Category: Scores

High School Boys Basketball – Friday January 6, 2017

Quaker Valley – 78

Beaver Falls – 58

Steelers defeat Eagles 31-14 in Pre-Season action

  • Jones, Dobbs lead Steelers over Eagles 31-14
    By ROB MAADDI, AP Pro Football Writer
    PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Malcolm Jenkins went back to raising his fist during the national anthem and Chris Long again put his arm around him as the teammates continue trying to raise awareness about racial inequality, social injustices and systematic oppression.
    Landry Jones and Josh Dobbs each tossed touchdown passes and the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Philadelphia Eagles 31-14 Thursday night in the preseason opener.
    But Jenkins’ decision to resume his demonstration after stopping last December drew most of the attention as the defending Super Bowl champions returned to the field.
    “Everybody is waiting for what the league is going to do,” Jenkins said. “We won’t let it stop what we stand for. I was very encouraged last year with the direction and that obviously took a different turn.
    “I think it’s important to utilize the platform as we can because for whatever reason, we have framed this demonstration in a negative light and often players have to defend why we feel the need to fight for everyday Americans and in actuality we’re doing the right thing.”
    The league and the players’ union have yet to announce a policy for this season regarding demonstrations during the anthem after the league initially ordered everyone to stand on the sideline when “The Star-Spangled Banner” is played, or remain in the locker room.
    Cornerback De’Vante Bausby also raised his fist during the anthem, and defensive end Michael Bennett walked out of the tunnel and walked toward the bench while it played. It appeared all the Steelers stood.
    “Malcolm is always a guy who is doing the work in the community, backing up whatever he’s doing,” Long said.
    The Eagles rested several starters, including quarterbacks Carson Wentz and Nick Foles. Nate Sudfeld threw a pair of touchdown passes and two interceptions.
    Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown sat for the Steelers and Le’Veon Bell still hasn’t signed his franchise tender.
    Jones completed all four of his passes for 83 yards, including a 71-yard TD pass to JuJu Smith-Schuster in the first quarter. Smith-Schuster made a leaping catch over Rasul Douglas at the 33 and ran untouched to the end zone.
    Fitzgerald Toussaint had a 3-yard TD run and a 2-point conversion to give Pittsburgh a 15-8 lead. Dobbs threw a 29-yard TD pass to Damoun Patterson late in the second quarter.
    “We moved the ball successfully,” Dobbs said. “It felt good to be out there.”
    Sudfeld threw a perfect strike for a 63-yard TD to Shelton Gibson and fired a 15-yard TD pass to rookie Dallas Goedert. He finished 10 of 14 for 140 yards.
    “I just ran my route and when I looked back, Nate stepped up and scrambled to my side and was able to hit me,” Goedert said. “A great play by him.”
    Wentz still hasn’t been cleared for contact after having surgery to repair two torn ligaments in his left knee last December. Foles, the Super Bowl MVP, has missed a few practices with muscle spasms in his neck and shoulder.
    Mason Rudolph, a third-round pick competing with Jones and Dobbs for the backup job to Roethlisberger, was 7 of 12 for 101 yards.
    “He did a solid job in all areas,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said.
    ROOKIE REPORT
    Steelers: Safety Terrell Edmunds, a first-round pick, had three tackles. Wide receiver James Washington, second-rounder, caught two passes for 44 yards.
    Eagles: Goedert, a second-round pick and the team’s first selection, had four catches for 66 yards and one TD. He’ll get plenty of opportunities as the second tight end.
    INJURIES
    Ryan Shazier joined the defense in Pittsburgh’s pregame huddle, just 11 months after spinal stabilization surgery. Shazier is out for the season.
    WELCOME TO FOOTBALL
    Eagles rookie Jordan Mailata, an Australian rugby player drafted in the seventh round, got beat for a strip sack on his first series in the NFL. Mailata began the second half at left tackle.
    HONORING FORMER EAGLES
    Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie announced at halftime that two-time All-Pro defensive end Clyde Simmons and three-time Pro Bowl linebacker Seth Joyner will be inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame on Sept. 23.
    NEXT UP
    Steelers: Visit the Green Bay Packers next Thursday.
    Eagles: Visit the New England Patriots next Thursday.
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    ___
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Pirates hit 3 HRs to back Nova in 10-5 win over Giants

Pirates hit 3 HRs to back Nova in 10-5 win over Giants
By MICHAEL WAGAMAN, Associated Press
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Ivan Nova had little problem extending Pittsburgh’s streak of strong road starts.
Three home runs, including a milestone shot by David Freese, gave the right-hander all the cushion he needed.
Nova allowed two runs in six innings, Freese hit his 100th career home run, and the Pirates beat the San Francisco Giants 10-5 on Thursday night.
“Guys got balls over the plate and when we had them we nailed them,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said “And Nova was spot on through four. Some small misfires in the fifth and then a nice shutdown.”
Nova (7-6) lost to the Giants in May but was sharper this time. He retired the first 11 batters and didn’t allow a hit until Austin Slater’s leadoff single in the fifth. Nova yielded three hits and had three strikeouts.
Pirates starting pitchers have a 2.20 ERA over their last 10 road starts.
“We have good starting pitching,” Nova said. “We have had some guys pitch the way that they’ve been pitching and you just want to follow that. You want to pitch a good game too.”
Rich Rodriguez, Dovydas Neverauskas and Casey Sadler completed the six-hitter.
Adam Frazier added three singles and two RBIs, his fourth multi-hit game in the last six.
The Pirates have won three straight overall and improved to 8-2 in their last 10 at AT&T Park.
Joe Panik and Steven Duggar drove in two runs apiece for San Francisco.
Freese singled and scored on Diaz’s homer in the second then broke the game open with his milestone home run, a three-run blast off Mark Melancon in the seventh.
“I didn’t think it would be here, that’s for sure,” Freese said. “I think I got one here before, maybe just one. For a guy that pounds a ball into the ground, not too bad.”
Diaz and Bell homered off starter Andrew Suarez (4-8) in the second.
Former Pittsburgh star Andrew Cutchen went hitless in four at-bats but made a pair of sparkling defensive plays against his former team.
A five-time All-Star and a Gold Glove winner for the Pirates as a center fielder in 2012, McCutchen threw out Frazier at second after he lined a ball into right leading off the game. In the sixth, McCutchen raced into the alley in right-center and made a diving grab to rob Diaz of extra bases.
Pittsburgh scored five unearned runs in the seventh after back-to-back errors by second baseman Panik and third baseman Evan Longoria.
“You give up five in the seventh, that’s a pretty good punch there,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. “That’s where it got away from us.”
LONG TIME COMING
Sadler allowed three unearned runs in his first appearance in the majors since April 12, 2015. The right-hander underwent Tommy John surgery in 2015 and was recalled from the minors on Sunday.
“This has got to be a very special evening for him, the fight, the perseverance and the resiliency to stay in the hunt and get back back and contribute in a major league game,” Hurdle said. “His stuff was clean.”
BONDS RETIREMENT
The Giants will retire the jersey of home run king Barry Bonds during a pregame ceremony Saturday. Bonds will be only the 10th player in franchise history to have his number retired.
ANOTHER BARRY’S BACK
Former San Francisco pitcher Barry Zito threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the game. Zito won 63 games for the Giants from 2007-13.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Giants: RHP Jeff Samardzija (shoulder inflammation) threw 40 pitches in a bullpen session and will face hitters next week. … 1B Brandon Belt (hyperextended right knee) ran the bases and took batting practice. … Catcher Nick Hundley is being evaluated for a concussion.
UP NEXT
Giants LHP Derek Holland (5-8, 3.88 ERA) makes his second start against Pittsburgh this season on Friday night. Holland pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings to beat the Pirates on May 13. RHP Clay Holmes (1-1, 3.65) will be called up from Triple-A Indianapolis and will start for Pittsburgh. Hurdle indicated the move was made to give the rest of the rotation an extra day of rest.

Archer gets victory as Pirates beat Rockies 4-3

Archer gets victory as Pirates beat Rockies 4-3
By MICHAEL KELLY, Associated Press
DENVER (AP) — Adam Frazier had three hits and made a run-saving play in the field, and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Colorado Rockies 4-3 on Wednesday.
Chris Archer (4-5) was making his second start since being acquired from Tampa Bay before the July 31 trade deadline. He allowed two runs and five hits in five innings.
Frazier had two doubles and a single, but made what might have been his biggest contribution in the field. With runners on the corners and two outs in the eighth inning, pinch-hitter Chris Iannetta hit a sharp grounder to the hole at second. Frazier made a diving stop and threw out Iannetta to end the inning and preserve the one-run lead.
German Marquez (9-9) tied a career high with 10 strikeouts and David Dahl homered for the Rockies.
Archer retired the first eight batters before Marquez singled in the third. Colorado broke through in the fourth on Dahl’s two run homer, his fifth of the season, to cut the deficit to 3-2.
Pittsburgh led early on an RBI double by Gregory Polanco and a run-scoring single by Frazier in the first, and an RBI groundout in the third.
The Pirates added a run on Corey Dickerson’s sacrifice fly in the eighth inning to make it 4-2. Ryan McMahon’s RBI single made it close again.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Pirates: INF Josh Bell (left oblique strain) was activated from the 10-day DL and started at first base Wednesday. INF Jose Osuna was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis.
Rockies: LHP Chris Rusin (plantar faciitis) pitched in a rehab assignment Tuesday night and was at Coors Field on Wednesday. Manager Bud Black said Rusin will be evaluated. “We’re encouraged by a lot of things we saw in his three outings,” Black said.
IMMACULATE INNING
Marquez had a rough start but settled down to register a rare feet. The righty struck out the side in the fourth on nine pitches. He is the third pitcher to do it this season. It is the first time it was done at Coors Field.
The only other Rockies pitcher to throw an immaculate inning was Rex Brothers in 2014.
Marquez followed his perfect inning with a leadoff walk in the fifth to Francisco Cervelli.
UP NEXT
Pirates: RHP Ivan Nova (6-6, 4.49) takes the mound against the Giants in San Francisco on Thursday night.
Rockies: LHP Tyler Anderson (6-4, 4.05) will open a four-game home series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday.
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Jameson Taillon pitches second complete game this season as Pirates beat Rockies 10-2.

Taillon, Pirates beat Bettis, Rockies 10-2
By MICHAEL KELLY, Associated Press
DENVER (AP) — It was Jameson Taillon for Pittsburgh and Chad Bettis for Colorado on Tuesday night at Coors Field.
An intersection with special significance.
Taillon beat Bettis in a matchup of pitchers who battled testicular cancer last year, and the Pirates hit three homers in a 10-2 victory over the Rockies.
“I’m not going to sit here and say we’re best friends and we talk on the phone all the time but we’ve both gone through something that is extremely similar and we both go through something similar starting pitching in the major leagues,” Taillon said. “There’s an understood bond there, something we’ll share for life.”
Taillon (9-8) allowed 10 hits in his second complete game of the season. The 26-year-old right-hander struck out three and walked one, helping the Pirates stop a three-game slide.
He became the first visiting pitcher to toss a nine-inning complete game in Denver since Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw shut out the Rockies on July 2, 2013.
“I’ve watched 1,300, 1,400 ballgames here, you don’t see a lot of complete games,” said Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle, who managed the Rockies over eight seasons. “He finished strong.”
Taillon threw 107 pitches, 70 for strikes. He needed just 15 to get the final three outs in his second career complete game.
“You always hear closing out games is tough, weird things happen in the ninth so I told myself it’s a 0-0 game, let’s close out this inning,” Taillon said.
Starling Marte hit a solo drive in the first and Jordy Mercer connected for a three-run shot against Bettis (5-2) with two out in the fourth. Josh Harrison capped Pittsburgh’s five-run fifth with a two-run homer off Jake McGee.
Bettis allowed nine runs and eight hits over 4 2/3 innings in his first start after missing five weeks with a blister on his right middle finger.
“The problem was those two walks in the fourth and the home run by Mercer,” Bettis said. “It really came down to those three at-bats where I didn’t really execute the pitches like I wanted to.”
Taillon was diagnosed with cancer last year and missed six weeks after surgery last May.
Bettis was diagnosed in November 2016. He was cleared to report to spring training before tests revealed he had cancer in his lymph nodes and he underwent treatment. He made his season debut on Aug. 14 and started nine games last year.
Colorado made it 10-2 on Carlos Gonzalez’s two-run double with one out in the sixth.
REMEMBERING DON
Tuesday marked the one-year anniversary of the death of former Rockies manager Don Baylor. Baylor was Colorado’s first manager and held that position for six seasons. He gave Hurdle his first job on a major league staff.
“I’m forever grateful,” Hurdle said. “There’s times during the season or other times I’ll remember things he did or things he said that resonate, that have meaning. There’s still enough people within the game that I’ll see from time to time that we were connected. His spirit lives.”
ARRIVAL
Shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria joined the Pirates in time for Tuesday’s win. His plane landed at Denver International Airport at around 5 p.m. local time and made it to Coors Field 25 minutes before the first pitch.
He was acquired Monday in a trade with Tampa Bay.
CENTURY MARK
Rockies star Charlie Blackmon singled in the sixth inning for his 1,000th career hit. He received a short standing ovation from the crowd.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Pirates: INF Sean Rodriguez was placed on the 10-day DL – retroactive to Monday – with a strain to the left abdomen.
UP NEXT
Pittsburgh right-hander Chris Archer (3-5, 4.40 ERA) will make his second start since he was acquired in a trade with the Rays. He will face Rockies right-hander German Marquez (9-8, 4.70 ERA) in the series finale on Wednesday.
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Freeland, bullpen limit Pirates to 2 hits as Rockies win 2-0!!

  1. Freeland, bullpen limit Pirates to 2 hits as Rockies win 2-0
    By PAT GRAHAM, AP Sports Writer
    DENVER (AP) — Kyle Freeland has the stuff of an ace. He delivers in the clutch like an ace, too.
    Just don’t expect Colorado manager Bud Black to label the left-hander one yet. Not even a dominating performance like this could sway him.
    Freeland threw seven sharp innings and combined with the bullpen on a two-hitter to help the Rockies beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 2-0 on Monday night in a game that was interrupted 32 minutes by rain.
    “I’m a critical judge of an ace,” Black said. “For me, an ace is somebody that does it over a long period of time. This is no knock on Kyle. I mean, for me, an ace is the guy who’s passed the test of time, who’s been an All-Star, maybe conceivably won a Cy Young.
    “But, hey, don’t get me wrong: I love the way Kyle’s pitching. He’s been great.”
    Freeland (10-7) allowed two hits and struck out five. It was his fourth career game of seven or more shutout innings at Coors Field.
    “The one thing is not letting the old Coors Field effect come into play for me,” said Freeland, who grew up in Denver. “I pitch my game.”
    Relievers Seunghwan Oh and Wade Davis combined to close out the win. Davis pitched a perfect ninth for his 32nd save in 38 chances.
    It was a positive step for a beleaguered bullpen that endured three walk-off losses — two by Davis — during a 2-5 road swing.
    “Good to see Wade bounce back,” Black said.
    Joe Musgrove (4-6) retired the first 12 batters he faced before allowing a single to Nolan Arenado on the first pitch of the fifth. The right-hander scattered four hits over seven innings and allowed two runs, one earned.
    Colorado scored both of its runs off Musgrove in the fifth. Arenado raced home with the first when Josh Harrison booted Gerardo Parra’s grounder. Just then, the rain picked up intensity and the grounds crew brought out the tarp.
    “I was locked in,” Musgrove said. “I didn’t realize how hard it was raining until I walked off the field.”
    After the delay, Musgrove hit Ian Desmond to load the bases and Chris Iannetta followed with a sacrifice fly to bring in another run. The damage could’ve been more if not for right fielder Gregory Polanco throwing out Parra trying to score from second on David Dahl’s single.
    “I would’ve rather not had it,” Musgrove said of the delay. “The delay kind of caused me to lose my rhythm a little bit.”
    Freeland allowed a single to Corey Dickerson to lead off the game and Musgrove’s double in the third. Other than that, Freeland was tough to solve against a Pirates team that scored five runs off him in four innings on April 18.
    “Pretty much everything” was working, Freeland said. “Fastball command was really good.”
    TRAINING ROOM
    Rockies: RHP Antonio Senzatela (shoulder inflammation) will rest a few days before playing catch. “He feels good. We’re optimistic there,” Black said. … OF Charlie Blackmon was given a day off.
    HEAVY AIR
    The wind picked up intensity and the temperature dropped about 14 degrees, making it hard for the baseball to leave the ball park. David Freese hit a deep drive to center in the fourth and Starling Marte another in the sixth that got held up by the breeze.
    “They squared a couple up to dead center that I thought off the barrel had a chance to go,” Freeland said. “I just think the wind might have been swirling up there.”
    NEW INFIELDER
    The Pirates acquired infielder Adeiny Hechavarria from Tampa Bay for minor league reliever Matt Seelinger. Hechavarria is expected to arrive Tuesday.
    “Very good feedback from our scouts following him,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. “Be a good addition all the way around.”
    UP NEXT
    The Rockies will bring RHP Chad Bettis (5-1, 5.10 ERA) off the disabled list to start Tuesday against the Pirates. Bettis hasn’t pitched for Colorado since July 1 due to a blister on his middle finger. Pittsburgh will throw RHP Jameson Taillon (8-8, 3.74), who’s been charged with three runs or less in each of his last 12 starts.
    Both pitchers dealt with testicular cancer a season ago.
    “Both healthy. Both in the big leagues,” Taillon said. “Life’s good.”
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Bucs win 7-6 as Archer struggles in Pirates debut

Frazier’s RBI single in 8th lifts Pirates past Cardinals 7-6
By JOHN PERROTTO, Associated Press
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Chris Archer didn’t make it past the fifth inning in his Pittsburgh Pirates’ debut.
However, he still got a standing ovation when he was removed from the game. And his team pulled out a win, too.
Adam Frazier’s RBI single in the eighth inning helped the Pirates beat the St. Louis Cardinals 7-6 on Friday night.
Pittsburgh overcame a rough outing by Archer, acquired from Tampa Bay earlier in the week, as gave up five runs and seven hits in 4 1/3 innings. He struck out six and walked four. Despite the uneven performance, the right-hander — winless in his last eight starts — received the ovation when he was removed during a three-run fifth inning.
“The fans were incredible,” Archer said. “I’ve never pitched in an atmosphere like this and I’ve been in the big leagues almost six years. It was unbelievable. I wish I could have done a little bit better, but considering how hectic everything’s been the last few days, for us to pull out a victory in my first game was pretty special.”
Pirates manager Clint Hurdle wasn’t ready to judge Archer after one start.
“He came out and competed like he’s always done,” Hurdle said. “I’m not going to overcook this. It was one start and we’ve won the one game he’s started.”
The Pirates broke a 6-6 tie in the eighth when Josh Harrison singled with one out off Jordan Hicks (3-3) and Jordy Mercer walked. After pinch-hitter Jose Osuna struck out, Frazier drove in Harrison by grounding a single into center field.
Kyle Crick (2-1) gave up Jedd Gyorko’s tying RBI grounder in the top of the eighth. Felipe Vazquez pitched a scoreless ninth for his 25th save, the most in a season by a Pirates’ left-hander. Mike Gonzalez had 24 in 2006.
Pittsburgh improved to a major league-best 17-5 since July 8.
Archer ran into trouble early as Matt Carpenter hit a home run to center field, his 27th, on the game’s third pitch. Carpenter extended his franchise record for homers leading off a game to 23, including eight this season.
Frazier and Starling Marte had three hits for Pittsburgh, which had a total of 12, and Gregory Polanco drove in three runs. Polanco hit a two-run triple and scored on Colin Moran’s sacrifice fly in the first inning then hit a sacrifice fly during a three-run third that pushed the lead to 6-2.
Rookies Tyler O’Neill and Yairo Munoz each had three hits of St. Louis’ 15 hits and Carpenter, Gyorko and Dexter Fowler added two each. The Cardinals left 16 runners on base while losing for the third time in four games.
“We had some big hits, we were able to scratch and claw back from 6-2,” Cardinals interim manager Mike Shildt said. “Had the bases loaded a couple times. Couldn’t quite cash in.”
St. Louis starter John Gant gave up six runs in four innings.
The Cardinals pulled to 6-5 in the fifth when Gyorko and Fowler hit RBI singles and pinch-hitter Jose Martinez drove in a run with a grounder.
Fowler left the game in the eighth inning due to a left foot contusion. Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak said the right fielder fouled a ball off his foot earlier in the game and will likely be placed on the disabled list Saturday.
Fowler had struggled all season, hitting just .180 with eight home runs in 90 games in the second year of an $82.5-million, five-year contract.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Cardinals: LF Marcell Ozuna (left big toe discomfort) returned to the lineup after leaving Thursday’s win over Colorado and was 1 for 5 with a double. … 2B Kolten Wong (left knee inflammation) is expected to be activated from the disabled list Saturday. … RHP Adam Wainwright (right elbow inflammation) will join the team Monday in Miami and throw a bullpen session. If that goes well, he will start a rehab assignment with Class A West Palm. RHP Luke Gregerson (right shoulder impingement) will be examined by Dr. James Andrews sometime next week in Gulf Breeze, Florida.
Pirates: Triple-A Indianapolis INF Jung Ho Kang, who finished third in the NL Rookie of the Year voting in 2015, underwent surgery to debride his left wrist. … RHP AJ Schugel (right shoulder discomfort) began a rehab assignment with Class A Bradenton and threw 19 pitches. … RHP Nick Burdi (right elbow surgery) had his rehab assignment stopped at Double-A Altoona because of a strained left quadriceps muscle.
ROSTER MOVES
Pirates: RHP Keone Kela was added to the roster and RHP Doyvdas Neverauskas was recalled from Indianapolis while LHP Steven Brault and RHP Nick Kingham were optioned to the Triple-A club. Kela who pitched one scoreless inning, was acquired Tuesday in a trade with the Texas Rangers. Kingham lost his rotation spot with the addition of Archer.
Cardinals: RHP Greg Holland was released after clearing waivers and LHP Tyler Lyons accepted an outright assignment to Memphis. Holland, who tied for the NL lead in saves last season with 41 for Colorado, had a 7.92 ERA in 32 games after being signed to a $14-million, one-year contract.
UP NEXT
Cardinals: Rookie LHP Austin Gomber (1-0, 3.22 ERA) will make his second career start Saturday night. He is moving from the bullpen to replace RHP Carlos Martinez (strained right shoulder).
Pirates: RHP Ivan Nova (6-6, 4.33) is 4-1 with a 3.59 ERA in nine starts since being activated from the disabled list. He was out from May 25-June 9 with a sprained right ring finger.
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Reports that the Pirates have acquired Chris Archer for Tyler Glasnow, Austin Meadows, and a player to be named!!!

Reports from the MLB Channel are saying that the Pittsburgh Pirates have made a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays for their Ace Chris Archer.

The report says Pirates have a deal in place to acquire right-hander Chris Archer from the Rays, according to Stephen J. Nesbitt of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The package going to the Rays includes outfielder Austin Meadows and right-hander Tyler Glasnow.

Archer is controllable through 2021, with team-friendly options of $9 million for 2020 and $11 million for 2021. This lines up well for the Pirates, who have rocketed into contention this season by winning 15 of their last 19 games , but also look to contend in the coming years. In an indication of this, they also acquired reliever Keone Kela, another young arm controllable through 2022, early Tuesday morning in a trade with the Rangers.

Archer has finished in the American League’s top three in strikeouts in each of the last three seasons and has amassed 1,146 strikeouts since he debuted in 2012. He is the only pitcher in franchise history to post three 200-strikeout seasons. His consistent health is also of note: He hasn’t started fewer than 32 games in a full season, and he led the AL in starts in 2015 and 2017. Archer has posted a 3-5 record and 4.31 ERA this season, his strikeout (9.6 K/9) and walk rates (2.9 BB/9) are roughly in line with his career marks, and seven of his 11 starts since the beginning of May have been quality starts.

Stay tune to Beaver County Radio for more on this developing story!!!!!!

Pirates get closer Keone Kela from Rangers for 2 prospects

Pirates get closer Keone Kela from Rangers for 2 prospects
PHOENIX (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates have acquired hard-throwing closer Keone Kela from the Texas Rangers for minor league starter Taylor Hearn and a player to be named.
The deal was announced late Monday night after the Rangers’ 9-5 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks.
“It was a challenging trade,” Rangers GM Jon Daniels said. “Keone has been awesome the last couple years, a dominant closer for us. Ultimately felt where we are, it made sense to consider these kind of deals where we can get multiple players.”
The surging Pirates are 3 1/2 games behind Arizona for the final NL wild-card spot, with Atlanta and Colorado also ahead of them in the standings. The Pirates entered Monday with a 4.23 bullpen ERA, 10th best in the NL.
“Kela is an experienced, quality, high-leverage reliever who projects to be a significant addition to our late-game options for the next few seasons,” Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said.
The 25-year-old Kela has 24 saves and a 3.44 ERA this season. He will be arbitration eligible beginning next season and will not be eligible for free agency until after the 2021 season.
Kela learned of the deal after being called from the bullpen in the seventh inning Monday night.
“I’m still a little shocked, but I’m excited that it’s a new beginning, a new journey that I get to venture into,” he said. “Just forever grateful for the opportunity to play here in Texas, all the support from the fans.”
Hearn is 3-6 with a 3.12 ERA in 19 starts at Double-A Altoona this year. The 23-year-old left-hander is a graduate of Royse City High School, located about 50 miles west of Globe Life Park in Arlington.
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