Kevin Gorman stories, Page 58

Derek Shelton was fresh from a sweep of a doubleheader at Cincinnati when the Pittsburgh Pirates manager took a look at the present and allowed himself to glimpse into the future. Shelton scrolled down the lineup and saw four 23-year-olds in the starting lineup: shortstop Oneil Cruz, second baseman Rodolfo...

Oneil Cruz accomplished a rare feat when he crushed a leadoff double off Jacob deGrom in the first inning, though it merely marked the start of deGrom’s dominance. The New York Mets ace recorded a season-high 13 strikeouts in retiring the next 15 batters before Cruz came to bat in...

Luis Ortiz made a dazzling debut for the Pittsburgh Pirates by touching 100 mph six times, but as the 29th man for a doubleheader had to be returned to Triple-A Indianapolis for 15 days unless there was an injury. That opening happened Sunday when the Pirates placed right-hander JT Brubaker...

That the Pittsburgh Pirates set a single-season franchise record for strikeouts Saturday night was fitting, given the way they whiffed a dozen times against the New York Mets. The Pirates began the game with a strikeout by Oneil Cruz (his first of four), had four innings start with a strikeout...

After being caught on camera pulling sunflower seeds out of his back pocket as a New York Mets runner rounded third base on Friday, Ke’Bryan Hayes shrugged off criticism and was back in the starting lineup for Saturday night’s game. The Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman was ripped by SNY analyst...

Soon after Oneil Cruz hit a majestic two-run homer to straightaway center, the trumpets sounded at Citi Field and New York Mets fans started clapping in celebration. It was not in appreciation of Cruz’s 429-foot blast but rather the excitement for the entrance song, “Narco,” of All-Star closer Edwin Diaz....

Henry Davis, Nick Gonzales and Quinn Priester all missed playing time this season with injuries, so the Pittsburgh Pirates are sending the trio to play in the Arizona Fall League. The three former first-round picks are among the nine Pirates prospects who will play for the Surprise Saguaros of the...

When Johan Oviedo lasted only a combined 4 2/3 innings in his first two starts for the Pittsburgh Pirates, they challenged the 24-year-old right-hander by having him simulate game-like situations in practice. There is no simulating the electricity Luis Ortiz flashed for the Pirates in his major-league debut, as he...

The Pirates made several roster moves prior to their doubleheader Tuesday against the Cincinnati Reds, including selecting the contract of right-handed pitcher Luis Ortiz to start the second game. Ortiz was added to the taxi squad Monday but will join the Pirates as the 29th man for the doubleheader. The...

When the Pittsburgh Pirates called on Robert Stephenson against the Cincinnati Reds, the right-hander was ready to remind his former team his slider was as sharp as it’s been since he played there. After using his four-seam fastball to get Nick Senzel to line out to center and escape a...

The Pittsburgh Pirates have been hitting home runs at a steady pace, but manager Derek Shelton didn’t want to change a thing about their swing, even at the bandbox known as Great American Ball Park. That didn’t stop the Pirates from taking aim at the short fence in left field,...

The Pittsburgh Pirates swapped infielders and added a starting pitcher to their taxi squad who is expected to make his major league debut Tuesday, when they play a doubleheader at the Cincinnati Reds. The Pirates added right-hander pitcher Luis Ortiz, 24, to the taxi squad from Triple-A Indianapolis. The 6-foot-2,...

Contrary to popular belief, given the Pittsburgh Pirates are headed for a fourth consecutive last-place finish in the NL Central, Ben Cherington has been consumed with finding ways to turn them into a winner. Even with the likelihood of another 100-loss season looming, the Pirates general manager isn’t about to...

The Pittsburgh Pirates were well aware of how dangerous Albert Pujols is with one swing of the bat, especially at PNC Park and even more so as the St. Louis Cardinals star chases the 700 home run milestone. One night after providing tying hits on a double and a homer,...

Albert Pujols has had a love-hate relationship with PNC Park and the Pittsburgh Pirates, one that spans the lifetime of the ballpark: The St. Louis Cardinals slugger loves to hit there; the Pirates hate the results. The 42-year-old Pujols blasted a game-tying, two-run shot in the seventh inning for his...

Dressed in full Pittsburgh Pirates uniform, David Bednar ran in from the bullpen, took the mound at PNC Park and threw warm-up pitches as if it was a save situation in the ninth inning. It was only a live batting practice session four hours before the start of a game...

When asked about the three MLB rules changes for 2023, Bryan Reynolds broke into a big smile. The Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder couldn’t hide his enthusiasm for the elimination of one in particular. Reynolds is sick of the shift, so he welcomes the requirement that teams must have a minimum...

Pittsburgh Pirates All-Star closer David Bednar, a Mars alum, was named the team’s 2022 nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award, one of MLB’s most prestigious individual honors. The Roberto Clemente Award recognizes a major league player who best represents the game “through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions,...

After Jacob deGrom dominated the second game of a doubleheader that left the Pittsburgh Pirates humbled, manager Derek Shelton searched for superlatives to describe the New York Mets ace. “As screwed up as it sounds, you pick the small victories,” Shelton said, accentuating the strength of deGrom’s slider in the...

If the Pittsburgh Pirates were going to split their doubleheader with the New York Mets, they needed to fare better against the starting pitcher in the nightcap than they did in the matinee. And with a two-time NL Cy Young Award winner on the mound for the Mets, the odds...

Josh VanMeter showed his value to the Pittsburgh Pirates in his versatility by playing six positions this season, including three games as a pitcher and once as an emergency catcher. But his bat proved to be the problem. After VanMeter hit only .187 with five doubles, two triples, three home...

The Pittsburgh Pirates are getting Labor Day off, but they will have to work overtime Wednesday. Monday’s Pirates’ game against the New York Mets was postponed due to inclement weather expected throughout the day, the first rainout of the season at PNC Park. Instead, the teams will play a split...

After missing two games with left shoulder soreness, Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes said he expects to return to the lineup Monday for the New York Mets series. “I’m looking to be in there tomorrow, whether it be DH or in the field,” Hayes said following the 4-3 loss...

Jordan Romano started the ninth inning with a one-run lead before back-to-back singles by Jack Suwinski and Cal Mitchell put the winning run in scoring position for the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Toronto Blue Jays closer then recorded three consecutive strikeouts to finish off a 4-3 win and three-game series sweep...