Kevin Gorman stories, Page 86

After Neil Walker took the mound at PNC Park to throw out the ceremonial first pitch Saturday afternoon, he delivered a couple of strikes for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Walker revealed he has accepted an invitation to announce who the Pirates select with the No. 1 overall pick in the MLB...

The Pittsburgh Pirates weren’t counting on Cody Ponce to pitch perfect in his spot start — the way Max Kranick did — but rather to avoid throwing the ball over the middle of the plate against Milwaukee. Where Kranick batted before he took the mound in his major league debut...

With injuries to Colin Moran and Erik Gonzalez making depth an issue at first base, the Pittsburgh Pirates acquired John Nogowski from the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday for cash considerations. Nogowski, 28, had been designated for assignment by the Cardinals on June 28. He started the season with the...

A day after getting a high five and social media shout-out from Milwaukee Brewers star Christian Yelich for leaning over the left field railing to catch a Bryan Reynolds foul ball, Christian Gale got an even bigger surprise. The 11-year-old from Kansas City, Mo., returned to PNC Park for the...

When the Milwaukee Brewers started hitting solo home runs, all JT Brubaker and the Pittsburgh Pirates could do was watch and learn. Willy Adames blasted one over the North Side Notch. Jace Peterson belted one off the batter’s eye.And Jackie Bradley Jr. bounced one off the left-center wall and into...

As soon as Erik Gonzalez left the field Thursday night, Ben Gamel sought out Pittsburgh Pirates assistant hitting coach Christian Marrero to ask if he could borrow his first baseman’s mitt. Gamel knew it was down to him to play first base. “I definitely wanted to go there,” said Gamel,...

Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Erik Gonzalez has been placed on the 10-day injured list with a right oblique strain, and super utility player Wilmer Difo’s contract was selected from Triple-A Indianapolis. To make room on the 40-man roster, the Pirates placed pitcher Trevor Cahill on the 60-day injured list. Gonzalez left...

A fourth consecutive loss became the least of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ problems once Erik Gonzalez walked off the field after legging out an infield single. Gonzalez started at first base Thursday when Colin Moran was placed on the 10-day injured list with a fracture in his left hand, only to...

The Pittsburgh Pirates were making a pitching change with the bases were loaded and two outs in the fifth inning, which proved to be the perfect time to turn the attention to an announcement on the Jumbotron. Adam Frazier was trying to concentrate on the game against the Milwaukee Brewers...

The Pittsburgh Pirates placed Colin Moran on the 10-day injured list with fracture in his left hand, the latest setback for the first baseman. Moran was hit by a pitch in the first inning Monday by Kyle Freeland of the Colorado Rockies and pulled himself from the game. Moran didn’t...

Bryan Reynolds saw that Jon Gray’s first two pitches were sliders, and saw them well enough that he anticipated a fastball would follow. “Just sold out for a heater,” Reynolds said, “and I got it.” When Reynolds homered in the first inning Wednesday against the Colorado Rockies, it was his...

Ke’Bryan Hayes is chasing fastballs, not a baseline batting average, so the Pittsburgh Pirates rookie third baseman concentrates on how hard and how often he’s hitting the ball while mixing in walks for good measure. After slashing .376/.442/.682 with seven doubles, two triples, five home runs and 11 RBIs in...

When the South Siders needed a big play, they went opposite. Yasmani Grandal hit a two-out, two-run double to the North Side Notch in the fifth inning to boost the Chicago White Sox to a 4-3 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday afternoon before 10,406 at PNC Park. “I...

Steven Brault is scheduled to throw a live batting practice this week and will be joining the Pittsburgh Pirates for their next homestand, but the left-hander isn’t quite ready to return to major league action yet. Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Brault (left lat strain) “continues to...

Where Washington starter Max Scherzer raised his hands and rolled his eyes and Oakland reliever Sergio Romo dropped his pants in response to MLB umpires checking pitchers for sticky stuff, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ dugout had mock applause for Tyler Anderson after he passed the checkpoint. That caused the Pirates left-hander...

David Bednar got the post-game shower — a mixture of baby powder, beer, pop and anything else the Pittsburgh Pirates could find in their home clubhouse — but knew his celebration would be short-lived. After earning the first win of his major league career in a 6-3 victory over the...

After drawing criticism for giving his starting pitchers an early hook, Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton was about to get blamed for leaving Tyler Anderson in too long against the Chicago White Sox. Anderson cruised through six innings before giving up a three-run homer to Yasmani Grandal, but the Pirates...

When the Pittsburgh Pirates claimed Michael Perez off waivers to be a backup catcher, they received reports from Tampa Bay that the left-handed hitter had the ability to drive the ball. Where Perez showed flashes of power, going 3 for 3 with a two-run double and a solo home run...

Derek Shelton isn’t surprised by the second-guessing from Pittsburgh Pirates fans and followers every time he makes a decision that backfires, especially when it comes to giving his starting pitchers a quick hook. The Pirates manager does it to himself every day. “Actually, I do revisit every decision,” Shelton said...

Asked if he would be willing to jump into the Allegheny River to retrieve a home run ball like the shirtless Pittsburgh Pirates fan shown on the television broadcast, Bryan Reynolds cracked a sly smile and answered in the affirmative. “I just saw the picture of the guy doing the...

JT Brubaker had tied his career highs for strikeouts and longest outing when the Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander gave up a double off the Clemente Wall to Eddie Rosario in the seventh inning. Brubaker saw left-handed hitter Josh Naylor in the on-deck circle, so he peaked out to the bullpen. Lefty...

The Pittsburgh Pirates swapped left-handers in their bullpen Sunday, placing Sam Howard on the 10-day injured list and recalling Austin Davis from Triple-A Indianapolis. Howard, who is dealing with tendinitis in his right knee, was coming off a career-worst performance Friday night, when he allowed six runs on four hits...

Where the Cleveland Indians’ right-handed hitters looked to left field for a trio of solo home runs — with one ricocheting off the rotunda — the Pittsburgh Pirates’ lefties took aim at a different target at PNC Park. Michael Perez and Bryan Reynolds hit three-run homers over the Clemente Wall...

Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington is unapologetic about assessing the team’s needs, with acquiring a “ton of talent” among his top priorities. Cherington hopes to change that over the next six weeks as the Pirates have the top overall pick in the MLB Draft on July 11-13 and are...

Oneil Cruz is not only one of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ top prospects but unquestionably the hottest. The Altoona Curve shortstop is riding a 20-game on-base streak, crushing tape-measure home runs and showing off his athleticism and above-average arm. Before the Pirates promote him to Triple-A Indianapolis, general manager Ben Cherington...