Breaking News

Pittsburgh Pirates Baseball Central

Pirates hold on over Cubs

PITTSBURGH - Tony Watson had a save that was reminiscent of bygone days.The Pirates' left-hander inherited a bases-loaded jam in the eighth inning and got the final six outs Wednesday night for his first save of the season and fifth of his five-year career as Pittsburgh held off the Chicago Cubs 4-3.Gregory Polanco hit his first home run of the season and Vance Worley (2-1) got through 5 2-3 shaky innings for his second straight win.Multi-inning saves are rare with today's specialized bullpens. However, the Pirates needed Watson to pitch two innings because closer Mark Melancon was not ...

Polanco, Pirates rally for 5-4 win over Cubs

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Gregory Polanco's maturation from prospect to entrenched major league starter remains a work in progress. The pace of the Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder's education, however, is picking up speed.Facing Cubs reliever Phil Coke with the go-ahead run on second Thursday, Polanco quickly fell behind two strikes. The 6-foot-4 right fielder worked the count full then slapped a single to left field to drive in Josh Harrison with the go-ahead run in a 5-4 win.Coke intentionally walked pinch-hitter Corey Hart to set up a lefty-on-lefty matchup with Polanco. Though Polanco didn't ...

Harrison focuses on feelings, not slumps at the plate

PITTSBURGH - Pirates third baseman Josh Harrison doesn't see numbers and he doesn't relate to results.Entering Thursday's game against the Chicago Cubs, Harrison was batting just .196 in the first 15 games of the season. In the series against Chicago, he was just 1 for 13.To the 27-year old, that isn't a slump. Even if he was hitless in his last 30 at-bats, he still wouldn't see it as a total negative."I don't get tied to results," Harrison said after the Pirates' come-from-behind 5-4 win on Thursday. "I don't care what a slump is, I've hit the ball hard. I'm going to stay with my ...

Come-from-behind win is one of Bucs’ best, says Hurdle

PITTSBURGH - It didn't have the atmosphere of a postseason Wild Card Game and it certainly didn't mean as much, but Thursday's game at PNC Park ended up being one manager Clint Hurdle will treasure for a while."For me, it was one of the best team wins since I've been here," he said after the Pirates 5-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs.It's a strange claim considering the Pirates had already captured numerous thrilling wins in Hurdle's five years as manager.There is, of course, the Wild Card win over the Cincinnati Reds on Oct. 1, 2013, as well as Sept. 23 of that year when the Pirates ...

Marte’s single in 9th lifts Pirates over Diamondbacks, 2-1

PHOENIX (AP) - Starling Marte singled home Neil Walker with two outs in the ninth inning, and the Pittsburgh Pirates edged the Arizona Diamondbacks 2-1 on Saturday night.Walker doubled to the center-field wall against Addison Reed (0-1), his second double of the game, before Marte hit a grounder past diving shortstop Cliff Pennington.Tony Watson (1-1) pitched out of trouble in the eighth to earn the win. Mark Melancon worked the ninth for his fifth save.Watson gave up consecutive singles to start the eighth and Paul Goldschmidt followed with a soft bouncer to third for the first out, ...

Pirates sweep D’Backs

PHOENIX - Pittsburgh's slow start to the season is quickly fading into the rearview mirror.The Pirates can thank their starting pitchers for the turnaround.Francisco Liriano pitched effectively into the seventh inning in a combined three-hitter and the Pittsburgh Pirates completed their first sweep in Arizona with an 8-0 win over the Diamondbacks on Sunday."We're playing better baseball and it continues to start with our mound work," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said.Gerrit Cole and A.J. Burnett got the Pirates rolling in the series with quality starts the first two games.Liriano (1-1) ...