After a three-day layoff this week, the Pittsburgh Pirates took the field against the division rival Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ballpark.  For the first time in a long time, maybe all season, the Bucs’ offense came alive, scoring runs in bunches in the early innings to lead them to a 9-6 victory.

The Pirates looked rested, refreshed and ready to hit from the very first inning.  Adam Frazier and Colin Moran each hit solo homeruns in the opening frame to give the Bucs an early 2-0 lead.

They broke the game open with a huge seven run second inning.  Gregory Polanco homered, followed by singles from Jacob Stallings, Josh Bell, and Moran made it 7-0.  Polanco, stepping to the plate for the second time in the inning, drew a bases-loaded walk, and a RBI groundout by Erik Gonzalez mad...

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The Pittsburgh Pirates and Detroit Tigers wrapped up their 2020 season series this afternoon at PNC Park.  Unlike the first two games of the series, this game was short on runs and pitching was very good from both sides.  In the end it was Detroit who pushed the go ahead run across the plate in the eighth inning to win 2-1 and finish off the sweep.

Steven Brault made the start for Pittsburgh today after not recording an out on Friday on the backside of piggybacking with Chad Kuhl.  In two innings he gave up a walk and struck out one batter.  Though a short outing, hopefully it got the bad taste out of his mouth.  Chris Stratton worked the next three innings and allowed one run on three hits with six strikeouts.  That run came on an Austin Romine RBI single to left center.

The Pirates...

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After giving up a ridiculous 17 runs in last night’s loss to the Detroit Tigers, the Pittsburgh Pirates didn’t fair much better today at PNC Park.  Derek Holland and the Bucs were hammered for an 11-5 loss.

Holland was torched for nine runs on 13 hits in five innings, ballooning his ERA to 8.27 for the season.  The bullpen only gave up two runs today, which was much improved over the debacle from last night.

The Tigers scored five runs in the top of the first inning off homeruns from Niko Goodrum, Miguel Cabrera, C.J. Cron, and Jeimer Candelario.  They added another run in the second to make it 6-0.

The Pirates got on the board in the third inning on a double by Kevin Newman and an RBI groundout by Josh Bell, cutting the lead to 6-2...

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One day after ending a seven-game losing streak, the Pittsburgh Pirates welcomed the Detroit Tigers to PNC Park to begin a three-game series.  If tonight’s action was a preview of what the next two games of this series will be, prepare for plenty of offense and lots of calls to the bullpen.  Game one did not go Pittsburgh’s way, as they dropped a 17-13 contest to Detroit in eleven innings.

Chad Kuhl made his first start of the season and was solid over his four innings of work.  He allowed one run on one hit with zero walks and seven strikeouts.  He has been piggybacking with Steven Brault this year, so Brault would enter the game in the fifth and not even record an out.  His final line was four earned runs allowed on three hits with three walks.

Erik Gonzalez had a huge night for...

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Early on this afternoon at PNC Park, it looked as though the Minnesota Twins would hand the Pittsburgh Pirates their eighth straight loss.  But the Buccos battled back for a dramatic 6-5 walk off victory.

J.T. Brubaker made his first start today, giving up three runs on four hits in three innings of work.  His mound opponent, Kent Maeda, gave up three runs on three hits in six innings.

It was a homerun-filled game this afternoon.  Miguel Sano’s three run homerun in the top of the first inning gave the Twins an early 3-0 lead.

The Pirates battled back and tied the game in the bottom of the second on a monster three run homerun by Gregory Polanco, his first of the season.

Minnesota broke the tie in the top of the fourth on a solo homerun by Byron Buxton, and added another run in the fif...

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After two games at Target Field, the Pittsburgh Pirates and Minnesota Twins continued their season series Wednesday night at PNC Park.  This game was a pitcher’s duel for most of the night until a four run ninth inning by Minnesota lifted them to a 5-4 victory, their third straight over Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh native Randy Dobnak started for the Twins tonight and pitched very well over his six innings.  He would allow three hits and strike out one batter during that time.  He was replaced by Cody Stashak in the seventh, who was then followed by Tyler Duffey in the eighth.

Trevor Williams had his best start of the young season.  Williams threw seven innings allowing one run on three hits with five strikeouts and one walk.  That lone run came in the second inning when Marwin Gonzalez h...

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Based on their record, the Pittsburgh Pirates are the worst team in Major League Baseball.  And as bad as their record currently stands, the team is actually worse than that number indicates.  They have found every conceivable way in which to lose a game.  The baserunning, hitting, starting pitching, bullpen, and managing are all awful, once again evidenced by this afternoon’s beatdown by the Minnesota Twins.

Unlike last night’s game, the Pirates fell behind early this afternoon, giving up three runs in the first inning.  A single by Eddie Rosario and a double by Miguel Sano scored the game’s first two runs, and a sacrifice fly by Luis Arraez made it 3-0 after an inning.

Nelson Cruz’s single in the second made it 4-0, which turned out to be all the Twins needed to win the game.

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How many ways can a team lose a ballgame?  That answer we should have at the end of September, as the Pittsburgh Pirates continue to play downtrodden baseball night in and night out.  On Monday night a four run lead in the sixth quickly evaporated and led to a 5-4 defeat at the hands of the Minnesota Twins.

Pittsburgh started the game off with a first pitch solo home run from Cole Tucker.  In the second Jacob Stallings hit a RBI single to shallow left to bring around Phillip Evans.  Their third run of the night came in the fourth on an Erik Gonzalez double to right.  The final Pirates run of the evening occurred in the fifth when Evans singled to right to plate Josh Bell.

The Buccos even got a good start out of Derek Holland...

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Javier Baez singled home the game’s winning run in the bottom of the 11^th today as the Chicago Cubs completed the series sweep this weekend over the Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field.

Steven Brault and Jon Lester started for their respective teams this afternoon, and both pitched well.  Brault only threw three innings, but didn’t give up a hit while striking out four batters.  Lester lasted six innings, giving up one run on four hits and a walk.

The teams combined to use 14 pitchers across the 11 innings.  The Bucs used an astounding 9 pitchers in the losing effort.  The bullpen has been a source of struggle for both teams so far this season, but the Cubs found a way to come out on top over the Pirates for the third straight game.

Pittsburgh scored their one and only run in the t...

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Everything is bigger during a 60-game season, that includes losses and injuries.  Unfortunately, the Pittsburgh Pirates suffered both on Saturday night.  A 4-3 loss to the Chicago Cubs was magnified when starting pitcher Mitch Keller left the game in the third inning with what looked like an injury to his rib cage.  Michael Feliz then left the game in the eighth with an undisclosed injury.

Keller worked only 2.2 innings giving up two runs on five hits with one walk and one strikeout.  Both runs came on solo home runs.  Ian Happ got things started for Chicago with a 411ft. homer to deep left center.  Javier Baez then connected on a home run to dead center field that traveled 448ft...

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