Pirates rock Price

April 1, 2015

LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) - David Price didn't want to end spring training this way.Price was rocked for seven runs over six innings in his final tuneup for opening day as the Detroit Tigers lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-3 Tuesday."I just wanted to work on some things, last-minute things," Price said. "I know I need to make better pitches, but body-wise I feel fine."Price is to start Monday's opener against Minnesota, ending Justin Verlander's streak of pitching seven straight Detroit openers.Before Detroit acquired him from Tampa Bay last year, Price pitched home games in a dome. He said ...

Phillies walk off Pirates in exhibition

April 4, 2015

PHILADELPHIA?- Ben Revere hit a two-run walk off home run to lift the Phillies over the Pirates, 7-5, in an exhibition game Friday night at Citizens Bank Park.The Pirates got on the board first with two runs in the top of the first inning. Josh Harrison drew a lead off walk and was driven home on a double by Gregory Polanco. Andrew McCutchen drove home Polanco on the first of his three hits of the night.The Phillies responded in the bottom half of the opening frame with three runs before the Pirates tied it up in the second on a solo home run by Jordy Mercer.Jeff Locke got the start on ...

Pirates fall in exhibition finale

April 5, 2015

PHILADELPHIA - When Charlie Morton hit a pair of Phillies batters in the first inning, Philadelphia closer Jonathan Papelbon hollered from the dugout and the umpires talked to both managers.All this after Pittsburgh and Philadelphia cleared the benches earlier this week during a spring training game."There were warnings put out for obvious reasons," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said. "I don't have any explanation for Morton, but it was a little bit scary. Two days before (the season) balls going all over the place. That was my concern to the umpire."Turns out, there was an explanation ...

SWEEP

April 10, 2015

CINCINNATI - The liner seemed to dart at the last moment, deflecting off the end of Gregory Polanco's glove in right field for a game-ending error.The whole series went that way for the Pirates.Joey Votto added to his resurgent series with his first homer since last May 10, and Polanco's misplay in the ninth inning on Thursday sent the Cincinnati Reds to a 3-2 victory and a season-opening sweep.The Reds improved to 3-0 for the first time since 2011, when they won their first five games. The Pirates hadn't lost their first three games of a season since 2006, when they started 0-6 on the ...

Pirates earn first win

April 11, 2015

MILWAUKEE (AP) - Pedro Alvarez homered and drove in two runs, Neil Walker had three hits and the Pittsburgh Pirates avoided their first 0-4 start in nine years with a 6-2 win Friday night over the Milwaukee Brewers.Jeff Locke (1-0) allowed seven hits and two runs in six solid innings for Pittsburgh, which rebounded after getting swept in three games in Cincinnati to open the season.The Pirates roughed up Mike Fiers (0-1) for five runs and seven hits in five innings.Pittsburgh got to the right-hander in the second, when Walker opened with a double before Alvarez singled him home two ...

Brewers beat Pirates for first win of season

April 12, 2015

MILWAUKEE (AP) - Spring training gave Milwaukee's Jimmy Nelson time to test his offspeed pitches, even though his 6.23 exhibition ERA indicated he was struggling.A masterful performance Saturday against Pittsburgh gave the Brewers' young starter a huge boost of confidence.Nelson struck out a career-high nine in seven innings, Jean Segura hit a two-run homer and Milwaukee became the last team in the majors to win this season by beating the Pirates 6-0 on Saturday."I didn't question anything at all, I just stuck to the process," Nelson said about his spring struggles. "I was pretty happy ...