Four run fourth inning boosts Bucs

May 11, 2014

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Pedro Alvarez singled in the go-ahead run and the Pittsburgh Pirates won their season-high fourth consecutive game Saturday night, 4-3 over the St. Louis Cardinals.Alvarez's hit capped a four-run fourth inning against Lance Lynn (4-2) that helped the Pirates wipe out a 3-0 deficit.Josh Harrison and Ike Davis each had two hits for the Pirates, who have won 11 of their last 14 games against the Cardinals in Pittsburgh. Harrison also hit an RBI single in the fourth.Jared Hughes (2-0) retired all four batters he faced in relief of starter Edinson Volquez. Mark Melancon ...

Bucs’ late rally not enough

May 12, 2014

PITTSBURGH - Trevor Rosenthal didn't panic and neither did his manager, Mike Matheny.Rosenthal, the St. Louis Cardinals' closer, got into a major ninth-inning jam, allowed the Pittsburgh Pirates to draw within a run and then load the bases with none out. It seemed the Pirates, who lead the major leagues with five walkoff victories, were on the verge of doing it again.However, Rosenthal escaped the jam for his 10th save and Shelby Miller won his fourth straight start as the Cardinals held on for a 6-5 win Sunday night."That felt like a walk-off win right there," Matheny said with a ...

Bucs lose to Brewers

May 14, 2014

MILWAUKEE - No confrontations. One hit batter. Two stars on the bench.The Milwaukee Brewers withstood the early exits of outfielders Carlos Gomez and Ryan Braun by pounding out 12 hits against Gerrit Cole and two Pittsburgh Pirates relievers in the teams' first meeting since a benches-clearing brawl last month.Jonathan Lucroy hit a bases-loaded, two-run single and Marco Estrada had eight strikeouts through six choppy innings in the Brewers' 5-2 win Tuesday night."The other guys are getting on base," manager Ron Roenicke said. "When everybody's contributing it means we're getting a lot of ...

Bucs clip K-Rod

May 15, 2014

Associated PressMILWAUKEE - Chris Stewart quickly has become familiar with the repertoire of tough Milwaukee closer Francisco Rodriguez. It paid off for the backup catcher Wednesday night.One night after grounding out in a nine-pitch at-bat against Rodriguez, Stewart's single keyed a three-run burst in the ninth inning and sent the Pirates past Milwaukee 4-1, ending the Brewers' three-game winning streak."I saw quite a few pitches from him (Tuesday) night, so I think that helped going into the at-bat," Stewart said. "He stayed away from me (Tuesday) night, so it gave me a read on what he ...

Davis’ hit in 9th leads Brewers over Bucs

May 16, 2014

MILWAUKEE - The leadoff single to Ryan Braun was understandable. The two walks allowed by Mark Melancon that followed were unexpected.By the time Khris Davis came up with the bases loaded with nobody out in the ninth, there was no more room for error for the Pittsburgh Pirates closer.Davis hit a game-ending two-run single and the Milwaukee Brewers rallied off Melancon for a 4-3 win Thursday."He's a human being and just didn't have his best stuff today. The walks are uncharacteristic," manager Clint Hurdle said. "He's been here for a while, and that's something we haven't seen."Davis' ...

Bucs don’t dig the long ball

May 18, 2014

NEW YORK - Mark Teixeira has provided consistent power for weeks. The rest of the New York Yankees joined in Saturday.Teixeira hit a two-run homer, Zoilo Almonte connected in his first start of the season and New York went deep five times for a 7-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.It was the second time since 2011 that five Yankees players homered in one game."It was nice to see," manager Joe Girardi said. "Our team is built for this park."Brett Gardner and Alfonso Soriano also homered off a struggling Edinson Volquez to back five scoreless innings from David Phelps (1-0). Brian ...