Category: MLB

Pirates Lose Sixth Straight After a Drone Delay

Berríos, Twins win 5th in row, top Pirates after drone delay
By MIKE COOK Associated Press
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — José Berríos pitched six innings, Nelson Cruz had three hits and the Minnesota Twins beat Pittsburgh 7-3 for their fifth straight win. Minnesota improved to 9-2 for the second time in the team’s 60-year history. The other was 2001. The Pirates lost their fifth in a row and have baseball’s worst winning percentage at .182. The game was delayed for nine minutes in the fifth inning and players were pulled off the field when an unauthorized drone flew over center field at Target Field. A few pitchers in the bullpen threw balls at the drone but missed.

Bucs Blow Four Run Lead. Lose Fifth Straight Game

Cruz’s walk-off single lifts Twins past Pirates 5-4
By DAVE CAMPBELL AP Sports Writer
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Nelson Cruz’s RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning gave the Minnesota Twins a 5-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates for their fourth straight win. Cruz knocked in two runs to raise his season total to 14 RBIs. He drove a pitch from Pirates reliever and former Twins draft pick Nick Burdi over the head of center fielder Cole Tucker with runners at second and third and one out to knock in Jorge Polanco. The Pirates have lost five straight games.

Bucs Get Swept by the Cubs

Báez’s single in 11th gives Cubs 2-1 win over Pirates
By JOHN JACKSON Associated Press
CHICAGO (AP) — Javier Báez singled through a drawn-in infield in the bottom of the 11th, scoring David Bote from third base and giving the Chicago Cubs a 2-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Bote, who made the last out in the 10th, started the inning on second base as mandated by Major League Baseball’s extra-inning rule for the pandemic-shortened season. He advanced to third on a deep fly to right by Anthony Rizzo and jogged home on Baez’s first career game-ending hit against Cody Ponce. Jeremy Jeffress worked a scoreless 11th for the win. The game was delayed 64 minutes by rain before the bottom of the ninth.

Chatwood fans 11, Cubs hit 3 homers to beat Pirates 4-3

Chatwood fans 11, Cubs hit 3 homers to beat Pirates 4-3
By JAY COHEN AP Sports Writer
CHICAGO (AP) — Tyler Chatwood matched a career high with 11 strikeouts in another terrific performance, leading the Chicago Cubs to a 4-3 victory the Pittsburgh Pirates. Javier Báez, Kyle Schwarber and Ian Happ hit home runs as Chicago won for the fifth time in six games. The Cubs have homered in each of their first eight games for the first time since 1958. Chatwood departed after Pittsburgh loaded the bases with two out in the seventh. Jeremy Jeffress came in and retired Phillip Evans on a grounder to third. Pittsburgh also lost starting pitcher Mitch Keller in the third inning because of left side discomfort.

Darvish shines as Chicago Cubs beat Pittsburgh Pirates 6-3

Darvish shines as Chicago Cubs beat Pittsburgh Pirates 6-3
By JAY COHEN AP Sports Writer
CHICAGO (AP) — Yu Darvish pitched six shutout innings and Jason Heyward drove in two runs, leading the Chicago Cubs to a 6-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Darvish allowed two hits, struck out seven and walked one, bouncing back nicely after he struggled in his first start last weekend against Milwaukee. The Cubs are counting on the Japanese right-hander to help anchor their rotation after he finished strong last year. Chicago also got a solo home run from Jason Kipnis in its fourth win in five games. Jarrod Dyson had an RBI single for Pittsburgh.

Woodruff dominates as Brewers silence punchless Pirates 3-0

Woodruff dominates as Brewers silence punchless Pirates 3-0
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Milwaukee’s Brandon Woodruff allowed one hit and struck out 10 while working into the seventh inning as the Brewers beat the struggling Pittsburgh Pirates 3-0. Woodruff retired 19 of 21 batters, including 17 straight at one point. Ben Gamel hit a two-run home run for the Brewers and Keston Hiura added a solo shot. Phil Evans’ infield single in the first served as Pittsburgh’s lone hit. The Pirates are hitting a major-league worst .171 as a team. Relievers David Phelps, Devin Williams and Josh Hader finished the one-hitter for the Brewers.

Frazier hits go-ahead homer in 8th, Pirates edge Brewers 8-6

Frazier hits go-ahead homer in 8th, Pirates edge Brewers 8-6
By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Adam Frazier hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the eighth inning, and the Pittsburgh Pirates rallied for an 8-6 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers. A day after blowing a four-run lead in the ninth in what became an 11-inning loss, Pittsburgh delivered a bit of payback thanks to a shaky performance by the Milwaukee bullpen. Cole Tucker went 2 for 4 for the Pirates.

Indianapolis Indians minor league team to discuss name

Indianapolis Indians minor league team to discuss name
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indianapolis Indians baseball team say they will form a committee to consider changing the team’s longtime name. Team officials say the name is derived from Indiana, which translates to “land of the Indians,” and the city name, which translates to “city of Indians.” It has been used since 1902. The team is the Triple A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. It is the most recent sports franchise with a Native American name to consider a change amid criticism that the names are insensitive or racist.

MLB temporarily suspends Marlins season through the weekend

MLB temporarily suspends Marlins season through the weekend
By STEVEN WINE AP Sports Writer
MIAMI (AP) — Major League Baseball has temporarily suspended the Miami Marlins’ season through Sunday because of their worsening coronavirus outbreak. And the three remaining games in this week’s New York Yankees-Philadelphia Phillies series also were postponed because of virus worries. In a statement Tuesday, MLB said it wanted to allow the Marlins time to focus on providing care for their players and plan for a resumption of play early next week. The Marlins remained stranded in Philadelphia, where they played last weekend. The Phillies-Yankees games through Thursday were postponed “out of an abundance of caution,” MLB said, although no Phillies players have tested positive.

Bucs Blow Four Run Lead in the Ninth. Lose in 11 Innings

By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Eric Sogard doubled home Brock Holt in the 11th inning and the Milwaukee Brewers rallied for a rain-delayed 6-5 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Brewers trailed by four entering the ninth but took advantage of another shaky performance by the Pittsburgh bullpen to force extra innings. Ryan Braun’s two-out, two-run double off Kyle Crick drew Milwaukee even. Sogard led off the 11th with a liner down the left-field line, allowing Holt to score easily from second as the automatic runner. Colin Moran hit two home runs for the Pirates.