Category: MLB

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.

Naquin, Barnhart lead Reds to 14-1 rout of Pirates

Naquin, Barnhart lead Reds to 14-1 rout of Pirates
By JOHN PERROTTO Associated Press
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Tyler Naquin homered and drove in four runs, Tucker Barnhart keyed a six-run fourth inning with a two-run double and the Cincinnati Reds rolled to a 14-1 victory over the skidding Pittsburgh Pirates. Naquin’s three-run shot came in the seventh inning, bounced off the right-field foul pole and made it 11-1. He also doubled home a run during the fourth-inning outburst. Barnhart’s double to left-center field was the big blow in the fourth as the Reds snapped a 1-all tie. The Pirates lost for the ninth time in 11 games.

Anderson solid, Pirates hold on, end Cubs’ 5-game win string

Anderson solid, Pirates hold on, end Cubs’ 5-game win string
By SARAH TROTTO Associated Press
CHICAGO (AP) — Tyler Anderson pitched eight solid innings and the Pittsburgh Pirates held off the Cubs in ninth 6-5, ending Chicago’s five-game winning streak. Wilmer Difo had three hits and drove in three runs as the Pirates won for just the third time in their last 20 games at Wrigley Field. Held to two runs and four hits by Anderson, the Cubs made it close in the ninth. Chicago scored three times before pinch-hitter Javier Báez grounded out with a runner on second to end it.

Cronenworth, Padres beat Pirates 4-2 to win series

Cronenworth, Padres beat Pirates 4-2 to win series
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Jake Cronenworth hit a go-ahead, two-run single in the sixth inning and the San Diego Padres beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-2 to take two of three. Mark Melancon pitched the ninth for his big league-leading 11th save. Craig Stammen (2-1) got the final out of the sixth for the win in relief of Yu Darvish. Cronenworth’s go-ahead hit came a half inning after Darvish surrendered a 2-0 lead and was chased with the score tied at 2. Darvish didn’t factor in the decision but struck out eight in 5 2/3 innings while allowing two runs, six hits and one walk.

Keller, bullpen pitch Pirates to 2-1 win over Padres

Keller, bullpen pitch Pirates to 2-1 win over Padres
By RICHARD J. MARCUS Associated Press
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Mitch Keller tossed shutout ball into the sixth inning and the Pittsburgh Pirates slipped past the San Diego Padres 2-1. Keller kept the Padres off balance by mixing his pitches effectively. He allowed two hits over 5 2/3 innings and struck out five. The right-hander entered with an 8.20 ERA after his first five outings this season. Keller also got his first major league hit, a single to right field in the fifth. Four relievers combined to give up only one run in 3 1/3 innings for the Pirates. Richard Rodriguez earned his fifth save by working a scoreless ninth.

Giroux, Hayes help Flyers to win over first-place Penguins

Giroux, Hayes help Flyers to win over first-place Penguins
Associated Press undefined
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Claude Giroux had two goals and an assist, Kevin Hayes gave Philadelphia a rare early lead, and the Flyers skated to an easy 7-2 victory over the first-place Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday night.Joel Farabee had a goal and two assists and Shayne Gostisbehere, Wade Allison and Robert  also scored for the Flyers, who snapped a three-game skid and won for just the sixth time in the last 16.Sidney Crosby and Jason Zucker scored for the Penguins, who are tied atop the East Division with Washington. Each has 71 points, but the Capitals have four games left while Pittsburgh has three.