Results tagged ‘ pirates ’
Correia throws complete game in 9-3 road win
The Pirates bats –which combined for 15 hits — and the excellent pitching performance by Kevin Correia combined for a 9-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on Monday.
Right-hander Kevin Correia threw a four hit complete game for the Bucs. He allowed three runs with two walks and five strikeouts while picking up his third win of the season.
What’s most impressive is the fact that the second hit came in the 8th inning. Before giving up the hit to Paul Janish, Correia retired 15 batters in a row.
Correia allowed a two-run homer in the bottom of the 9th –the only earned runs he allowed and needed just 109 pitches for the complete game.
Kevin Correia told Kevin Goheen of MLB.com, “I threw a lot of fastballs. You obviously want as many runs as possible, but it’s hard to go up there and throw a lot of offspeed pitches and get behind guys when you have that big of a lead. I threw a lot of two-seam fastballs early, and I got people out early.”
The Pirates, for the second game in a row, got to the Reds starting pitcher early. Left-hander Travis Wood threw 42 pitches in the 1st and allowed three runs to score. Jose Tabata continued to show his patience at the plate and drew a seven pitch walk. Wood allowed four straight singles (Matt Diaz, Neil Walker, Steve Pearce and Chris Snyder) to put the Bucs up, 3-0.
Scott Rolen lead off the 2nd inning with a ground rule double to center field and then advanced to third on a passed ball by Chris Snyder. Third baseman Steve Pearce made a throwing error to first, scoring Rolen to cut the lead, 3-1.
10 men came to the plate to score five runs for the Bucs in the 4th. Snyder and Ronny Cedeno hit back-to-back singles to start the inning. Correia hit a sac bunt to move the runners over to second and third base. Andrew McCutchen followed with a bases clearing double over the head of Jonny Gomes in left field.
Wood was chased from the game after throwing 84 pitches over 3.1 innings.
The Pirates didn’t stop there. Diaz and Pearce hit singles and Lyle Overbay doubled to give the Bucs a 8-1 lead.
Reliever Matt Maloney hit Diaz with the bases loaded in the 5th for a 9-1 lead.
Steve Pearce told Kevin Goheen of MLB.com, “Everybody was hitting and we were working the count. A lot of people weren’t missing the pitches. It was a good night all around for our team. We put up the runs and K.C. went out there and shut them down. That’s huge for a team when a pitcher goes out and shoves it right back down their throat and we go back to hitting.”
Jose Tabata added, “Everybody is coming here with a new mentality every day. They bring the same energy every day. You see that it’s different from last year. Everybody is focused. I trust my team, and I think this year is going to be a very good year for the Pirates.”
Correia continued to cruise through the Reds lineup allowed just his second hit in the 8th inning. After allowing Ramon Hernandez to single, he gave up a two-run home run to Chris Heisey in the bottom of the 9th.
Correia’s second career complete game marked the Bucs second in the past four games (the other, Charlie Morton). It also marked the first time since April of 2002 that the Pirates won three consecutive road series. The Bucs have won seven of their first 10 games on the road this season.
Pre-game News and Notes: Pirates @ Reds 4/18
The Pittsburgh Pirates (7-8) will face the Cincinnati Reds (9-6) for the fourth and final game of the series.
With the Bucs 7-6 wild victory last night, they are looking to win their third road series in as many tries. The last time the Pirates won three consecutive road series was in April of 2002 (Mets, Cubs, Brewers).
Right-hander Kevin Correia (2-1, 2.70 ERA) will start for the Pirates against left-hander Travis Wood (1-1, 3.86 ERA).
Correia suffered his first loss against the Brewers last start. After tossing five no-hit innings, Correia allowed four runs in the 6th (including a three-run homer to Prince Fielder). Correia has been solid for the Bucs so far this season. He allowed just two runs during his first two starts (13 innings). Correia has also pitched at least six innings in each of his first three starts this season.
Wood is coming off a no-decision in which he allowed just one run on five hits, over 6.2 innings against the San Diego Padres. His second start of the season, wasn’t as pretty. He allowed six earned runs over five frames against the Diamondbacks. Wood has pitched into the seventh in two of his three starts this season.
News and Notes:
- Ronny Cedeno’s bunt in the 8th inning of the Pirates 7-6 victory of the Reds’s was his idea. With runners on first and third, Cedeno bunted towards pitcher Logan Ondrusek, who fielded the ball and threw it to catcher Ryan Hannigan, to barely tag out a sliding Garrett Jones at home plate.
A controversial play that got twitter a buzzing.
Manager Clint Hurdle told Bill Brink of the Post-Gazette, “Actually if the bunt goes another foot, we’re safe. It didn’t go enough, the guy made a great play. We take chances.”
- As It was pointed out yesterday, Garrett Jones is swinging a hot bat as of late. Last night he continued to hit as he went 2-for-4 with a run, RBI and a walk.
Jones has been putting in extensive time with hitting Coach Gregg Ritchie and Manager Clint Hurdle to make a few adjustments on his swing.
Jones told Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com, “It’s all starting to come into place, feel better. I feel like I’m using my hands a lot better. I have hit some balls good the last few days and have had some good at-bats. I’m just going to try and keep that going, and keep that consistent. Every day I’m starting to feel better and where I want to be.”
Jones taking batting practice at great American ball park. *Photo credit: BucsInsider
Pirates:
Andrew McCutchen CF, Jose Tabata LF, Matt Diaz, RF, Neil Walker 2B, Steve Pearce 3B, Lyle Overbay 1B, Chris Snyder C, Ronny Cedeno SS, Kevin Correia RHP
Reds:
Drew Stubbs CF, Edgar Renteria SS, Joey Votto 1B, Scott Rolen 3B, Jonny Gomes LF, Jay Bruce RF, Miguel Cairo 2B, Ryan Hannigan C, Travis Wood LHP
Curve’s Thompson named Eastern League Player of the Week
Altoona Curve’s starting pitcher, Aaron Thompson, was named the Eastern League Pitcher of the Week. He is the first award winner of the 2011 and it’s his second player of the week award in his career.
From April 7-17th, Thompson went 2-0 with a 0.75 ERA in his two starts. He allowed just one run on three hits with two walks and seven strikeouts over 12 innings.
A former first-round pick by the Florida Marlins in 2005, the Pirates claimed the left-hander off waivers this offseason.
- And speaking of great pitching from the Bucs minor leaguers:
Pirates starter Colton Cain pitched a gem on Sunday for Low-A West Virginia Power. He tossed six scoreless innings, allowing just one hit with one walk and five strikeouts.
Lefty Brian Burres threw seven scoreless innings for the Triple-A Indians on Sunday. He allowed just four hits and struck out eight in the 13-inning loss to the Louisville Bats.
Aaron Pribanic tossed six innings of one-run ball against the Flying Squirels on Sunday. He picked up his first win of the season with Double-A Altoona Curve.
*Photo credit: Pirate Prospects
Ohlendorf making progress
Right-hand Pitcher Ross Ohlendorf (Right shoulder posterior strain) made 50 tosses from 60 feet on flat ground on Sunday.
General Manager Neal Huntington told Rob Biertempfel of the Tribune that he is “making solid progress”. There is no timetable as to when Ohlendorf will be able to throw off mound.
Ohlendorf is eligible to come off the disabled list on April 24th.
Pirates hang on to win see-saw game against Reds, 7-6
The Pittsburgh Pirates hung on to win a back-and-forth game, that was headlined by Andrew McCutchen’s big day at the plate, against the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday afternoon, 7-6.
Mccutchen went 3-for-3 with two walks, a home run, two RBI and a run scored.
McCutchen told Lacee Collins of Root Sports, “It was definitely good…Just to be able to come through. I couldn’t do it without the guys getting on base. We just played a hard nine innings today and that’s what we have to do against a team like the Reds. They are a great team. They pitch well, they hit well, so we just have to play hard nine innings and we were able to do that today.”
“I’m just comfortable in general,” McCutchen said when asked if he was comfortable batting lead-off. “It doesn’t matter where I’m at, I’m just comfortable. I’m starting to feel better, starting to feel good…and watch out!”
The Pirates quickly got to Edison Volquez in the 1st inning. Andrew McCutchen and Jose Tabata hit back-to-back homers to give the Bucs a 2-0 lead. It marked the first time the Pirates have lead-off a game with back-to-back homers since July 5, 1982 and just the third time in Franchise history.
Manager Clint Hurdle told Root Sports, “It was an awful good game for him [McCutchen]. He’s been working hard, battling and believing in himself…This kid’s a good player. He was the aggressor today across the board for us in offense. We need him to go at the top.”
The runs didn’t stop there. Volquez walked Lyle Overbay and Neil Walker doubled off the wall -his fifth double this season. Garrett Jones drew a walk to load the bases. Chris Syder walked to bring home a run and Ronny Cedeno hit a sac fly, giving the Bucs a 4-0 lead. Volquez threw 33 pitches in the frame and faced nine batters. His first inning ERA shot up to 29.25 this season. Volquez ERA after the first inning? Just 1.93.
Jeff Karstens left a slider down the middle of the plate, and Jonny Gomes hit a solo home run to cut the lead to 4-1 in the 2nd inning. It was the third homer by Gomes in the past two games against the Pirates.
Karstens got Scott Rolen and Jonny Gomes to strike out, then he allowed three straight hits and a run to score in the 4th.
After pitching four good innings, Karstens ran into trouble in the 5th. He gave up a solo-home run to Miguel Cairo to bring the game within one run. Scott Rolen hit a RBI double to tie the game at four. Manager Clint Hurdle brought in Daniel McCutchen from the ‘pen, and he allowed a single by Jay Bruce to score Rolen, the go-ahead run.
Karstens allowed five runs on eight hits with one walk and six strikeouts over 4.1 innings (76 pitches).
The Pirates fought back in the 6th inning. Garrett Jones -who finished the day 2-for-4 with a run, a walk and a RBI — hit his third homer of the season to tie the game back up at 5. It was the third home run that Volquez gave up to the Bucs in the game.John Bowker hit a pinch-hit two-out double off the center field wall to score Ronny Cedeno and put the Bucs back on top, 6-5.
Volquez allowed six runs on five hits with six walks and six strikeouts over 5.2 innings.
Jay Bruce hit a 1-1 fastball off Jose Veras for a solo-shot in the 7th inning to tie the game at 6.
McCutchen singled off of Logan Ondrusek to center field to score Chris Snyder in the 8th and put the Pirates back on top for what would be the game winning run. Ondrusek suffered his first loss of his career after winning seven straight.
Joel Hanrahan was called upon for a five out save in the 8th inning with runners on first and second with one out. Hanrahan threw just four pitches as Rolen lined out to shortstop Cedeno, who doubled off Cairo at second base to end the threat, and inning.
With a one run lead, the inning was a bit wild for Hanrahan. With one out, Jay Bruce singled on a ground ball. Catcher Chris Snyder threw the ball over the head of first baseman Lyle Overbay but Neil Walker was behind the bag to retrieve it. He then threw the ball to Overbay, who tagged Bruce out after he rounded the bag toward second.
Hanrahan allowed back-to-back singles to Edgar Renteria and Paul Janish and threw a wild pitch to advance both runners. Ryan Hanigan then drew a walk to load the bases. Hanrahan fell behind 2-0 to Jay Bruce, but got him to fly out to center to end the ballgame.
Chris Resop told Root Sports, A crazy game, but in the end we won. It got a little scary in the end there, but hey, it’s part of the game.”
Hanrahan picked up his fifth save as the Pirates beat the Reds, 7-6. If the Bucs can defeat the Reds on Monday, it will mark their third road series win this season.
Pre-game News and Notes: Pirates @ Reds 4/17
The Pittsburgh Pirates (6-8) will face the Cincinnati Reds (9-5) at 1:10 PM ET.
Right-hander Jeff Karstens will start for the Bucs against righty Edison Volquez.
Karstens is spot starting for Ross Ohlendorf, who was placed on the Disabled list with right shoulder posterior strain. Karstens, who is the Pirates “swing-man”, threw 67 pitches over 3.1 innings on April 8th (after Ohlendorf was pulled from the game with his injury), so he should be able to throw at least 70 pitches this afternoon. This will be his first start this season.
Manager Clint Hurdle told Rob Biertempfel of the Tribune, “We’ll see what he can give us, how efficient he can be with the number of pitches he’s got. I don’t want to put a number on it. Can he get to 100? I think that’d be a stretch. Can he throw more than 70? I believe so.”
Volquez was originally supposed to start on Saturday, but was pushed back a day due to a stiff neck. He picked up his second win of the season against the San Diego Padres his last start. Volquez allowed three runs (two earned) with three walks and five strikeouts over six innings.
News and Notes:
- Swinging a hot bat: Garrett Jones. After going .172 in his first 10 games, Jones has gone 4-for-6 with a home run and two RBI.
- The 7th best prospect in the Pirates system, Rudy Owens, picked up his second win of the season yesterday for the Triple-A Indians. He alowed just one run over 6.1 innings – -five of them were no hit ball.
- The Pirates’ 2010 first-round Draft pick, Jameson Taillon, pitched five scoreless innings in an extended Spring Training game yesterday. Taillon is throwing in extended spring training before joining the Low-A West Virginia Power rotation later this season.
- Jose Tabata is tied for second in the National League with seven stolen bases. Andrew McCutchen swiped his first bag on Saturday, he stole 37 bases last season.
- Speaking of Jose Tabata, he has been putting in extensive work with first-base coach Luis Silverio. MAnager Clint Hurdle has said that he wants his players to be aggressive. Tabata, has stolen seven bases in 13 games this season.
Silverio told Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com, “That was one of the things he told me early, that he had problem reading pitchers. Now, he feels really confident that when he takes off, he’s going to make it. After a couple of steps, he maximizes his speed. He has explosive speed. He just doesn’t look like it.”
Pirates:
Andrew McCutchen CF, Jose Tabata LF, Lyle Overbay 1B, Neil Walker 2B, Pedro Alvarez 3B, Garrett Jones RF, Chris Snyder C, Ronny Cedeno SS, Jeff Karstens RHP
Reds:
Drew Stubbs CF, Miguel Cairo 2B, Joey Votto 1B, Scott Rolen 3B, Jonny Gomes LF, Jay Bruce RF, Ramon Hernandez C, Paul Janish SS, Edinson Volquez RHP
Seven run rally, homers, hurt Bucs in 11-2 loss
The Cincinnati Reds rallied to score seven runs off the Pirates pitching staff in the 5th inning in the 11-2 win at Great American Ballpark on Saturday afternoon.
Miguel Cairo reached base on an error by third baseman Pedro Alvarez in the 5th inning, and that’s when right-hander James McDonald ran into trouble. Joey Votto singled to put runners on the corners with no outs. McDonald got Jonny Gomes to strike out swinging and intentionally walked Jay Bruce to load the bases with one out.
After getting behind in the count, 3-1, Juan Francisco hit a single to right field to score Cairo. McDonald left a fastball up over the heart of the plate and Ramon Hernandez hit it into the second deck in left field for a grand slam.
James McDonald told Root Sports, “I didn’t throw the ball well. Bad game.”
“I think I was missing over the plate too much today, gave them good pitches to hit. “
McDonald was pulled from the game in the 5th after throwing 90 pitches. He allowed seven runs (six earned) on nine hits with two walks and two strikeouts.
Manager Clint Hurdle told Root Sports, “I saw him throw six of the cleanest innings you ever want to throw for 5 2/3′s the last time out. So, it’s there. I think this is part of the growth that you are going to see from time to time at the major league level. [When] you leave balls elevated in the big leagues, up in the strike zone, more often than not, they end up in the seats. Or there is damage done, and that’s what happened today.”
So what exactly does McDonald need to work on to bounce back for his next start against the Florida Marlins?
McDonald told Root Sports, “First things first is getting past [my] last outing, refresh your mind and get ready and get prepared for the next start. So that starts tomorrow. I’ll go look at film, start looking at the other things the next team is doing, prepare myself for that game. I think the biggest thing I need to do is focus on my next outing and leave this one there.”
The trouble for the pirates pitching staff didn’t end there. Rookie Mike Crotta came in for relief and allowed a two-run homer to Drew Stubs to give the Reds a 9-2 lead. Crotta’s homer was the first the Bucs bullpen has given up this season. They were one of just two teams in the majors to not allow a home run. A total of seven runs scored and 10 batters came to the plate in the 5th.
Two more runs scored in the 6th inning. Lefty Joe Beimel made his first appearance with the Pirates since 2003 and he allowed Joey Votto to hit a leadoff triple. Jonny Gomes hit a two-run home run — his second of the day, and the fourth homer allowed by the Bucs pitching staff.
Coming off of a great pitching performance by Charlie Morton the night before, James McDonald wasn’t aggressive from the get-go. His only 1-2-3 inning was in the first inning.
McDonald allowed Jonny Gomes to hit a solo homer to left in the 2nd inning to give the Reds a early 1-0 lead. He allowed at least two hits in each of the next four innings before being chased in the 5th after allowing seven runs (six earned).
The Pirates tacked on two runs in the 4th inning. Neil Walker and Pedro Alvarez drew back-to-back walks and Ryan Doumit singled to load the bases. Garrett Jones drew a walk, which scored Walker and Ronny Cedeno hit a sac fly to tie the game at 2.
Mike Leake improved to 2-0 on the season. He allowed two runs on four hits over six innings with four walks.
Nine runs scored combined in the 5th and 6th innings. It marked the first road loss by a Pirates starter this season. The Pirates drop to 6-8 on the season and 5-3 on the road.
Pre-game news and notes: Pirates @ Reds 4/16
The Pirates (6-7) will face the Cincinnati Reds (8-5) at 1:10 PM ET today for the second of a four-game series at Great American Ball Park.
Right-hander James McDonald (0-0, 5.56 ERA) will start for the Bucs against righty Mike Leake (0-1, 6.75 ERA)
McDonald threw 38 pitches in the first frame against the Colorado Rockies in his previous start, but settled in and pitched 6.2 innings. The four runs McDonald allowed in the first were the only runs the Rockies scored off him until the 7th inning (Two runs scored off Rookie Mike Crotta, one earned by McDonald). He struck out three and walked three during his outing.
Leake allowed six runs on nine hits over 4.2 innings his last start against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He walked two and struck out four.
Leake was scheduled to throw on Sunday but was bumped up a day. Edinson Volquez was pushed to because of a stiff neck.
- With the Pirates 6-1 win last night over the Reds, the Bucs snapped a four-game losing streak. They also improved their road record to 5-2.
- The Pirates pitching staff ranks third in the National League with a 3.23 ERA. The only two staffs with better numbers are the San Diego Padres (2.70 ERA) and the Milwaukee Brewers (2.96 ERA).
- Second baseman Neil Walker batted cleanup for the first time in his career. He went 1-for-4 with a two-run homerun and a walk.
- Jose Tabata had his first career four-hit game in Friday’s game. He also swiped his seventh bag (in eight attempts).
News:
- Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com pointed out that earlier this morning, Andrew McCutchen’s name plate above his locker read: McKKKKutchen (He struck out four times in yesterday’s game). McCutchen took the gag in good spirits. It’s great to see the players and the clubhouse so loose.
- The Pirates named Right-hander Jeff Karstens as the starter for Sunday’s game against the Reds. Although it was assumed, Manager Clint Hurdle made the announcement on Friday. Karstens will be taking the place of Ross Ohlendorf, who went on the disabled list with right shoulder posterior strain.
- Manager Clint Hurdle threw out the same lineup top of the order today. Andrew McCutchen will bat leadoff, followed by Jose Tabata second, Lyle Overbay third, Neil Walker fourth and Pedro Alvarez fifth.
Hurdle told Doug Miller of MLB.com, “I try to be more proactive than reactive. Normally, whenever I make a move with a player or group of players, I have a conversation with them about it. I thought about it overnight. We had a good first week, we had a bad second week. I pay attention to numbers, but I also rely quite a lot on my eyes and my gut. In watching those four guys, I thought if I could rearrange them, it would be best for the group.”
- Right-hander Charlie Morton threw his second career complete game last night. He allowed just one run on five hits over nine innings. He also threw 110 pitches, 73 for strikes.
Morton told Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com, “It was a day that I will remember forever.”
Pirates:
Andrew McCutchen CF, Jose Tabata LF, Lyle Overbay 1B, Neil Walker 2B, Pedro Alvarez 3B, Ryan Doumit C, Garrett Jones RF, Ronny Cedeno SS, James McDonald RHP
Reds:
Drew Stubbs CF, Miguel Cairo 2B, Joey Votto 1B, Jonny Gomes LF, Jay Bruce RF, Juan Francisco 3B, Ramon Hernandez C, Paul Janish SS, Mike Leake RHP
Morton throws complete game, Pirates beat Reds, 6-1
Charlie Morton was dominant on Friday night at Great American Ballpark in the 6-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.
With two outs in the bottom of the 9th inning, Morton was just one out away from picking up his second career complete game shutout.
That was until Jay Bruce took a 1-1 fastball to center field for a solo home run. Morton got the next batter, Miguel Cairo, to fly out to right field to end the game.
Morton threw 110 pitches, 81 for strikes and shined over nine innings holding the Reds to just the one run on five hits. Morton struck out three and walked two batters.
Manager Clint Hurdle told Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com, “There’s a lot of road in front of us, but he has been a focused young man from the first game that he pitched in Spring Training until now. Any time he doubts himself, all he needs to do is take a tape and look at this ballgame.”
Neil Walker added, “I’m no pitching coach, but watching him today from second base and seeing him continue to do the same thing over and over again and being successful doing it, that just tells you how good his stuff really is. I know this was a great, great confidence day for him, too.”
Morton picked up his second win of the season (three starts) and his ERA is 1.64.
Perhaps it was the shuffling of the Pirates lineup that got the bats swinging? Andrew McCutchen batted leadoff, followed by Jose Tabata second, Lyle Overbay third, Neil Walker fourth and Pedro Alvarez fifth. The Pirates hit two-home runs, four doubles and Tabata had a four hit night –the first of his career. He also swiped his seventh bag of the season (He has only be caught once this year).
The Bucs combined for six runs on 14 hits in the 6-1 win over the Reds. The victory snapped the four-game losing streak.
Neil Walker told Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com, “I think we got into a spot there near the end of the [last] series where we were pressing and we thought we had to win. That makes it tough when you’re going up there and gripping the bat a little tighter. We definitely relaxed today and we stuck with our game plan.”
Garrett Jones hit a solo-home run off of Bronson Arroyo to right field in the 2nd inning to give the Pirates a 1-0 lead.
The Pirates tacked on another run in the 3rd. Lyle Overbay hit a single and Pedro Alvarez doubled before Jones was intentionally walked with the bases loaded. Chris Snyder hit a RBI single, giving the Bucs a two run lead.
Jose Tabata doubled in the 4th inning. Overbay, a career .409 hitter against the Reds, hit a singled to drive in Tabata. Neil Walker followed with a two-run homer to right field, putting the Bucs up, 5-0.
Bronson Arroyo was chased from the game after four innings. He allowed five runs on nine hits, throwing 92 pitches.
The Pirates tacked on a sixth run in the 9th when Snyder singled home Walker.
The Reds lone run came off the homer given up with two outs in the 9th. They combined for just five hits off of Morton.
The Pirates improve to 5-2 on the road this season.
Pirates add lefty Beimel; Designate Olson
On Friday the Pirates designated Left-hander Garrett Olson for assignment to make room for lefty Joe Beimel on the 40-man roster.
Beimel was rehabbing from arm soreness, which hindered him throughout spring training. He threw on back-to-back days for the Triple-A Indians where he faced the minimum (six) with three strike outs. It was reported that he had no issue afterwards.
Beimel told Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com, “I got all my pitches working. I think that was the big thing. I got the back-to-back games in there to show them I’m ready to go and show myself I’m ready to go. That’s why I’m here.”
The club has 10 days to either trade, release or outright Olson to the minors, if he clears waivers.
Olson allowed one run on two hits over 4.1 (four appearances) innings in relief. He struck out four and walked one.
With Olson gone, Beimel is the only lefty in the bullpen.
*Photo credit: Joe Beimel- Pittsburgh Post Gazette
Kristy Robinson
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