Author: Beaver County Radio

Dodgers roll by Pirates 7-2

Ryu’s shutout streak ends; Dodgers still roll by Pirates 7-2
By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Hyun-Jin Ryu knew his scoreless streak wouldn’t last forever. So when it finally came to an end at 32 innings against Pittsburgh, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ veteran pitcher shrugged.
“I wasn’t really thinking about the streak to begin with,” Ryu said.
There were more pressing matters on Saturday night anyway. Namely trying to find his way on a night when he admittedly didn’t have his best stuff. Though he lacked the crispness that marked the best stretch of his injury-marred six-year career, Ryu found a way anyway in a 7-2 victory.
Ryu (7-1) allowed a season-high 10 hits but managed to clamp down when necessary to get through six innings as the Dodgers beat the Pirates for the 10th straight time.
“They were pretty aggressive at the plate and some of my pitches weren’t as sharp as I wanted them to be,” Ryu said after his ERA ticked up to 1.65. “At the end of the day I did give up a lot of hits and it hurts to give up that many hits but I was able to limit damage.”
And do a little damage at the plate in the process. Ryu gave the Dodgers the lead for good in the fourth when he turned a full-count fastball from Joe Musgrove (3-5) into a double to the gap in right-center field that scored Chris Taylor to put Los Angeles up 3-2.
“I think it was the first time this year I made hard contact at the plate and it just happened to be a good hit,” Ryu said.
Asked if he felt it was a home run, the 32-year-old joked “it was hit well but I have to work on my launch angle.”
Maybe Ryu was just trying to fit in. His double was one of eight by the Dodgers on the night, the most by any team in the majors this season. Cody Bellinger and Corey Seager both doubled and drove in two runs. Bellinger finished 2 for 4 to boost his major-league leading batting average to .391. Max Muncy added two doubles of his own as Los Angeles won for the eighth time in 10 games.
“We’re very dynamic,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “We don’t discriminate against the double.”
Ryu’s scoreless streak that began on May 1 against San Francisco ended at 32 innings — the 10th longest in franchise history — when Pittsburgh’s Josh Bell led off the second with a double then raced home when Los Angeles catcher Russell Martin threw wide of third base trying to cut down Bell after Melky Cabrera’s swinging bunt. Cabrera scored later in the inning on an RBI single by Cole Tucker to tie the score at 2.
It was all the Pirates would get against Ryu. Though Starling Marte had three of Pittsburgh’s 11 hits while Bell and Kevin Newman chipped in two hits apiece the Pirates lost for the fourth time in five games after going 2 for 15 with runners in scoring position and leaving eight men on base.
“We pushed a guy that nobody’s pushed for a while,” Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said. “Nine hits through the first five innings (but) … we weren’t able to add on.”
URIAS RETURNS
Dodgers reliever Julio Urias pitched two scoreless innings in his first appearance since returning from administrative leave following his arrest for investigation of misdemeanor domestic battery earlier this month. There was a small smattering of boos when Urias was introduced.
“With Julio nothing surprises us,” Roberts said. “Hadn’t pitched in a major league game in quite some time. Ball was coming out good … I thought two innings was perfect for him.”
BANGED UP BUCS
Pittsburgh catcher Francisco Cervelli left in the fourth inning with concussion-like symptoms shortly after getting hit by Bellinger’s bat. Cervelli, who has dealt with concussions each of the last two seasons, will be re-evaluated on Sunday. If he heads to the injured list, he’d push Pittsburgh’s total number of players who have been put on the list to 21, the most in the majors.
“I think there’s a part of (Cervelli) that doesn’t ever want to come out of games,” Hurdle said. “There’s a part of him that also thinks, ‘You know what, I’m not going to do myself any good by continuing, either.’ He’s had enough experienced through it all by now that he knows when it’s time to back away.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Dodgers: 3B Justin Turner was held out of the lineup as a preventative measure due to discomfort in his left shin. … RHP Pedro Baez (upper right leg contusion) was given a third straight game off.
Pirates: RHP Chris Stratton (right side discomfort) was placed on the 10-day injured list and moved Lonnie Chisenhall (fractured right index finger) to the 60-day injured list, though Chisenhall is eligible to return next week. Pittsburgh recalled RHP Dovydas Neverauskas from Triple-A Indianapolis and selected the contract of RHP Rookie Davis. Davis and Neverauskas both pitched in relief of Musgrove in an effort to help out Pittsburgh’s overtaxed bullpen.
UP NEXT
Dodgers: Kenta Maeda (5-2, 3.51 ERA) returns from a stint on the injured list with a left adductor contusion on Sunday. Opponents are hitting just .220 off Maeda in nine starts.
Pirates: Chris Archer (1-4, 5.55 ERA) looks for his first victory since April 7 in the series finale.
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Blackhawk Coach Jim Riggio Talks Softball & Baseball On Sports Slam

The playoff season for WPIAL baseball and softball has reached its pinnacle for 2019, with the WPIAL championship games slated for next Tuesday and Wednesday. In that spirit, Blackhawk softball coach (and former Blackhawk baseball player) Jim Riggio joined Matt Drzik and Greg Benedetti on the Saturday Sports Slam to talk about the success of his alma mater, as they head into battle with Beaver for the 4A Baseball Championship on Wednesday.

Riggio also spoke about his role as Blackhawk’s softball coach, the main differences between baseball and softball at the high school level, and the juggling of being a softball coach as well as running a business (the Beaver Falls Municipal Authority, to be exact).

To listen to the interview, click on the player below.

Drunken Assault in Ambridge

A Pittsburgh man faces charges of an assault against his girlfriend in Ambridge last week and driving drunk, according to a criminal complaint filed by borough police.

Robert Pancottini, 51, is charged with simple assault, harassment and drunken driving.

Ambridge police said they were sent to the Rite Aid on Merchant Street at about 9 p.m. May 16 and found a woman walking across the street from the store who had “several fresh wounds” on her face. She was “visibly shaken,” police said, and told them that Pancottini had pulled her hair and punched her in the face earlier.

Another officer had confronted Pancottini, who was “swaying back and forth” and unable to stand. Pancottini allegedly told police that his girlfriend was injured in a fall.

Pancottini was arrested for drunken driving. Police said his blood-alcohol level was 0.169 percent, more than double the 0.08 percent threshold.

Pancottini has a preliminary hearing scheduled for May 28 in Beaver County Court.

Democratic Nominee Attempts to Vote Twice

THE BEAVER COUNTY ELECTION BOARD IS NULLIFYING AN ABSENTEE VOTE. JOE PUCCI, A DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE FOR AMBRIDGE CITY COUNCIL, SUBMITTED AN ABSENTEE BALLOT AND THEN SHOWED UP TO THE POLLS ON TUESDAY. UNDER PA LAW, ANYONE WHO CAN VOTE IN PERSON IS REQUIRED TO DO SO. PUCCI DID NOT RECIEVE ENOUGH VOTES TO MOVE ON TO THE GENERAL ELECTION THIS FALL.

Aldi Flour Recall

Aldi is recalling The Bakers Corner All Purpose Flour because of possible E. coli contamination. The 5-pound bags of flour should either be discarded or returned to the store for a refund, the company said in a statement.

The flour, made by Archer Daniels Midland, was in 11 states including New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

People with questions can call the ADM Milling Co. Customer Service at 800-422-1688 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. central time, the company said.

Netflix in Beaver County

The Beaver County Times’ Scott Tady reporting that a new Netflix series by the director and executive producer of the hit show “Stranger Things” titled “I Am Not OK With This” will film scenes in Beaver this June.

Beaver Borough Manager Dan Madgar met with a representative of the series who said producers were looking to film along Bank Street – which is the same neighborhood where parts of the 2000 movie “The Wonder Boys” with Michael Douglas and Tobey Maguire were filmed.

“I Am Not OK With This” is looking for background actors to portray high school and college-aged students, football players, fans, basketball players and prom attendees for scenes shot throughout the Pittsburgh area. They are also looking for cars no older than model year 2000 and adults to portray town citizens.

If you are interested email extras casting at tvextraspgh@gmail.com – or visit movieextraspittsburgh.com.

ACLU Files Lawsuit

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — A federal lawsuit filed Friday asks a judge to block an Alabama law that outlaws almost all abortions, the most far-reaching attempt by a conservative state to seek new restrictions on the procedure.

The American Civil Liberties Union and Planned Parenthood filed the lawsuit on behalf of abortion providers seeking to overturn the Alabama law that would make performing an abortion at any stage of pregnancy a felony punishable by up to 99 years or life in prison for the abortion provider. The only exception would be when the woman’s health is at serious risk.

The law is set to take effect in November unless blocked by a judge.

The lawsuit notes that supporters of the law have acknowledged it is unconstitutional under current Supreme Court precedent.

Supporters of the Alabama law have said they expected a lawsuit and expected to initially lose in court, but they hope the appeal could eventually land before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Hopewell Memorial Day Parade is Back

After a 1 year hiatus Hopewell Township will once again hold a Memorial Day parade on Monday. The township did not hold one in 2018 for the first time in over 70 years. Our Sandy Giordano has the story. Click play to listen.

Aliquippa Man Facing Drug Charges

An Aliquippa man is facing drug charges. Our Sandy Giordano has the report. Click play to listen…

New Castle House Fire

THE NEW CASTLE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS ARE INVESTIGATING A HOUSE FIRE THIS MORNING. ACCORDING TO INVESTIGATORS NO ONE WAS AT THE EAST CLAYTON STREET RESIDENCE WHEN THE FIRE BROKE OUT AROUND 1 AM, HOWEVER, THERE WERE ANIMALS TRAPPED IN THE HOME, AND NOT ALL SURVIVED. THE HUMANE SOCIETY AND LOCAL ANIMAL SHELTERS HAVE AGREED TO CARE FOR THE REMAINING ANIMALS. ONE RESPONDING FIREFIGHTER BROKE HIS LEG FALLING DOWN THE STAIRS, AND WILL NEED SURGERY. REPORTS SAY THE HOUSE IS NOT SALVAGEABLE.