(Credit for Photo: AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) The Pittsburgh Pirates announced that catcher Henry Davis was placed on the paternity leave list yesterday as his wife, Sofia, prepares to welcome their first child. 

This season, Davis is batting .138 with five home runs and 17 RBIs. 

In a corresponding roster move, the team recalled catcher/first baseman Rafael Flores Jr. from Triple-A Indianapolis. 

Flores Jr. appeared in seven games with the Pirates in 2025. He has a career Major League batting average of .200 with two doubles. 

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Pirates’ Oneil Cruz steals second base against the Atlanta Braves during the second inning of a baseball game, Saturday, June 6, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates placed center fielder Oneil Cruz on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday with a broken left hand.

Cruz was injured while sliding into the plate during the fourth inning of a loss to Atlanta on Saturday. Cruz was available as a pinch-runner on Sunday and the club had been hopeful he would avoid a stint on the IL. But additional tests revealed non-displaced fractures between his ring finger and his pinkie.

The move, retroactive to Monday, means the Pirates will have to try to stay in the mix in the NL Central without one of their most productive hitters. Cruz is hitting .264 with 14 home runs and 44 RBIs. His 98 strikeouts also lead the majors.

Pittsburgh recalled utility player Billy Cooke from Triple-A Indianapolis to take Cruz’s roster spot. Cooke is hitting .190 in 32 games this year for Pittsburgh.

The Pirates also placed catcher Henry Davis on the paternity list and recalled catcher Rafael Flores Jr. from Triple-A.

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Pirates’ Tyler Callihan (37) takes a curtain call on the dugout steps after hitting a three-run home run off Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Kyle Hurt during the eighth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Wednesday, June 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Tyler Callihan hit the first two home runs of his career, a solo shot off Shohei Ohtani in the fourth inning and a go-ahead, three-run blast off reliever Kyle Hurt in the eighth as the Pittsburgh Pirates rallied past the Los Angeles Dodgers 9-8 on Wednesday night.

Ohtani gave up season highs in runs (four), earned runs (three), and hits (six) in 6 2/3 innings as his ERA ticked up to 1.06. The four-time MVP struck out six and walked three before being removed following Brandon Lowe’s two-out, two-run double in the seventh.

Ohtani hit a two-run homer off Gregory Soto in the ninth, his 12th of the season, to draw the Dodgers within one. Soto retired the next two batters for his ninth save.

A Los Angeles comeback hardly seemed necessary when Ohtani exited with a 6-3 lead, seemingly in position to win his fifth straight start.

Callihan, a utility player, sent a fastball from Ohtani 427 feet over the right-field stands at PNC Park. With two on and nobody out in the eighth, Callihan pounced on a changeup from Hurt (1-1) to give the Pirates their first lead at 7-6. Spencer Horwitz added a two-run shot later in the inning off Jack Dreyer as Pittsburgh ended a four-game skid.

Evan Sisk (1-0) got the final out of the eighth.

Ryan Ward hit his first career grand slam for the Dodgers, a liner to the seats in right in the sixth that gave Los Angeles a 6-1 lead.

The Pirates, who gave up 10 runs in the seventh inning of a blowout loss on Tuesday, responded in the eighth to win for just the third time this season when trailing after seven innings.

Up next

The series wraps up on Thursday. Justin Wrobleski (7-2, 2.62 ERA) starts for Los Angeles against Pittsburgh’s Mitch Keller (5-3, 4.81).

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Pirates’ Konnor Griffin singles off Minnesota Twins pitcher Taj Bradley, driving in a run during the first inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Friday, May 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pirates rookie shortstop Konnor Griffin’s right forearm strain is improving, and the 20-year-old is optimistic he’ll be back soon.

Griffin initially reported discomfort in his forearm after a loss to the Chicago Cubs on May 27. He appeared as a designated hitter over the next two games before going on the 10-day injured list on May 31.

The team thought his stay on the IL would be brief, though the timeline for his possible return was pushed back after the nature of the injury turned out to be a little more severe than the club anticipated. Griffin is eligible to come off the IL on Wednesday but remains out indefinitely.

Griffin, who made his big league debut in early April as a teenager and quickly signed a nine-year deal with the team, was seen by multiple physicians. Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said imaging of Griffin’s right (throwing) arm indicated the UCL was “stable.”

While Griffin indicated he hoped to start a throwing program as early as Wednesday, Tomczyk indicated any throwing activity won’t begin until Griffin meets with the medical team “in the coming days.”

Griffin, who turned 20 on April 24, was hitting .270 with four home runs, 22 RBIs and 14 stolen bases at the time of the injury.

“Just trying to take a little break and really make sure I don’t hurt myself worse and just take our time with it,” Griffin said in the Pittsburgh clubhouse before Tuesday’s game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. “It’s still middle of the season, so we’ve got some time to rehab and get back and be ready to roll towards the last half.”

Griffin, who pitched in high school before being drafted in the first round of the 2024 draft, said he’d never experienced any issues in his throwing arm before but made it a point to be proactive in bringing it to the attention of the club’s medical staff.

“I think we caught it at the right time, where I’m not going to have to miss the whole year,” he said. “I can just miss just a couple weeks and try to be back out there as soon as possible.”

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani celebrates on second base after driving in a run with a double off Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Wilber Dotel during the seventh inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, June 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Andy Pages hit a two-run homer and added a sacrifice fly during a seventh-inning outburst against Pittsburgh’s bullpen as the Dodgers quickly pulled away once Pirates ace Paul Skenes exited in a 12-3 win on Tuesday night.

Skenes, the reigning NL Cy Young winner, allowed two runs and struck out seven in six innings. He retired Los Angeles star Shohei Ohtani all three times he faced the four-time MVP, getting Ohtani to ground out twice and fanning him once in his best start in nearly a month.

When Skenes left, the Dodgers pounced.

Dalton Rushing led off the seventh with a single off Wilber Dotel (1-0), advanced to third on a single through the hole by Alan Freeland and scored the go-ahead run when Pirates catcher Henry Davis’ attempt to pick Rushing off third hit the Dodger catcher instead and rolled away.

Things only got better for Los Angeles. Ohtani followed with an RBI-double and Pages hit his fourth home run in 12 career games against the Pirates to make it 6-2. A throwing error by Pirates second baseman Brandon Lowe, a couple of bases-loaded walks, and Freddie Freeman’s 2,500th career hit — a sharp RBI-single to center — highlighted the rest of Los Angeles’ biggest inning since an 11-run outburst against St. Louis on June 2, 2021.

Will Klein (2-2) picked up the win in relief of starter Eric Laurer, who allowed two runs in 5 2/3 innings.

Bryan Reynolds and Ryan O’Hearn hit back-to-back homers in the first to give Pittsburgh some early momentum. Pittsburgh managed just three hits the rest of the way to drop its fourth straight game and fall back to just one game over .500 at 34-33.

Skenes is now 0-3 with a 4.50 ERA over his last five starts.

Up next

The series continues Wednesday, when Ohtani (6-2, 0.74 ERA) goes for his fifth straight victory on the mound. The two-way superstar has allowed just one run over his last four starts. Jared Jones (1-0, 4.82) starts for Pittsburgh.

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Pirates’ Konnor Griffin takes infield practice before making his Major League Baseball debut in the Pirates’ home-opener against the Baltimore Orioles in Pittsburgh, Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Pittsburgh Pirates rookie shortstop Konnor Griffin is expected to miss more time than originally anticipated because of a right arm flexor strain. 

Griffin was placed on the 10-day injured list on May 31st prior to the Pirates’ game against the Minnesota Twins at PNC Park. 

Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said the organization plans to be “more conservative” with Griffin’s recovery, and a timetable for his return has not been established. 

Before the injury, Griffin was batting .270 with a .327 on-base percentage and a .402 slugging percentage, good for a .729 OPS. In 51 games, he recorded 51 hits, nine doubles, two triples, four home runs and 22 RBIs. 

Griffin also stole 14 bases in 15 attempts. 

The Pirates signed Griffin to a nine-year, $140 million contract extension on April 8th, the largest contract in franchise history. 

(File Photo of the Blackhawk School District Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Meadville, PA) Blackhawk softball advanced to its first PIAA championship game in program history with a 7-5 victory over Harbor Creek in the 2026 Class 4A semifinals yesterday in Meadville.

The Lady Cougars will seek their first-ever PIAA state championship when they take on District II champion Valley View at 1:30 p.m. Friday, June 12th, at Nittany Lion Softball Park in University Park.

(File Photo of the PennDOT Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) PennDOT is encouraging travelers attending major events in Philadelphia this year to use a new online resource that provides real-time traffic and travel information.

The page, available through PennDOT’s 511PA traveler information system, includes traffic maps, travel times, incident reports, construction updates, traffic camera feeds and message board information for routes serving FIFA World Cup 2026™ matches, FIFA Fan Festival™ events, MLB All-Star Week and America250PA celebrations.

According to PennDOT, the maps also include real-time SEPTA information, including service status and next departure times.

Travelers using the “My Routes” feature can access event-related points of interest when selecting their starting point or destination.

PennDOT said its Southeast Regional Traffic Management Center will support the events by providing real-time travel information on electronic message signs. The agency plans to activate 40 additional traffic cameras and 32 additional message boards to help monitor conditions and direct travelers.

Officials are advising motorists in the Philadelphia area to expect changing traffic patterns, delays and increased pedestrian activity during the events.

PennDOT said it is coordinating with transportation agencies and government partners in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware, as well as the City of Philadelphia and SEPTA, to manage traffic throughout the event season.

You can access the website by clicking here.

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of Erik S. Lesser/Associated Press) Caption for Photo: Pirates designated hitter Brandon Lowe, center, is helped off the field by Pirates manager Don Kelly, right, and a trainer after hitting the ball off of his right knee during the ninth inning of a game against the Atlanta Braves on Saturday, June 6, 2026 in Atlanta.

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Atlanta, GA) Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said yesterday that tests on second baseman Brandon Lowe’s right knee were “negative for any sort of fracture.”

Lowe was removed from Saturday’s game in the Pirates’ 6-3 loss to the Atlanta Braves in Atlanta after injuring his knee in the ninth inning. He was helped off the field with two outs remaining.

Cherington described Lowe as “day to day.”

Lowe also appeared as a pinch hitter in yesterday’s 3-2 loss to the Braves in Atlanta, where he delivered a double before being replaced by pinch runner Oneil Cruz.

Lowe has been one of the key players for the Pirates, and his stats this season include a hitting average of .252, 15 home runs, and 41 RBIs.

(Credit for Photo: Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of Fine WIne and Good Spirits)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) Fine Wine & Good Spirits (FW&GS) announced a promotional campaign tied to the FIFA World Cup 2026™ that will bring matches to Philadelphia this year.

The retailer said it plans to highlight products and offers aimed at consumers hosting watch parties, cookouts and other gatherings during the tournament, which is expected to attract hundreds of thousands of visitors to the region.

The campaign comes during a busy year for Pennsylvania, which will host a variety of major events in 2026, including celebrations marking the nation’s 250th anniversary, sporting events, festivals and concerts.

According to a release from Fine Wine & Good Spirits, here is more information about this campaign:

Match-Day Favorites from Around the World

 

FW&GS stores throughout Pennsylvania will feature special displays highlighting limited-edition products and globally inspired selections perfect for watch parties and celebrations.

 

Featured products, which are at select stores and only while supplies last, include:

• Buchanan’s Blended Scotch Special Edition Multipack
• Casamigos Limited-Edition Classic and Spicy Margarita Bottles
• Casamigos Tequila Gift Sets and Variety Packs
• Don Julio 1942 Limited-Edition Añejo
• Taittinger Special-Edition Champagne
• Vinos de Potrero Malbec Uco Valley 2023 World Cup Edition
• International wines, spirits, and ready-to-drink cocktails representing soccer-loving regions around the world

 

Whether customers are cheering for a longtime favorite, celebrating their heritage, or simply looking for something new to try, FW&GS offers bottles and flavors that reflect the global spirit of the season.

 

Bringing the Celebration into Stores

 

FW&GS will also host a series of special tasting events featuring premium brands associated with the tournament.

 

Participating stores will offer opportunities to sample products and receive commemorative giveaways.

 

Featured events include:

• Casamigos Sampling Events: Customers can sample Casamigos Blanco, Reposado, and ready-to-drink margaritas while receiving custom keepsakes inspired by the summer’s global soccer celebration.
• Buchanan’s Scotch Events: Guests can sample Buchanan’s Deluxe and Buchanan’s Pineapple and personalize commemorative bottle labels to mark the occasion.

 

Event dates, participating locations, and details are available at FWGS.com/events by clicking here.