Brewers Locke up Bucs

June 9, 2014

PITTSBURGH - Yovani Gallardo was pitching so well he just needed one run to get a win. His catcher got him all the support he needed, with some help from an eager fan.Gallardo pitched seven crisp innings, Jonathan Lucroy doubled and scored on Aramis Ramirez's groundout, and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 1-0 on Sunday."Yo was outstanding," Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said. "Just hung in there and made some great pitches, got better as the game went on."Gallardo (4-4) had a season-high eight strikeouts in his second win in his last three starts. He allowed four hits ...

McCutchen hits 8th homer in 6-2 win

June 10, 2014

PITTSBURGH - Andrew McCutchen made a "minor" adjustment in the batter's box a couple weeks ago hoping to give him a fraction of a second longer to see what's coming.Consider the experiment a success.McCutchen hit his eighth homer and drove in three runs to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 6-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Monday night."When I get the barrel to it, good things happen," McCutchen said. "That's basically what I'm doing."McCutchen drove a two-run shot to right field in the third inning then added an RBI-double in the fifth off Edwin Jackson (4-6) as the Pirates bounced ...

Cubs defeat Bucs

June 11, 2014

PITTSBURGH - All eyes were supposed to be on Gregory Polanco. But thanks to his new-found success against left-handed pitchers, Anthony Rizzo stole the show.Rizzo homered, doubled twice and drove in three runs to lead the Chicago Cubs over the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-3 Tuesday night, spoiling Polanco's much-anticipated debut.Rizzo hit a two-run homer in the first inning off lefty Francisco Liriano, who came out in the fourth with discomfort on his right side. Rizzo also doubled and scored in the fourth and hit an RBI double in the seventh, a drive to deep right-center that struck Polanco's ...

‘Cutch homers again in Bucs win

June 12, 2014

PITTSBURGH - The National League MVP doesn't play favorites when it comes to hot streaks. Neither do the Pittsburgh Pirates, who rode Andrew McCutchen to another win Wednesday.McCutchen homered and reached base four times and the Pirates beat the Chicago Cubs 4-2 at rainy PNC Park on Wednesday night.McCutchen is batting .462 during a seven-game hitting streak and has 12 extra-base hits during 10 June games."I don't compare (career-best stretches)," McCutchen said. "I'm not big on that. I'm just seeing the ball hitting the ball. I'm in a spurt where I'm feeling really good right now."So ...

‘McHot’

June 13, 2014

PITTSBURGH - Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle has coined a phrase for where star center fielder Andrew McCutchen is at the moment."(He's) McHot," Hurdle said.For once, it might be an understatement.The reigning National League MVP had two doubles and two RBIs to lift the Pirates to a 4-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Thursday night. McCutchen is batting .428 (18 of 42) this month, with 15 of his hits going for extra bases."I'm seeing the ball and I get a pitch to hit and I hit it and it's finding the gaps and that's basically what's happening right now for me," said McCutchen, ...

Pirates get back to .500-mark

June 15, 2014

MIAMI - Boosted by a torrid stretch at the plate, the Pittsburgh Pirates have returned to .500 again. Judging by the hitting and pitching they got on Saturday, they could have a winning record soon.Andrew McCutchen hit a three-run homer and Jody Mercer also went deep, leading the Pirates to an 8-6 victory over the Miami Marlins.Josh Harrison and Chris Stewart had three hits apiece, and the Pirates finished with 18 overall in their sixth consecutive game in double digits. Touted rookie Gregory Polanco had two hits and two RBIs."When you put people on base, you can do a lot," McCutchen ...