Herrera’s triple in 8th lifts Phillies over Pirates 2-1
By AARON BRACY, Associated Press
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Odubel Herrera hit a go-ahead triple in the eighth inning to lift the Philadelphia Phillies to a 2-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night.
Herrera, Cesar Hernandez, Carlos Santana and Maikel Franco each had two hits for the Phillies, who have won nine of 11 overall while improving to 7-1 at home. It is Philadelphia’s best start at home since it won seven of eight to begin the 1981 season.
Luis Garcia (2-1) pitched a scoreless eighth inning, and Hector Neris blanked Pittsburgh in the ninth to earn his third save in four tries.
After Hernandez led off the eighth with a double and Santana grounded out, Herrera lined an 86-mph cutter from George Kontos (1-2) on a 1-2 count just inside the first-base bag to score Hernandez and give the Phillies a 2-1 lead.
Rhys Hoskins walked to put runners on first and third with one out before as bizarre a double play as you’ll see ended the inning. Kontos had Hoskins picked off, but first baseman Josh Bell threw home to get Herrera, who broke for the plate on the play. Hoskins then lost track of where he was and also was out on a caught stealing double play that was scored 1-3-4-2-5-8-7.
The Pirates threatened in the ninth when Jordy Mercer doubled with one out, but David Freese popped out in the infield and Adam Frazier grounded out.
After a promising 11-3 start, Pittsburgh has dropped four of five.
The Pirates took a 1-0 lead in the sixth. Francisco Cervelli was hit by a pitch, went to third on Colin Moran’s double and scored on Mercer’s sacrifice fly to right.
Philadelphia tied it in the bottom half when Santana scored on Hoskins’ fielder’s choice grounder to third. Santana reached third on Herrera’s single to right, and Herrera tied a career high on the hit by reaching base safely in 21 straight games.
Ben Lively had his best outing in his fourth start for Philadelphia, allowing a run on five hits with four strikeouts and three walks in six innings.
Pirates starter Ivan Nova had similar numbers, giving up a run on five hits in six innings. Nova struck out three and walked none, and has fanned 21 batters against one walk in his last four starts.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Pirates: RHP A.J. Schugel (right shoulder discomfort) will make his next start at Triple-A Indianapolis. Schugel threw a scoreless inning at Single-A Bradenton on Wednesday.
Phillies: Right-handed reliever Tommy Hunter pitched a scoreless inning, striking out two, at Double-A Reading on Friday night. Hunter, who has been sidelined all season with a strained right hamstring, made 20 pitches in his second rehab outing.
UP NEXT
Phillies RHP Aaron Nola (1-1, 2.22) opposes Pirates LHP Steven Brault (2-1, 4.74) in the third game of the four-game set Saturday.

Arrieta Ks 10, allows 1 hit in 7 innings in Phillies win
By DAN GELSTON, AP Sports Writer
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jake Arrieta threw like an old-school ace wearing a retro powder blue Phillies uniform fit for a throwback outing.
Arrieta flashed the All-Star form that made Philadelphia covet him in free agency, striking out 10 and tossing one-hit ball over seven innings to lead the Phillies to a 7-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday night.
Rhys Hoskins homered and Cesar Hernandez had a three-run single to pace the Phillies in their first game back from a 4-2 trip.
The Phillies got vintage Arrieta (2-0) in his best outing since he left the Chicago Cubs for a $75 million, three-year contract that made him the immediate ace of the rotation.
He had his 14th career double-digit strikeout game and walked two, combining with two relievers on a two-hitter.
“It was about as good as I’ve been,” Arrieta said.
Arrieta, with two no-hitters and a World Series championship with the Cubs, struck out seven through the first four innings — he had struck out only six over 10 2/3 innings in his first two starts. He wore short sleeves on a night when temperatures dipped into the 30s, and the postseason flags whipping in the wind were about the only objects with more movement than Arrieta’s fastball .
“That’s the best movement and action I’ve seen on his fastball since 2015,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said.
The Pirates, who lead the Central, are one of the surprise teams in the National League. Against their longtime nemesis, forget it. The 2015 NL Cy Young Award winner improved to 11-6 in 21 career starts against Pittsburgh. He struck out 11 and tossed a four-hit shutout against the Pirates in the 2015 NL Wild Card game that included a bench-clearing melee.
“Nights like tonight where I do have pretty much command at will, it just makes my job that much easier,” Arrieta said.
The Phillies wore the powder blue 1970s and ’80s uniforms that were a hit with fans and fashionistas. Arrieta had changed into a sleeveless shirt and red shorts for the postgame celebration in the dugout.
The Phillies haven’t had a winning season since 2011, when they won their fifth straight NL East title. The addition of Arrieta signaled a long, arduous rebuilding process could turn into contention this season. They’ve already had a six-game winning streak — the last three on a sweep at Tampa Bay.
The 32-year-old right-hander was on from the start, striking out Adam Frazier and Gregory Polanco to open the game on a pair of 94 mph sinkers. He allowed only an infield single in the second inning.
“You’re going to get excited about having Jake go out there every fifth day if he’s sort of the mid-range version of himself, which is still very good,” Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said. “If he’s a little bit better than his average self, he’s unhittable.”
Hoskins lined his third homer of the season to left, and Hernandez made it 4-0 on a bases-loaded single to left off Jameson Taillon (2-1).
Taillon allowed five runs and was chased after 1 1/3 innings.
Yacksel Rios and Victor Arano each tossed a scoreless inning in relief. Arano has retired 32 consecutive batters dating to 2017.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Pirates: RHP Joe Musgrove, on the disabled list with strained muscle in his right shoulder, threw a bullpen session and will throw another on Sunday.
Phillies: RHP Tommy Hunter is set for a rehab outing with Double-A Reading on Friday. Hunter has been out all season with a hamstring injury. “I think he profiles as a guy that can give us one-plus (innings),” Kapler said. “On some days, he might come in for a couple of batters. On others, he might go a little bit longer for us.”
HAPPY FATHER’S DAY
The Pirates held their annual “Dads’ Trip” series this weekend in Philadelphia. The fathers of 20 players and staff members attended the series and took part in various baseball activities with their kids.
DOG DAYS
Kapler wasn’t much of a Phillies fan growing up, but his dog Pete was named after one of his favorite players: Pete Rose.
“Little black mutt terrier,” Kapler said. “He always bet on himself.”
UP NEXT
Pirates: RHP Ivan Nova (2-1, 4.88 ERA) tries to win his third straight start. He has a 2-1 career mark against the Phillies and struck out 11 batters in one start against them in 2006.
Phillies: RHP Ben Lively (0-1, 5.87) makes his fourth start for the Phillies.
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Rockies’ Bettis, 3-relievers shut out Bucs at snowy PNC Park
By JOHN PERROTTO, Associated Press
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Chad Bettis pitched into the eighth inning and combined with three relievers on a five-hitter, and the Colorado Rockies beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 2-0 on a snowy Tuesday night.
Bettis allowed five hits in 7 1/3 innings, striking out three and walking two. Bryan Shaw and Jake McGee got the ball to Wade Davis, who pitched a perfect ninth for his NL-leading eighth save.
The Rockies improved to 5-1 on their seven-game trip to Washington and Pittsburgh and are 9-4 on the road overall.
The announced attendance was 8,869, but there appeared to be fewer than 2,000 fans at PNC Park. The Pirates offered ticket vouchers for games later in the season to fans who came through the turnstiles.
Trevor Williams (3-1) pitched six innings in short sleeves despite the 34 degree temperature at first pitch. He gave up two runs on four hits and has allowed five runs total in four starts this season.
Bettis has pitched at least five innings and given up two runs or fewer in each of his four starts this season. He has a 1.47 ERA in his past six starts, including his final two outings of 2017.
The Rockies opened the scoring in the first inning when Gerardo Parra drew a one-out walk, advanced to third on Charlie Blackmon’s single and scored on Carlos Gonzalez’s forceout grounder. Blackmon has eight RBIs in his last four games.
Rookie Ryan McMahon, who entered hitting .074, singled in a run in the fourth to make it 2-0.
The Pirates did not get a runner past first base until Jordy Mercer led off the eighth inning with a double. After Mercer moved to third on pinch-hitter Adam Frazier’s groundout, Bettis was replaced by Shaw.
Sean Rodriguez bounced to McMahon, the third baseman, who threw out Mercer at home. McGee then came on and induced Gregory Polanco to hit an inning-ending pop out.
Mercer had two hits as the Pirates lost consecutive games for the first time this season.
Corey Dickerson popped out for the final out, ending his 11-game hitting streak.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Pirates: 2B Josh Harrison (broken left pinky) rejoined the team a day after being placed on the disabled list. Harrison has broken the same finger two seasons in a row when hit by pitches. “The odds of that have to be infinity-to-1,” Harrison said. … RHP Joe Musgrove (strained right shoulder) is scheduled to throw off the mound Thursday for the first time since going on the DL. He is scheduled to throw three bullpens before beginning a rehab assignment in the minor leagues.
UP NEXT
Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (0-2, 4.50 ERA) is scheduled to face RHP Chad Kuhl (1-1, 5.74) on Wednesday. Freeland is 1-1 with a 4.63 ERA in two career starts. Kuhl has lost both career starts against Colorado with a 5.73 ERA.
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Josh Harrison will be out approximately six weeks, the Pirates announced on Monday, after he was diagnosed with a fracture to the fifth metacarpal of his left hand.

Harrison was hit by a pitch on Sunday while leading off the third inning for the Pirates and left the game. Adam Frazier was inserted to pinch-run for Harrison. The Pirates won Sunday’s series finale, 7-3.

The Bucs’ second baseman was stung by a Jose Urena fastball clocked at 96 mph by Statcast.

“I’m pretty frustrated,” Harrison said after the game. “It definitely [stinks] being hit. Guys throw hard. I just wanted to take precautionary measures, ice it and get back to Pitt and see our doctors.

Marte’s 5 hits help Pirates, Nova beat Marlins 7-3
By STEVEN WINE, AP Sports Writer
MIAMI (AP) — Starling Marte hiked his average 64 points Sunday, punctuating a 5-for-5 afternoon with a ninth-inning homer to help the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Miami Marlins 7-3.
Marte’s five hits were a career high, and his average rose from .241 to .305. He scored four times and hit his third homer off Junichi Tazawa.
The surprising Pirates (11-4) improved to 7-0 in day games, completed a 4-2 trip and head home atop the NL Central.
Both teams kept their tempers in check even as two Pirates and one Marlins batter were hit by pitches. Pittsburgh second baseman Josh Harrison left in the third inning complaining of pain in his left hand after being hit by a 96 mph fastball from Jose Urena.
Ivan Nova (2-1) recovered from a wobbly start to pitch 6 2/3 innings. He allowed three runs and struck out nine, his highest total since 2016.
Nova improved to 3-0 in three career starts against the Marlins with an ERA of 1.66. Justin Bour ended his afternoon with a pinch-hit, two-run homer.
Miami started the game with three consecutive singles to load the bases, but scored only once in the first — on Brian Anderson’s groundout.
After Harrison’s injury, Nova hit JB Shuck in the hip later that same inning, and Marlins reliever Odrisamer Despaigne plunked Francisco Cervelli on the left hand in the seventh. Despaigne appeared to apologize as Cervelli trotted to first base, and the Pittsburgh catcher responded with a conciliatory wave.
Josh Bell had three hits and three RBIs for the Pirates. Corey Dickerson drove in a pair of runs, had two hits and extended his hitting streak to 10 games.
Urena (0-3) allowed eight hits and four runs in five innings. After four starts, the Marlins’ ace has an ERA of 5.57.
The Pirates bunched four hits to score three times against Urena in the third inning. Bell put Pittsburgh ahead with a double that deflected off the glove of a diving Derek Dietrich at first base, and Dickerson followed with an RBI single.
The Marlins (4-11) went 1-5 on their homestand.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Marlins: C J.T. Realmuto (back) is expected to come off the disabled list and make his season debut sometime during the upcoming 10-day trip. Manager Don Mattingly didn’t rule out Realmuto returning for the series against the Yankees on Monday and Tuesday. … 3B Martin Prado (hamstring) is close to beginning a rehab assignment, Mattingly said.
Pirates: RHP Joe Musgrove (right shoulder strain) might advance to a bullpen session as early as Tuesday, manager Clint Hurdle said.
UP NEXT
Pirates: LHP Steven Brault (2-0, 3.46 ERA) is scheduled to start when the Pirates begin a three-game homestand Monday against Colorado and RHP German Marquez (0-1, 4.97).
Marlins: LHP Caleb Smith (0-1, 4.73) is on the mound when the Marlins begin a three-city trip Monday at Yankee Stadium. New Miami CEO and former Yankees captain Derek Jeter has said he will not attend the games in New York.
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Pirates’ Josh Harrison leaves game after being hit by pitch
MIAMI (AP) — Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Josh Harrison has left his team’s game at Miami after being hit on the left arm by a 96-mph fastball from Jose Urena.
Harrison appeared to be hit on the protective guard covering his elbow. He walked slowly to first base, but after consulting with a trainer he left the game.
The Pirates’ leadoff hitter, Harrison is batting .263 with one homer and five RBIs. He came into the game Sunday leading the team with 12 runs.
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Dickerson bunt single in 9th lifts Pirates over Marlins 1-0
By CHRISTOPHER STOCK, Associated Press
MIAMI (AP) — Corey Dickerson’s bunt single in the ninth inning scored the only run and the Pittsburgh Pirates won a game of small ball, beating the Miami Marlins 1-0 on Saturday night.
Pirates starter Jameson Taillon and Miami counterpart Trevor Richards kept the game scoreless into the later innings.
Brad Ziegler (0-3) retired the first batter in the Pittsburgh ninth before Starling Marte reached on a bunt hit. Josh Bell followed with an infield hit that sent Marte to third,
Dickerson then popped up a bunt that landed between Ziegler and second baseman Starlin Castro, allowing Marte to score. Dickerson is 16 for 36 (.444) with nine RBIs during a nine-game hitting streak.
The Pirates had just two hits, both by Francisco Cervelli, entering the ninth. Pittsburgh improved to 10-4 to start the season.
A crowd of 26,816 watched the pitching duel.
George Kontos (1-1) worked a scoreless inning in relief and Felipe Vazquez tossed a flawless ninth for his fifth save in five opportunities.
Taillon threw six scoreless innings to lower his ERA to 0.89 in three starts, and has thrown 15 consecutive shutout innings. He allowed four hits and three walks, striking out two.
Richards pitched seven scoreless innings allowed two hits and one walk. He struck out two while throwing 49 of his 82 pitches for strikes.
Miami stranded a runner on third base in the second, fourth, and eighth innings.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Marlins: C J.T. Realmuto (back) homered in his first rehab assignment with Single-A Jupiter on Saturday. . RHP Dan Straily (forearm) is scheduled to make his second rehab start on Wednesday with Single-A Jupiter. . LHP Wei-Yin Chen (elbow) threw three innings in an extended spring game on Thursday. . 3B Martin Prado (hamstring) played five innings in an extended spring game on Friday.
UP NEXT
Pirates: RHP Ivan Nova (1-1, 5.19 ERA) will start the series finale on Sunday. Nova has won both of his starts against the Marlins without allowing an earned run in 15 innings.
Marlins: RHP Jose Urena (0-2, 5.06) has allowed six runs in 15 innings for a 3.60 ERA since allowing three runs in the first inning to the Cubs on opening day.

Polanco homers twice to power Pirates past Cubs 6-1
By MATT CARLSON, Associated Press
CHICAGO (AP) — Gregory Polanco homered twice to help back a third straight solid start by Trevor Williams, and the Pittsburgh Pirates pulled away from the Chicago Cubs 6-1 on Thursday.
Francisco Cervelli lined a three-run shot in the seventh off Cubs reliever Justin Wilson as Pittsburgh scored four times in the inning to break open a tight game. Adam Frazier also went deep for Pittsburgh, which improved to 9-3.
Kyle Schwarber homered, doubled and singled for three of the Cubs’ seven hits. Chicago’s Ian Happ had his first two-hit game this season.
Williams (3-0) was a touch better than Chicago starter Kyle Hendricks (0-1) in what began as a pitchers’ duel following Chicago’s 13-5 rout of Pittsburgh on Wednesday night.
The Pirates’ right-hander allowed one run and four hits through six innings, while striking out five and walking one.
Hendricks allowed two runs and five hits and struck out seven through six innings as he rebounded after allowing four runs in five innings in a no-decision at Milwaukee last Friday.
Pittsburgh’s Michael Feliz, George Kontos and Felipe Vazquez each pitched a scoreless inning in relief.
Javier Baez went 0-for-4 after homering twice on both Tuesday and Wednesday. Chicago’s high-energy infielder became the first Cub with consecutive multi-homer games since Alfonso Soriano in May 2008.
Polanco’s third career multi-homer game lifted his season total to a team-leading five.
Polanco hit his fourth homer into the bleachers in right-center in the first to give Pittsburgh a 1-0 lead.
Schwarber led off the bottom of the fourth with a drive that landed halfway up the right-field bleachers and tied it at 1. He hit his third home run on a full count and into a steady, chilly wind off Lake Michigan.
Frazier put the Pirates back in front 2-1 in the fifth with a solo shot into the first row of the left-center bleachers. It was the first homer for the Pirates’ leadoff hitter.
Polanco’s second homer of the game, a shot to left-center off Wilson with one out in the seventh made it 3-1. After Wilson walked Josh Bell and Corey Dickerson, Cervelli smacked his second homer this season.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Pirates: OF Bryan Reynolds, a 23-year-old highly touted prospect at Double-A Altoona, will undergo surgery on Friday to repair a fractured hamate bone in his left wrist. Reynolds was acquired from San Francisco in January in a trade that sent Andrew McCutchen to the Giants.
Cubs: Despite playing while being under the weather, OF Albert Almora Jr. had three hits and scored two runs as the leadoff hitter in Chicago’s 13-5 rout of Pittsburgh on Wednesday. Manager Joe Maddon held Almora out of the lineup on Thursday not because of illness, but because of matchups and dispersing playing time among his outfielders. “This is predetermined,” Maddon said, while noting Almora “looked like Gumby” on Wednesday.
UP NEXT
Pirates: RHP Chad Kuhl (1-0, 5.06 ERA) faces Marlins LHP Dillon Peters (1-1 9.35) in the opener of a three-game series in Miami.
Cubs: RHP Yu Darvish (0-0, 5.23) makes his first home start as a Cub and third of the season in a Friday afternoon opener of a three-game set against Atlanta. After being roughed up for five runs in 4 1/3 innings in his Cubs debut at Miami on March 31, Darvish allowed just one run and struck out nine in six innings at Milwaukee last Saturday. The Braves counter with Anibal Sanchez (0-0, 2.25).
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