Author: Beaver County Radio

Springer hits 65th leadoff homer as Blue Jays hand Skenes back-to-back defeats, beat Pirates 5-2

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Toronto Blue Jays’ George Springer (4) runs the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)

TORONTO (AP) — George Springer hit his 65th leadoff home run and the Toronto Blue Jays sent Paul Skenes to losses in consecutive starts for the first time this season, beating the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-2 Saturday for their fourth straight win and seventh in 10 games.

Skenes (6-4), the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner, allowed four runs and a career-high nine hits and one walk in five-plus innings with two strikeouts, just his second time with fewer than five this season. His ERA rose to 3.00.

Skenes left after giving up four straight hits in the sixth. In his previous outing, against Philadelphia on May 17, Skenes tied his big league high by giving up five runs .

Tyler Heineman also homered for the defending AL champions, his first since last July 19.

Patrick Corbin (2-1) allowed one run and five hits in six innings with a season-high seven strikeouts. Jeff Hoffman struck out the side in the ninth for his fifth save in eight chances.

Pirates pitching coach Bill Murphy and manager Don Kelly were ejected in separate incidents in the sixth. Murphy was tossed after plate umpire Alan Porter initially missed a challenge request from catcher Henry Davis, while Kelly was tossed for arguing a checked swing call.

Springer homered on Skenes’ third pitch of the game, snapping the right-hander’s 15-inning road scoreless streak. Springer has five homers this season and is second in leadoff homers by 81 by Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson.

Marcell Ozuna’s two-out RBI double tied the score in the sixth, and the Blue Jays took a 4-1 lead in the bottom half on Jesús Sánchez’s run-scoring double, Ernie Clement’s RBI single and a run-scoring, double-play grounder by Andrés Giménez.

Up next

Blue Jays RHP Dylan Cease (3-2, 2.98 ERA) is scheduled to face Pirates RHP Mitch Keller (4-2, 3.86) in Sunday’s series finale.

Pirates call up red-hot prospect Esmerlyn Valdez, start him in right field at Toronto

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – Pittsburgh Pirates’ Esmerlyn Valdez plays during a spring training baseball game, Feb. 22, 2026, in Clearwater, Fla. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)

TORONTO (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates recalled prospect Esmerlyn Valdez from Triple-A Indianapolis after a recent hot streak and had him in the lineup in right field Friday night for their game at Toronto.

Valdez was 0 for 3 with a groundout, two strikeouts and a walk in his major league debut, a 6-2 Pirates loss.

Valdez, 22, hit five home runs in the last five Triple-A games and was batting .355 with seven extra-base hits, 10 RBIs, a .903 slugging percentage and 1.315 OPS in his last eight.

Valdez hit .253 with 10 homers, 10 doubles and 29 RBIs in 46 games with Indianapolis this season. He also has 33 walks.

The right-handed hitter is the organization’s No. 9 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline. He led Pittsburgh’s minor league system with 26 home runs last season and represented the club at the All-Star Futures Game.

Valdez was signed by Pittsburgh as a nondrafted free agent on Jan. 15, 2021.

Pittsburgh optioned outfielder Billy Cook to Indianapolis following Thursday’s game at St. Louis.

Blue Jays beat the Pirates 6-2 for their 3rd straight victory

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman (34) works against the Pittsburgh Pirates during first inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Friday, May 22, 2026. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

TORONTO (AP) — Kevin Gausman pitched into the seventh inning, Yohendrick Pinango and George Springer had two-run doubles and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-2 on Friday night for their third straight victory.

After Springer scored Toronto’s first run in the third inning, Pinango drove in Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Daulton Varsho in the inning.

Gausman (4-3) settled in after giving up a run in the first inning. The right-hander allowed six hits, one walk and had eight strikeouts.

Pittsburgh starter Bubba Chandler (1-6) allowed three runs — only one earned — in five innings. The Pirates have lost five of seven to fall to 26-25.

Gausman was pulled with two outs in the seventh inning with two runners in scoring position. Reliever Mason Fluharty then needed one pitch to get Oneil Cruz to fly out.

Pittsburgh had two more runners in the eighth before Toronto manager John Schneider called on closer Louis Varland for a rare six-out save. The Pirates scored on a fielder’s choice, but left the potential tying run at third base when Jhostynxon Garcia grounded out. Varland has seven saves.

Toronto scored three times in the eighth. Jesus Sanchez had an RBI double, and Springer drove in two runs with a ground-rule double.

Toronto improved to 24-27.

Up next

RHP Paul Skenes (6-3, 2.63 ERA) was set to start for the Pirates on Saturday against LHP Patrick Corbin (1-1, 4.23).

Yankee Trader 05-23-26

05/23/26 Listings

Fellowship Baptist Church                             724-266-1922

Yamaha Electone Double keyboard organ with foot pedals.  Model E-70.   Looks in very nice condition with a rolltop cover and attached bench.

Whatever donation you can make and buyer is responsible to get it hauled away.

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Bob                         Monaca                  724-650-7106

  1. 1959 Monaca Yearbook (ACANOM)

1972 Beaver Yearbook (SHINGAS)

1985 Ambridge Yearbook (Bridgers)

All in nice shape $15 each

  1. Pet Crates. Folding black 24”H X 35”L X 21”W with front and side doors    $20

21”H X 30”L with side door.    $15

  1. Bolens 20” cut Side discharge lawn mower. $60
  2. Kingsford Charcoal (20 lb & 12 lb)  and (17 lb & 15 lb)

Either pair $15

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Howie                     Vanport                  724-774-6397

A Pocket Minolta Camera with Built in flash.  Takes great pictures or add to your camera collection.

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VAL            (Beaver)                PHONE:  724-513-9390

Lovely Oriental Planter  (17 ½”)  high with tall green artificial plant making it a total of 54” high.  It’s 12” square at the top with a tapered bottom.  Green color.  You can put in your own plants if you so choose.

Over 1,000 Baseball and Football Trading Cards.  All kept in albums so they’re in terrific condition.  Purchase individually for $1 each or by the album.  Barry Bonds, Doug Drabek. You’ll find 2 AUTOGRAPHED John Burkett cards among them (ask about price ) He pitched from 1987 to 2003, with the San Francisco Giants, Florida Marlins, Texas Rangers, Atlanta Braves and Boston Red Sox.  Reasonable offers accepted.

One of the albums is Topps 40 years of BB Cards.   Also a collection of MVP football players.

Antique 6’ T x 11” W x 12” D handcrafted Decorative cabinet with 4 doors. Stained medium color wood with unique carvings and a vintage face on each door..

Office Stationery items 5 boxes of all kinds:76 10” X 15” Expandable file folders that expand to 2” and some to 3 ½” , 3 ring binders, presentation covers, 2-hole fasteners.  Call for details and make an offer.

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Charlie               Beaver Falls               724-843-2560

2 pairs of Size 11 work boots.  Insulated, waterproof, in great condition.

$10 each

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Kenny                Eastvale             724-843-5819

Refrigerated Beermeister for serving a ¼ keg of beer.  Stays fresh for 3 months.  Save lots of $$  Empty keg included so you won’t have to pay a barrel deposit.  Price slashed to $100.

 

2016 Suzuki Berkman 200 Motor Scooter with only 5,000 miles. Silver color.  No shifting-automatic transmission. Brakes are on handle. Lots of storage under the seat. Platform for your feet and room for a passenger. 74 mpg and up to 75 mph $2,300

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Rick             Chippewa               724-630-9100

Small “Stay-green” Lawn Spreader.  Holds a standard size bag of seed or fertilizer.  Can deliver locally   $20

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Tom             Beaver Falls           724-384-8112

6 foot All-thread Rods ½” thick, 13 threads per inch.  Stainless steel.  He has 8 of them and is asking $20 ea.

He’s also having an open Garage Sale all summer.  Call 724-384-8112 or drive by.  If the garage door is open, he’s there.  Just stop by.  1211 4th Ave. Beaver Falls.

Lots of tools including electrical tools and every kind of nuts, bolts etc.

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Dorothy          Ambridge               724-266-2752

LTB (looking to buy) a bench or chair to put in her entryway.

Also LTB a grill cover.  Give her a call.

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Jack                   Chippewa          724-843-4299

2008 Ford Escape.  Maroon color with Tan leather interior and a Sun Roof. I brand new ignition has been installed recently.  Not currently inspected.  $3,000

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Curt              Hopewell                          724-601-8145

Brand new Vented Glass Block window.  16” H  X  32” W.  $35.00

VERDICT: Allegheny County Man Guilty of Forging Signatures on Nominating Petitions for 2022 U.S. Congressional Candidate

(File Photo of a Gavel)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday announced that an Allegheny County jury has convicted a man for forging signatures on nomination petitions for a U.S. congressional candidate prior to the 2022 primary election.

Following a weeklong trial, Kirk Rice of Allegheny County was found guilty this morning of theft by deception, forgery, perjury and related charges. Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 17.

According to testimony, Rice was paid $1,340 to collect 437 signatures for Democratic candidate Steve Irwin. Investigators determined the signatures — including one allegedly belonging to a federal judge — were falsified.

The Office of Attorney General said it interviewed dozens of people listed as signers, and none confirmed they had signed the petitions.

“This defendant deliberately undermined the integrity of Pennsylvania’s election process by falsifying signatures for financial gain,” Sunday said. “This type of conduct is taken very seriously as it threatens the foundation of our democracy. I applaud the agents and prosecutors whose work exposed the fraud and ultimately brought the offender to justice.”

According to testimony, Rice submitted 34 pages of signatures totaling 437 names, which were filed for Irwin’s nomination. He was paid per signature.

The campaign later discovered that Rice may have submitted fraudulent signatures, including the forged signature of U.S. District Court Judge Cathy Bissoon.

During the investigation, Rice admitted he did not go door-to-door, but instead collected signatures in Pittsburgh by entering businesses and gathering names without verifying whether signers were registered Democrats, a requirement of the petition process.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Deputy Attorney General Alexander Cashman.

Allegheny County Council President Pat Catena to step down from position, councilman says

(Credit and Caption for Photo: Allegheny County Councilman Patrick Cetena will step down from his post as council president, his colleague announced. Council members had launched an effort to force him out of the position last week. (Giuseppe LoPiccolo/Post-Gazette)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Allegheny County, PA) Following calls for Pat Catena to step down as the president of Allegheny County Council — including statements from seven council members saying they would vote to remove him — Catena has announced he will resign from the position.

According to a social media post from Councilman Dan Grzybek, council members will hold an election Tuesday to choose Catena’s replacement.

Calls for Catena to resign intensified last week after campaign mailers tied to his bid for state representative criticized transgender athletes. In a joint news release, seven council members, including Grzybek, called on Catena to step down.

Crash temporarily shuts down stretch of Kennywood Boulevard

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of Melissa Watkins)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(West Mifflin, PA) A crash temporarily shut down part of Kennywood Boulevard in West Mifflin yesterday.

Police in West Mifflin said both lanes of the boulevard were closed between Glenn Street in West Mifflin and Mifflin Street in Whitaker. The roadway has since reopened.

Video provided to WPXI shows a heavily damaged vehicle that appears to have struck a barrier.

It is unclear whether anyone was injured.

Pennsylvania American Water begins monthly water quality sampling at Butler County reservoir

(File Photo of Water)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Butler County, PA) Pennsylvania American Water has begun monthly boat-based water quality sampling at Lake Oneida and Thorn Run reservoirs in Butler County.

The enhanced monitoring program is intended to help ensure safe, high-quality and reliable drinking water for more than 20,000 customer connections.

According to the company, the sampling program will help operators better understand changing reservoir conditions and make real-time adjustments to treatment processes to maintain water quality.

Pennsylvania American Water also uses solar-powered mixers in both reservoirs to improve water quality by creating continuous circulation that helps prevent algae growth.

Jake Gentile, senior director of operations for Pennsylvania American Water, said the work is important to maintaining reliable service.

“This work helps us deliver the high-quality water our customers depend on every day,” Gentile said. “By monitoring conditions across the reservoirs, we can make real-time adjustments to treatment and continue providing safe, reliable service.”

The Lake Oneida and Thorn Run reservoirs supply water to customers in the City of Butler; the boroughs of Connoquenessing, East Butler and Saxonburg; and the townships of Butler, Center, Clinton, Connoquenessing, Donegal, Forward, Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson, Lancaster, Oakland, Penn and Summit.

Recreational boating is prohibited on both reservoirs, though shore fishing is permitted.

Steelers announce 2026 training camp schedule

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt celebrates in the end zone after recovering a fumble by Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson and returning it for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game Monday, Sept. 18, 2023, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) The Pittsburgh Steelers released their 2026 training camp schedule yesterday.

Players will report to Saint Vincent College in Latrobe for the 59th consecutive year on Tuesday, July 28.

The team’s first open practice will be held the following day, July 29.

Admission to public practices at Saint Vincent College is free, but mobile tickets are required.

Steelers season ticket holders will receive early access through Ticketmaster on Friday, May 22, at 10 a.m. Waitlist members will gain access at 11:30 a.m., followed by the general public at 1 p.m.

According to a report from CBS, here are some notable training camp and preseason dates:  

Monday, August 3: The first padded practice will happen at 11 a.m., and it will be open to the public.  

Saturday, August 1: The Steelers will announce their 2026 Hall of Honor class as part of the NFL’s Back Together weekend. 

Saturday, August 6: Annual night practice at Latrobe Memorial Stadium will take place at 6 p.m.  

Thursday, August 13: The Steelers will play their first preseason game at Acrisure Stadium against the Green Bay Packers at 7 p.m.  

Tuesday, August 18: The Steelers will break camp and continue the rest of the preseason, which will see games against the New York Jets on Friday, August 21, and the Buffalo Bills on Thursday, August 27.  

The full schedule for the 2026 Steelers Training Camp can be found on their website by clicking here.

Penn State University faculty win SEIU union vote

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – The Nittany Lion logo taken before an NCAA college football game between Penn State and Delaware, Sept. 9, 2023, in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger, File)

(Reported by Danielle Smith, Keystone News Service)

(Harrisburg, PA) After six years of organizing, Penn State University faculty have formed a union to gain a stronger voice and greater influence in university decisions. The Penn State Faculty Alliance reports that about 75-percent of participating faculty voted to join the Service Employees International Union. More than 25-hundred supported the effort and roughly 850 stood opposed. Julio Palma Anda, an associate professor of chemistry, says the move follows years of frustration over limited faculty input on key decisions. He says that without a formal collective bargaining structure, faculty lacked a meaningful voice in decision-making, contributing to inequitable and challenging working conditions that hinder their ability to thrive as educators. The union will represent faculty of all ranks across University Park and Commonwealth campuses. He notes they’re awaiting certification from the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board, which they expect the administration to honor. He adds that the union is committed to working constructively with the administration toward a strong first contract.