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After skipping his last start in the rotation, the Pittsburgh Pirates handed the ball to Ivan Nova this afternoon in the second game of their three game weekend series against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ballpark.  Nova has struggled mightily since the All Star Break, and despite a vastly improved start tonight, the Bucs still dropped another game to their N.L. Central foes by a 2-1 score.

Nova pitched well tonight, giving up two runs on three hits in 6.1 innings, but he was outpitched by his mound opponent.  Sal Romano improved to 5-6 on the season, giving up five hits and striking out six in eight innings.

After a pitchers’ duel took the game into the seventh inning, the Reds scored a pair of runs which would be enough to lift the team to victory.  A solo homerun by Jesse ...

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Tonight, Gerrit Cole pitched one of the best games of his career.  Unfortunately, the Pittsburgh Pirates offense couldn’t support him with even a single run.  The Chicago Cubs scored a run in the top of the ninth and went on to beat the Bucs 1-0 at PNC Park.

Cole was dominant tonight, giving up just two hits and four walks with eight strikeouts in eight innings of work.  His mound opponent, Jose Quintana, gave up six hits and a walk in six innings of work.

The Pirates’ best chance to score came in the bottom of the sixth, as Andrew McCutchen and David Freese led off with back to back singles.  But Jose Osuna grounded into a double play, and Sean Rodriguez grounded into a force out to end the inning quickly.

The Cubs scored the game’s lone run in the top of the ninth inning...

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I guess it is never too late to play exciting baseball and that is exactly what the Pittsburgh Pirates did tonight.  After a so-so night by starter Steven Brault, the Pittsburgh bullpen and offense battled back to pick up a 4-3 victory.  Anytime the Pirates can send the Chicago Cubs away with a defeat is good news to me.

Brault got the start tonight in place of Ivan Nova and had his work cut out for him.  He would last five innings, giving up three runs on eight hits with two walks.  Though the final stat line isn’t terrible, he was walking the tightrope quite a bit during that time.  Brault had a great year in Indianapolis and will hopefully get a couple more starts at the Major League level this year.

Down 1-0 in the bottom of the second, the Buccos would collect two runs on a Jor...

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It has been a very difficult stretch for the Pittsburgh Pirates as of late.  That is certainly what made today’s 12-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park feel that much better.  Chad Kuhl pitched seven shutout innings and the Pirates offense knocked around the Cubs bullpen on their way to a comfortable win in front of their home crowd.

Kuhl improved to 7-10 on the season, giving up four runs and two walks while striking out eight Cubs hitters in seven innings.  Jake Arrieta fell to 14-9, giving up three runs on four hits in 2.1 innings.

The Pirates took the lead in the bottom of the first on a majestic two run homerun by Josh Bell.  Kuhl got himself into trouble, though, in the top of the second, allowing the first pair of hitters on base while struggling with his control...

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It’s becoming extremely difficult to watch the Pittsburgh Pirates.  The downward spiral of the 2017 season continued tonight for the Bucs, who fell to the Cincinnati Reds by a 7-3 score at PNC Park.

Gerrit Cole made the start for Pittsburgh tonight against Luis Castillo for the Reds.  After pitching a shutout last weekend against Cincinnati, Cole struggled tonight, giving up five runs on six hits in six innings.  Castillo only made it through four innings, giving up two runs on three hits.

Things started out poorly for Cole and the Pirates immediately.  Billy Hamilton led off with a single, stole second, and advanced to third on a throwing error by Chris Stewart.  After Zack Cozart walked, Joey Votto doubled off the wall to score the game’s first run.  Adam Duvall’s two run dou...

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College football season will be in full swing this weekend, and not a moment too soon.  It will give those of us who follow the Pittsburgh Pirates a chance to hit the reset button and follow our teams in the hopes of a championship.  I say this because in Pittsburgh baseball season is over.  If you weren’t sure before tonight, then the 17-3 beatdown by the Chicago Cubs had to be the assurance you were looking for.

Ivan Nova would last only three innings tonight and in that time, he would allow five runs, four earned, on five hits, to go with five strikeouts and one walk.  Nova has hit a wall and we see why the New York Yankees were willing to trade him last year.  Steven Brault, who has been great in AAA this year, lasted only one inning in relief and gave up four runs on four hits ...

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It was a crazy game tonight at PNC Park between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Pirates.  After falling behind by as many as eight runs, the Pirates rallied late, but came up just short as the Cardinals held on for a 11-10 victory on the North Shore.

The Pirates have now lost six straight games, are six games under .500, and continue to drift further and further out of contention in the N.L. Central division.

Trevor Williams suffered the loss tonight (5-6), giving up eight runs on seven hits in three innings of work.  Carlos Martinez improved to 10-9 on the season with the victory, giving up three runs on six hits through seven innings of work.

Homeruns by Tommy Pham in the top of the first and Josh Harrison in the bottom half evened the game 1-1 heading into the second inning...

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The Pittsburgh Pirates returned to PNC Park tonight coming off an ugly 2-5 road trip.  Awaiting their return were the St. Louis Cardinals.  Pittsburgh and St. Louis have played each other back and forth all year and both teams are still in the mix for a division crown.  The Cardinals would overcome a four-run deficit to take game one of the four game series by the final of 11-7.

Jameson Taillon made the start for the Pirates and only made it through five innings.  He would allow four runs on seven hits with seven strikeouts and three walks.  Taillon sure hasn’t looked much like the dominant pitcher he was at the beginning of the season and fatigue may be playing a part in that.  The Buccos would hold a one run lead when he left the game.

St. Louis would send Adam Wainwright to the ...

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The Pittsburgh Pirates are fading fast in the race for the N.L. Central division title.  After losing their second straight game to the Milwaukee Brewers this afternoon at Miller Park, the Pirates are now four games under .500 and are drifting further behind their division rivals.

Gerrit Cole and Jimmy Nelson battled their way through trying starts this afternoon, each earning a no-decision.  Cole gave up four runs on five hits (including three homeruns) in six innings, while Nelson gave up five runs (three earned) on eight hits in 6.1 innings of work.

The Pirates scored the game’s first run in the very first inning.  After singling to lead off, Starling Marte advanced to third when Nelson attempted to pick him off first base, throwing the ball away.  Later in the inning, Josh Bell h...

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Well folks I think it is time to pull the plug on the 2017 Pittsburgh Pirates and whatever remaining hope the fan base had at another playoff berth.  Pittsburgh dropped their third straight game after falling to the Milwaukee Brewers tonight by the final of 3-1.  The loss drops them another game down in the race for the division crown.

Ivan Nova was the starter for the Pirates tonight and he had a decent outing, with a few bad breaks.  Nova pitched six innings and allowed two runs, one earned, on four hits with four strikeouts and three walks.  The three walks were the most he has had in one game while playing with the Buccos.  The first run came on a fielder’s choice, after Josh Bell threw a ball over Jordy Mercer’s head trying to turn a double play, which loaded the bases.

Run n...

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