Philadelphia Phillies scratched a .300 hitter and a Gold Glove left fielder off the roster, an odd result for a team that has lost 16 of 19 games and needs further tinkering to contend in 2020. But Dickerson, 30, is due...
Pirates’ Clint Hurdle plans to speak to Keone Kela about pitch to Derek Dietrich
Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said during his pregame talk with reporters Wednesday at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati he will speak to relief pitcher Keone Kela, who admitted he intentionally threw “up and in” at the Reds’ Derek Dietrich. The pitch in the seventh inning was the trigger...
Tim Benz: Pirates-Reds brawl more comical than cantankerous
The Pirates and Reds had another skirmish in the ninth inning of Tuesday night’s 11-4 Bucs win. But, at least, this one had some punches thrown as opposed to the chest-puffing pillow fights that occurred earlier in the season. In case you missed it, the two teams clashed on the...
Brawl breaks out between Pirates and Reds. Again.Video
A bench-clearing brawl broke out in the ninth inning Tuesday night when Cincinnati pitcher Amir Garrett sprinted toward the Pittsburgh dugout and swinging fists at Trevor Williams. The Reds and the Pirates have traded tensions since April and both instances have involved Derek Dietrich of the Reds. Tuesday, Keone Kela...
8 ejections, suspensions to come as Pirates, Reds brawl again
CINCINNATI — Jared Hughes’ errant pitch threw a load of fuel on one of the majors’ most flammable rivalries. Call it Pirates vs. Reds, round two — and a fitting farewell for Yasiel Puig. Hughes hit Starling Marte with his first pitch in the ninth inning Tuesday night, setting the...
Pirates farm report for July 30, 2019
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 54-53) lost 3-2 to Columbus (Indians). RF Will Craig (.249) hit a walk-off solo home run. It was his 20th homer this season. 2B Kevin Kramer (.259) hit a solo homer in the fourth inning to give the Indians a 2-0 advantage. RHP Dovydas Neverauskas (3-1, 3.82) picked...
Pirates suspend bullpen coach Euclides Rojas for 2 games
The Pittsburgh Pirates suspended bullpen coach Euclides Rojas for two games for violating his contract, the team announced Tuesday night before its game in Cincinnati. Rojas, 51, has been with manager Clint Hurdle since his first season with the Pirates in 2011. Overall, Rojas has been with the Pirates for...
Pirates swap pitchers with Triple-A Indianapolis
The Pittsburgh Pirates continued trying to find the right combination in the bullpen Tuesday when right-handed pitchers Geoff Hartlieb and Yefry Ramirez were recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis. Right-handers Alex McRae and Montana DuRapau, who combined to allow 11 hits and every run in the 11-6 loss to the Cincinnati Reds...
Anatomy of a losing streak: How did the Pirates get this bad this fast?
The Pittsburgh Pirates’ losing streak is not singularly about Josh Bell or the trade of Jordan Lyles or pitchers who don’t belong in the big leagues or the inability to win close games. It’s about all of that. Let’s start with Bell. • The guy knows how to throw a...
Tim Benz: Josh Bell made a comical throw. Another play was even worse
Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Josh Bell made this, uh, “throw” in the bottom of the second inning Monday night in Cincinnati. Let’s see if it looks any better on replay.... pic.twitter.com/vQGli0awub— Tim Benz (@TimBenzPGH) July 30, 2019 Yuck! The Reds TV broadcast described that throw from Bell as looking like...
