LOS ANGELES (AP) — J.D. Martinez and David Peralta homered back-to-back in the fifth inning, helping the Los Angeles Dodgers rally from a four-run deficit to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-4 on Wednesday night.

Martinez connected on an 0-2 pitch from reliever Roansy Contreras (3-7) for his 20th homer, a go-ahead, three-run shot to left-center that scored Will Smith and Max Muncy, who drew consecutive walks.

“Will and Munce had really good at-bats and found a way to get on,” Martinez said. “I feel like I’ve been kind of unlucky lately, just missing balls at the fence.”

Peralta followed with a 406-foot solo shot to the lower right-field seats for a 6-4 lead.

Contreras and Pirates starter Osvaldo Bido combined on four walks over the fourth and fifth. Both were called for pitch-clock violations: Bido in the second and Contreras in the fifth.

The Dodgers’ struggling bullpen turned back two bases-loaded jams over the final three innings.

“It’s big,” Martinez said. “We need those guys. That’s one of the huge pieces for us to be able to lock up huge situations for us.”

Pittsburgh threatened in the ninth, loading the bases with no outs against Daniel Hudson. Pinch-hitter Connor Joe opened with a ground-rule double, then Hudson walked Andrew McCutchen and Bryan Reynolds back-to-back. Henry Davis struck out and Carlos Santana flied out before Jack Suwinski struck out swinging to end the game.

Hudson earned his first save in 13 months. He returned to the team last week after tearing his left anterior cruciate ligament on June 24, 2022, against Atlanta.

“It’s just good to have him back and stabilize us,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “It certainly adds another leverage guy.”

Leading 6-4, the Dodgers eked out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh. Jared Triolo singled off Phil Bickford, who then walked Austin Hedges and McCutchen. Ryan Brasier came in, and backed by solid defense, got three straight outs to end the inning. Reynolds lined out to short on a stellar catch by Miguel Rojas, Davis lined into Mookie Betts’ glove at second and Santana popped out to third.

The Dodgers got on the board with two runs in the fourth. Jason Heyward had a bases-loaded sacrifice fly that scored Muncy, who walked, and Rojas added a RBI single.

Reynolds had a solo homer off Dodgers starter Bobby Miller (5-1) in the first. The Pirates extended the lead to 4-0 on Suwinski’s three-run blast in the fourth.

“It was a bad slider,” Miller said of Suwinski’s home-run pitch. “But I dialed it right back in. I wanted to go as far as I could in this game. Just giving the team a chance to win is the biggest deal.”

Miller allowed four runs and five hits in 5 2/3 innings. The right-hander struck out seven and walked one.

“I don’t know where we would have been if he couldn’t get six (innings),” Roberts said.

Bido gave up two runs and two hits in four innings. He struck out four and walked four.

(Photo by Beaver County Radio News Director Curtis Walsh)
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Norfolk Southern says the owner of the rail car that caused the fiery Ohio derailment in February failed to properly maintain it in the years before the crash, and the railroad wants to make sure that company and the owners of the other cars involved help pay for the costs.

The railroad filed a complaint Friday against all the car owners and shippers connected to the hazardous chemicals that spilled in the Feb. 3 derailment. As part of that, Norfolk Southern said GATX didn’t follow the car manufacturer’s recommendations for taking care of the plastic pellet car that has been blamed for the derailment.

The National Transportation Safety Board said in its preliminary report that the likely cause of the crash was a bearing on that car overheated. Its final report detailing everything that contributed won’t be done until at least next year. The derailment forced thousands of people to evacuate their homes near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border and sent a towering plume of black smoke over the town of East Palestine

The railroad said everyone involved in shipping hazardous chemicals bears some responsibility under federal regulations in making sure they get to their destination safely. Norfolk Southern, like most railroads, doesn’t actually own most of the cars it hauls, and it said the car owner and shippers are responsible for maintaining them even though railroad workers inspect and repair them along the way if they find defects.

The problem Norfolk Southern identified with the plastic pellet car is that it sat idle for more than a year and a half in 2017 and 2018 and again for more than six months in 2018 and 2019. The manufacturer says railcars need to be moved at least one car length ever six months to keep the grease on the bearings from degrading, which can happen over long periods of time or during extreme weather. The railroad said the car was based on the Gulf Coast near New Orleans, which experiences hurricanes and flooding.

But GATX leases its railcars to companies that use them to ship their products, so it may not have even had control over the car at the time. The NTSB pointed out in documents released as part of its investigative hearing that the railroad doesn’t track car movements within its railyards, so it also may not be clear whether this car wasn’t moved when it wasn’t in use.

GATX said in a statement that “throughout our 125-year history, the safety of our employees, our customers, our environment and the communities in which we operate has always been our highest priority. We will vigorously defend the company against baseless claims made by Norfolk Southern.”

Norfolk Southern’s move to make sure other companies pay part of the nearly $400 million estimated cost of the derailment isn’t a surprise. It previously said it would likely do that as well as pursuing reimbursement from its insurers.

Railroad spokesman Thomas Crosson said this legal move doesn’t signal a change in Norfolk Southern’s commitment to cleaning up the mess. Rather, Crosson said this complaint “seeks to ensure that others responsible for the safe transport of freight, such as railcar owners and shippers of the material being transported, contribute resources to the effort.”

The railroad also defended the decision to blow open five tank cars containing vinyl chloride and burn that chemical three days after the derailment because officials were concerned those cars might explode. Residents are concerned about the potential health implications of that move and the other chemicals that spilled.

Norfolk Southern said the railroad’s hazardous materials experts who were helping firefighters deal with the derailment feared that the pressure inside the cars could be building. The fact that one car appeared to heat up on its own and another car violently vented some pressurized gas even after the fire near those cars had been extinguished troubled first responders.

The company that shipped the vinyl chloride, OxyVinyls, told the NTSB last month that its experts believed the chemical remained stable.

“Norfolk Southern’s lawsuit is a meritless disinformation campaign masquerading as a legal filing,” OxyVinyls spokeswoman Celina Cardenas said. “Norfolk Southern’s recommendation to simultaneously detonate the railcars containing our product — contrary to the available information about the railcars’ condition or the product properties — appears to have been needlessly rushed to prioritize Norfolk Southern’s rail line operations.”

It will be up to the courts to decide how much responsibility all of the companies involved will bear. In addition to the companies involved in the vinyl chloride and plastic pellet cars, Norfolk Southern sued the companies responsible for three other tank cars that breached.

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing inspection activities on the Rochester-Monaca Bridge (Route 18) over the Ohio River in Rochester and Monaca boroughs, Beaver County, will begin Friday, July 7 weather permitting.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published July 5, 2023

(Hopewell Township, PA) The annual park fest is scheduled for Saturday, July 8, 2023 from 3 to 9:30 pm. One of the highlights of the day-long event that features attractions including The Project Band with Frank Piscopo from 5:30 to 7:15 pm, food, and other attractions, and amusements. will be featured for all ages.

(Pittsburgh, PA) Today McDonald’s debuts a sizzling new take on the classic Quarter Pounder:  The Cheesy Jalapeño Bacon QPC.

Available only for a limited time, the sandwich features a 100% fresh beef Quarter Pounder patty that’s cooked right when you order so it’s hot and juicy every time. It includes two slices of melty American cheese, thick cut applewood smoked bacon, pickled jalapeno coins and it’s topped off with a creamy cheddar cheese sauce — all served on a sesame seed bun. The Cheesy Jalapeno Bacon QPC is available as a single or double.

Annville, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) works to assist veterans with locating their lost DD Form 214 (DD-214) and other military documents so they can get credit for time served and receive important benefits they have earned.

The DD-214 is a Department of Defense document issued upon a service member’s retirement, separation, or discharge from active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces. It contains information needed to verify military service for benefits, retirement, employment, and membership in veterans’ organizations. Without this key document, there could be significant delays when a veteran seeks benefits earned through their service to our nation.

“The DMVA understands how important it is for veterans to have their military paperwork. That is why our staff is available to assist veterans who have lost their DD-214, or family members who cannot locate it on a veteran’s behalf,” said Maj. Gen. Mark Schindler, Pennsylvania’s adjutant general and head of the DMVA. “We want every veteran to receive the benefits they earned through their service to this nation, and that starts with having the right documents in hand.”

The DMVA can also assist with locating the DD-215, which is used to correct errors or make additions to a DD-214, helping to assure that veterans have accurate discharge documentation.

The easiest way to manage military documents and avoid having to frantically search for them is to make sure they are filed in a safe place immediately upon leaving the military.

“Safeguarding military documents should be a priority for every servicemember transitioning to civilian life,” said Brig. Gen. (PA) Maureen Weigl, deputy adjutant general for Veterans Affairs. “Without question, the best place to file the documents for a lifetime of safekeeping is your county courthouse. This way you and\or a family member will always have access to them when the time comes that they are needed.”

Anyone needing assistance from the DMVA to locate their DD-214/215, or other military documentation, can call toll-free 1-800-547-2838 or e-mail RA-REQ@pa.gov. More information about locating military documents can be found by visiting the Records Request Program.

Another way to stay in touch is for veterans, family members and people who work with veterans to sign up for the DMVA’s Veterans Registry by visiting www.register.dmva.pa.gov.

PITTSBURGH – Effective July 1, 2023, Robert DeMichiei was elected chairman of the board of directors of AAA East Central which is headquartered in the East Liberty neighborhood of Pittsburgh. DeMichiei, who has served on the board since 2019, steps into the role previously held by Richard Hamilton, who retired after serving as chairman for 23 years.

Before retiring in 2020, DeMichiei spent 16 years as executive vice-president & chief financial officer at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). He also served in various executive roles at General Electric Company (GE) from 1997 through 2004 and at PwC from 1987 to 1997.

In addition to his service on the AAA East Central board of directors, DeMichiei is currently a board director at the Automobile Club of Southern California, Ampco-Pittsburgh Corporation and Waystar, Inc. He is a strategic advisor for Health Catalyst and Omega Healthcare Management Services. He is also a board director at several non-profits, including the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania, Seton Hill University and The Advanced Leadership Institute.

DeMichiei attended the University of Pittsburgh where he graduated with a bachelor of arts in business economics. He currently resides in Hampton Township with his wife, Amy.

Hamilton retired from the AAA East Central board of directors at the end of May 2023. He began his career at AAA East Central directly out of high school in 1963 as a travel-touring counselor. He spent decades working in various departments and positions and was promoted to President and CEO of West Penn AAA in 1990. Hamilton led mergers with other AAA Clubs which grew West Penn AAA into AAA East Central. In 2010, AAA East Central became affiliated with Los Angeles based Auto Club Enterprises.

Richard Hamilton

AAA East Central is a not-for-profit association with 69 local offices in Kentucky, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, serving 2.7 million members. The Club serves its local communities through emergency road service, automotive services, travel, insurance, and Discounts and Rewards. Past news releases are available at news.eastcentral.aaa.com. Follow AAA East Central on Twitter and Facebook.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Democratic Sen. Bob Casey raised more than $4 million in the last three months — his best fundraising quarter ever — as he awaits a Republican challenger to his reelection bid in the critical battleground state of Pennsylvania, his campaign said Wednesday.

Casey’s campaign said the fundraising result beat the previous best quarter of his career by more than $1.2 million.

The campaign is reporting nearly $6 million in its bank account. That cash could prove crucial in ensuring Casey has the resources to successfully navigate a campaign in one of the nation’s most politically competitive states.

The second-quarter haul is giving Casey’s campaign some optimism that Democrats still enjoy support in the state following John Fetterman’s 5-percentage-point victory in last year’s race for Pennsylvania’s open Senate seat.

Casey, 63, is gearing up to seek his fourth term in office. He is a key ally of labor unions and President Joe Biden and gives Democrats a strong candidate in their defense of a seat in what is otherwise expected to be a difficult 2024 campaign to keep their 51-49 Senate majority.

Fetterman, who was Pennsylvania’s lieutenant governor, also reported raising $4 million in his first quarter as a Senate candidate in 2021. Fetterman eclipsed that with a $22.4 million third quarter in 2022 on his way to beating Republican Dr. Mehmet Oz, who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump. Last year’s Senate race was Pennsylvania’s most expensive ever, at $420 million total, according to OpenSecrets, a Washington-based nonprofit organization that tracks campaign finance and lobbying data.

Casey comes into the 2024 race with strong name recognition — his father was a two-term Pennsylvania governor — and Republicans do not have a deep pool of potential recruits.

One Republican who may run is former hedge fund CEO David McCormick, who narrowly lost a bruising and expensive GOP nomination for the Senate in 2022 to Oz.

McCormick has said he is “seriously considering” running. He brings deep pockets and connections across the worlds of government, finance and Republican politics following a career on Wall Street and at the highest levels of President George W. Bush’s administration.

But many Republicans acknowledge that it will be difficult — or impossible — to beat Casey.

In Pennsylvania, Casey has run statewide seven times already, winning six of those races, and has never run a close race for the Senate. He won his 2018 race by 13 percentage points and kept an active schedule on the campaign trail last year by helping Fetterman.

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

The Fourth of July is mostly known as a driving holiday, but many drivers across the northeast United States, including hundreds in Western Pennsylvania, spent yesterday fueling up.

Following the late Monday announcement that participating Sheetz locations were setting the prices of all gasoline to $1.77 and 6 tenths of a cent in honor of the Independence Day holiday, many of its locations throughout Beaver and neighboring counties caused traffic jams and long lines on Tuesday. Some lines extended into active traffic, where cars were forced to move around the eager consumers.

The patriotic price dip was nearly two full dollars less than the latest averages reported by AAA East Central, including an average of $3.72 in Beaver County.