Category: MLB

Mike Marshall, 1st reliever to win Cy Young, dies at 78

Mike Marshall, 1st reliever to win Cy Young, dies at 78
By BETH HARRIS AP Sports Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Mike Marshall, who became the first reliever to win the Cy Young Award when he set a major league record by pitching 106 games in a season for the Los Angeles Dodgers, has died. He was 78.  Marshall died Monday night at home in Zephyrhills, Florida, where he had been receiving hospice care, according to the Dodgers, who spoke Tuesday to his daughter, Rebekah. Marshall won the NL Cy Young Award in 1974, going 15-12 with a 2.42 ERA and 21 saves. The right-hander nicknamed “Iron Mike” set major league records that season for most appearances (106), relief innings (208 1/3), games finished (83) and consecutive games pitched (13).

Benintendi’s slam, Perez’s 2 HRs power Royals past Pirates

Benintendi’s slam, Perez’s 2 HRs power Royals past Pirates
By DAVID SMALE Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Andrew Benintendi hit a grand slam and drove in five runs, leading the Kansas City Royals to a 10-5 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Salvador Perez had two homers and three RBIs to help the Royals sweep the two-game series. Brady Singer allowed five runs — four earned — and eight hits in 5 2/3 innings to get the win. Wil Crowe took the loss. He gave up eight runs and eight hits in four-plus innings.

Mondesi, Minor lead Royals to 7-3 win over Pirates

Mondesi, Minor lead Royals to 7-3 win over Pirates
By DAVID SMALE Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Adalberto Mondesi hit a two-run homer before injuring his hamstring, Mike Minor pitched six solid innings and the Kansas City Royals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-3. The Royals have won 10 of 16 to get back to .500 for the first time since an 11-game losing streak dropped them four games below. Minor allowed two runs and five hits. He struck out seven and walked one. Chad Kuhl took the loss in his return from the injured list. He gave up three runs and six hits in four innings.

Arenado, Edman lead Cardinals to 5-2 win over Pirates

Arenado, Edman lead Cardinals to 5-2 win over Pirates
By WARREN MAYES Associated Press
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Nolan Arenado hit a two-run homer, his fourth in four games, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-2. Tommy Edman added three singles and drove in two runs for St. Louis. The Cardinals returned home after dropping three straight at San Diego to win their fourth consecutive game this season against Pittsburgh. John Gant threw 5 1/3 innings to earn the win. Alex Reyes pitched the ninth to record his 12th save in 12 chances. JT Brubaker, who had been charged with two earned runs or fewer in six of his first seven starts, gave up five runs on eight hits in 5 2/3 innings.

 

Longtime Pirates 2B Stennett Dies at 72 After Cancer Fight

Longtime Pirates 2B Stennett dies at 72 after cancer fight
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Former Pittsburgh Pirate second baseman Rennie Stennett has died following a fight with cancer. He was 72. Stennett spent nine of his 11 big league seasons with the Pirates, helping the team win the 1979 World Series. Stennett hit .274 for his career and twice received votes for the National League’s Most Valuable Player award. He started at second base on Sept. 1, 1971, when the Pirates fielded the first all-Black starting lineup in MLB history. Stennett is also the only player in the modern era to go 7 for 7 at the plate in a nine-inning game. He left the Pirates after the 1979 season, signing a five-year contract with San Francisco. The Giants released him in April 1982.

Wood improves to 5-0, Yastrzemski HR as Giants beat Pirates

Wood improves to 5-0, Yastrzemski HR as Giants beat Pirates
By JOHN PERROTTO Associated Press
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Alex Wood pitched six innings while keeping his perfect record intact and Mike Yastrzemski hit a game-sealing home run as the San Francisco Giants beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-1. Wood improved to 5-0. He gave up one run while scattering eight hits. He struck out six and walked one as NL West-leading San Francisco gained a split of the four-game series. It has been a resurgent season for Wood, who went a combined 1-4 with a 5.96 ERA in 2019 and 2020 with the Cincinnati Reds and Los Angeles Dodgers while hampered by back problems.

DeSclafani, Duggar lead NL-best Giants over Pirates 3-1

DeSclafani, Duggar lead NL-best Giants over Pirates 3-1
By JOHN PERROTTO Associated Press
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Anthony DeSclafani allowed one hit over five scoreless innings and Steven Duggar hit his first home run in nearly two years to lead the San Francisco Giants past the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-1. DeSclafani improved to 3-7 against the Pirates. The lone hit off him was a first-inning single by Jacob Stallings. Duggar’s solo shot in the fifth off Wil Crowe broke a scoreless tie. It was his seventh career homer in four seasons, and first since June 13, 2019. The Giants improved to an NL-best 23-14 with their fifth win in six games. Tyler Rogers earned his third save by pitching a scoreless ninth. Pirates first baseman Will Craig hit his first major league homer in the eighth.

Stokes’ first career hits help Pirates finally solve Reds

Stokes’ first career hits help Pirates finally solve Reds
By JOHN PERROTTO Associated Press
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Troy Stokes Jr. drove in runs with each of his first two major league hits, JT Brubaker pitched six strong innings and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Cincinnati Reds 7-2. Two days after making his debut, Stokes hit an RBI single in the fourth inning and doubled in a run in the eighth. Brubaker allowed one run on five hits as he won for the first time in four starts. The Pirates had lost eight striaght games to the Reds. Cincinnati’s Jesse Winker had a home run and two doubles.

Todd Frazier, 2-time All-Star hitting .086, cut by Pirates

Todd Frazier, 2-time All-Star hitting .086, cut by Pirates
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Two-time All-Star infielder Todd Frazier has been cut by the Pittsburgh Pirates after hitting .086 in 13 games. The team designated him for assignment Monday. The 35-year-old had just three hits in 35 at-bats with no home runs and four RBIs. The Pirates made the move to open a roster spot for outfielder Ben Gamel, who was claimed off waivers from the Cleveland Indians. The Pirates signed Frazier to a minor league contract after he spent last year’s pandemic-shortened season with the Texas Rangers and New York Mets. The 11-year veteran has a .241 career average with 218 home runs.