Category Game Recaps & Reactions

Pirates Drop Home Opener To Cubs

For the first time since 2019 the Pittsburgh Pirates played in front of fans at PNC Park.  With attendance around 8,000 people it may have felt more like a Wednesday afternoon game in August.  Either way the result was the same as it has been for the vast majority of the season, a loss.  This one turned out being a 4-2 loss to the Chicago Cubs to open up a three game series.

Tyler Anderson made the start today for Pittsburgh and was able to work through 5.1 innings.  He would give up three runs on ten hits to go with five strikeouts.  That line isn’t great, but for the Pirates it is great compared to some of the starts they have had this season.  Kris Bryant started the scoring for Chicago with a solo home run in the first...

April 8, 2021 Game Recaps & Reactions
Read More

Reds Complete Sweep, Beat Bucs 11-4

For the second game in a row, the Pittsburgh Pirates pitching staff was overwhelmed by the Cincinnati Reds’ offense.  The result this afternoon was an 11-4 route at Great American Ballpark.  With the victory, the Reds completed the three game series sweep of the Bucs.

After winning the opening game of the season, the Pirates have now lost five straight and are in a freefall.  They managed to score four runs today, but those came in the ninth inning when the game had already been decided.  Overall, it was a dominant performance this week for the Reds over the Bucs.

Chad Kuhl started for Pittsburgh was ineffective, giving up five runs (four earned) on two hits with five walks in four innings...

April 7, 2021 Game Recaps & Reactions
Read More

Pirates Lose Ugly To Reds

If starting pitching is the key to a team’s success over the course of a 162 game schedule, then the Pittsburgh Pirates area headed to a long season.  Through their first four games of the season no starter was overly impressive and tonight he were downright horrible.  Trevor Cahill made his first start in a Pittsburgh uniform and I’m sure that many fans hope it is his last.

Cahill would pitch four innings and during that time he would allow seven runs on nine hits to go with four strikeouts.  The only positive thing is that he didn’t walk anyone during that time.  The bullpen was once again tasked to eat innings and that didn’t go smoothly either.  Clay Holmes collected only one out, but did allow five runs on three hits with two walks.  He was replaced by Duane Underwood Jr.,...

April 7, 2021 Game Recaps & Reactions
Read More

Pirates Lose Third Straight Game

After winning the season opener against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field last week, the Pittsburgh Pirates have now lost three straight games.  This, after a 5-3 defeat against the Cincinnati Reds in the first of a three game series at Great American Ballpark.

JT Brubaker started for Pittsburgh, giving up one run on three hits with four walks and six strikeouts in his four innings of work.  The Reds sent Jose De Leon to the mound, who gave up two runs on three hits with nine strikeouts in his five innings of work.

The Pirates got off to a hot start tonight with the bats, hitting two solo homeruns in the top of the first inning to snag the early lead.  Phillip Evans hit a solo blast to get the Bucs on the board, and Colin Moran later doubled their lead with a solo shot of his own.

...
April 6, 2021 Game Recaps & Reactions
Read More

Pirates Lose Series To Cubs, Hayes To IL

It was not a Happy Easter for the Pittsburgh Pirates or their fan base today.  Prior to the game it was announced that starting third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes was placed on the 10-day injured list with a left wrist injury.  He was replaced on the roster by Wilmer Difo.  Pitcher Tyler Bashlor was then designated for assignment to make room for Difo on the 40-man roster.

After all that took place there was still a game to be played. The Chicago Cubs jumped out to an early lead and didn’t look back, as they took the rubber match of this series from Pittsburgh by the final of 4-3.  The Pirates downfall for this game came from another short outing by a starter and the inability to come up with a clutch hit from one of their veteran bats.

Mitch Keller made his first start of the season ...

April 4, 2021 Game Recaps & Reactions
Read More

Hayes Leaves Game, Pirates Lose 5-1

After hitting a homerun to open up the 2021 season on Thursday, Ke’Bryan Hayes left this afternoon’s game against the Chicago Cubs with left wrist discomfort.  The Pittsburgh Pirates also lost their first game of the season, a 5-1 decision at Wrigley Field.

Tyler Anderson took the mound for the Pirates today against Jake Arrieta for Chicago.  After giving up an early run, Arrieta settled in and pitched well, giving up one run on six hits in six innings of work.  Anderson battled through five innings, giving up three runs on five hits while suffering the loss.

Pittsburgh scored the game’s first run on an RBI single by Kevin Newman in the first inning, scoring Hayes.  That would be the only run the Bucs would score on the day.

A single by Jake Marisnick in the second inning t...

April 3, 2021 Game Recaps & Reactions
Read More

Pirates “Raise It” To Begin 2021 Season

While expectations may not be high for the Pittsburgh Pirates during the 2021 season, Opening Day is always a day of hope.  After a condensed 2020 season, the 162-game season began today for 26 Major League Baseball teams and Pittsburgh would open up on the road against the Chicago Cubs.  The Pirates led from start and would use a strong outing from the bullpen to hold on to a 5-3 victory.

The scoring began with a 380 ft. two run home run by Ke’Bryan Hayes.  Hayes is thought to be a contender for the National League Rookie of the Year, and if he keeps swinging a hot bat those expectations will continue to rise.  Chicago would answer with a run of their own in the bottom half of the inning on a Joc Pederson sac fly to left.

Adam Frazier got that run back when he hit an RBI single t...

April 2, 2021 Game Recaps & Reactions
Read More

Steelers Season Ends In Ugly Fashion

For the first time in three years the Pittsburgh Steelers were back in the playoffs.  Their opponent, the Cleveland Browns, had waited eighteen years to return to the postseason.  No one who has watched football this year, or the prior 101 seasons of the NFL, could have seen this game going the way it went.  Cleveland had many players and coaches out tonight due to COVID-19 protocols and had not practiced much all week.

Pittsburgh had to be feeling good about their chances tonight.  They were well rested, had players returning from the injury list, and looked good with their second-string team against the Browns just one week ago.  The Steelers practically handed Cleveland twenty-one points off of three first half turnovers, on their way to the Browns earning a 48-37 victory...

January 11, 2021 Game Recaps & Reactions
Read More

Browns Beats Steelers, Set Playoff Matchup on Sunday

The Cleveland Browns had a simple path to the NFL playoffs when they took the field on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers:  win and you’re in.  Both teams were missing some key players and both teams have had their seasons affected by the pandemic, as all teams have, but it all came down to the final 60 minutes of the regular season between these two AFC North opponents.

The Browns built a substantial lead, and held off a valiant Steelers’ comeback on their way to a 24-22 victory.

Baker Mayfield had 196 yards in the air and a touchdown, while adding 44 yards rushing, including a few crucial first down scampers in key moments.  Nick Chubb finished off his impressive season with 108 yards on 14 carries and a touchdown.

Pittsburgh’s offense faired well against Cleveland’s dr...

January 6, 2021 Game Recaps & Reactions
Read More

Steelers Snap Losing Skid, Clinch AFC North Title

The Pittsburgh Steelers entered week 16 of the NFL season on a three-game losing streak and were in jeopardy of losing out on a division title that looked like a sure thing just a few weeks ago.  During the week, Pittsburgh held a team meeting and Head Coach Mike Tomlin spoke with players to try and get things turned around with just two games remaining in the regular season.  Through the first thirty minutes of this game against the Indianapolis Colts, at Heinz Field, it looked like a fourth straight loss was on the horizon.

After a three and out to start the game by Pittsburgh, Indianapolis would march down the field and pick up a 7-0 lead on a 6-yard touchdown run by Jonathan Taylor.  The Steelers would answer early in the second quarter after a fumble recovery gave them the ball at...

December 28, 2020 Game Recaps & Reactions
Read More