Pirates/MLB category, Page 240

Clint Hurdle needed only to take a quick glance at the game summary to figure out what ailed his team Thursday night in an 11-5 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers. Actually, for much of this season. “We’ve given up way more than our share of multiple-run innings,” the Pittsburgh Pirates...

Pirates INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 30-20) shut out Charlotte (White Sox), 4-0. The Indians held the Knights to just two hits as RHP Pedro Vasquez (1-1, 7.71) threw six scoreless innings with seven strikeouts, a walk and a hit allowed in a winning effort. CF Jason Martin (.255) went 2 for 3...

Steven Brault wants to make something clear about his efforts Wednesday in Cincinnati. “It wasn’t just a fluke out of nowhere,” he said of 51⁄3 shutout innings that led to a 7-2 victory for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Brault, who had allowed eight runs in 72⁄3 innings in his previous two...

Albert Almora Jr. couldn’t help but break down at what he saw when he lined a foul ball into the stands Wednesday night. The Cubs outfielder hit a line drive into the third-base stands during the fourth inning against the Astros at Minute Maid Park, striking a girl who was...

Given all the attention on how the Pirates may retaliate against Derek Dietrich preening after his three home runs Tuesday, tempers were a little hot Wednesday afternoon in Cincinnati. The Pirates beat the Reds, 7-2. But it wasn’t without incident. Pirates pitcher Clay Holmes, not exactly renowned for his control...

Pirates INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 29-20) won 2-0 over Charlotte (White Sox). The Indians scored two runs in the seventh inning on a line-drive RBI single from DH Jung-Ho Kang (.500) followed by an RBI sacrifice fly from 2B Kevin Kramer (.278). Kang finished 1 for 3 in his second game on...

LAGUNA NIGUEL, Calif. — A Honus Wagner baseball card has been sold privately for $1.2 million. SCP Auctions in Southern California says the 1909-11 T206 card was graded in Good 2 condition on a scale of 1 to 10 by Professional Sports Authenticator. The auction house says this example of...

One of the advanced analytics regularly in the dunking booth for baseball old-schoolers is exit velocity. You know, Major League Baseball’s Statcast tracking of how fast a player hits the ball off the bat. The older the baseball fan, the more likely you are to hear: “Do I really need...

It appears the “grandpa shaming” of Derek Dietrich has backfired. As we documented following Cincinnati’s Tuesday night victory over the Pirates, Dietrich decided to strike a pose after homering against the Pirates. Again. That got former Pirate and current team broadcaster John Wehner talking. He was on 93.7 The Fan...

INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 28-20) lost 9-4 to Charlotte (White Sox). RHP Eduardo Vera (3-4, 6.41) allowed seven earned runs on nine hits in 4 1/3 innings. Vera had two strikeouts and a walk. SS Pablo Reyes (.219) hit a two-run homer in the third inning. 1B Will Craig (.270) had a...

Mitch Keller’s development will continue in Indianapolis. A day after he allowed six runs in the first inning of his first major-league start, Keller was optioned to the Triple-A Indians on Tuesday. General manager Neal Huntington had been reluctant to use Keller, 23, before management considered him ready, and only...

Mark Madden joins me for “Madden Madden” a day late after the Memorial Day holiday. We debate that failed trade of Phil Kessel to the Wild. Mark and I have differing views on that front. I’m not opposed to a deal involving Kessel. But I’m down on the structure of...

Neal Huntington deserves credit for stepping out of his comfort zone as Pittsburgh Pirates general manager to challenge Major League Baseball’s concussion protocol. When Pirates catcher Francisco Cervelli took a broken bat off his mask in the fourth inning Saturday night against the Los Angeles Dodgers (but didn’t remove himself...

In Tuesday’s “First Call,” Jordan Staal’s kind gesture is heartwarming. More replay may be coming to the NHL. And Derek Dietrich continues to provoke. Jordan’s jet Carolina Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell shared some thoughts about the team chemistry that helped push his team from the seventh seed to the...

Clint Hurdle took a look at his extended pitching chart while meeting with the media before Saturday’s game against the Dodgers. It was a color-coded mashup with individual schedules, notes and cross-outs. He shrugged and gave a resigned, bemused grin. “At the back end of it, we’ve got (Jordan) Lyles...

Pirates INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 28-19) won 8-3 at Columbus (Indians). Jung-Ho Kang went 2 for 4 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Corey Dickerson went 1 for 5 with a run scored and three strikeouts. Next: Tuesday vs. Charlotte (White Sox), 7:05 p.m. ALTOONA (Double-A, 23-26) lost 7-3 at Portland...

The Pittsburgh Pirates addressed their pitching depth by acquiring right-hander Yefry Ramirez from the Baltimore Orioles on Monday in a trade for a player to be named later or cash considerations. Ramirez, whose first name is pronounced “Jeffrey,” will be assigned to Triple-A Indianapolis. To make room on the 40-man...