Joshua Palacios had three hits, including a key home run, helping Indianapolis to a victory on Friday night.
The Pirates' Triple-A squad was down 2-0...
Alika Williams had four hits on Thursday night for Indianapolis.
Since being sent down for Nick Yorke, Williams is 8-for-14 at the Triple-A level. He's...
The DSL Pirates teams ended their seasons this week, which brings the rookie-level affiliates to an end.
I've been reviewing the best performing hitting and...
Curve starter Rudy Owens faced off against National's phenom pitcher Stephen Strasbourg at the beginning of the season, and held his own.� Now he winds down the season by facing off against New York Yankees' rehabbing star Andy Pettitte -- and again, Owens held his own.� Owens and Pettitte each pitched 5 innings in tonight's first game of the Eastern League Championship Series, held in Altoona.� Owens gave up 2 runs; Pettitte gave up 2 runs.� Owens gave up 7 hits and 3 walks; Pettitte gave up 6 hits and 2 walks, and he also threw a wild pitch.� Owens struck out 7; Pettitte struck out 4.
2B Chase d'Arnaud faced Pettitte three times and must not have been very impressed.� He put the first run of the game onto the scoreboard when he led off the bottom of the 1st inning with a solo home run off Pettitte.� In the 3rd inning, d'Arnaud worked a walk, and in the 5th, he singled off Pettitte.
The Curve took d'Arnaud's home run lead into the 3rd inning.� Rudy Owens gave up a walk and a single in the 2nd, but induced a double play to end the inning.� In the 3rd, he gave up three singles, including the RBI single that slipped past first base and down the right field line to tie the score at 1-1.
The Curve came right back in the bottom of the 3rd to take a 2-1 lead.� With one out, DH Yung Chi Chen lined a single into right field.� Pettitte's wild pitch put Chen on second base, and when d'Arnaud walked, ball four got past the Trenton catcher for a passed ball, allowing Chen to advance to third base.� 3B Josh Harrison grounded just out of reach of the Trenton shortstop and into left field for the single that scored Chen.
Owens retired the side in order again in the 4th.� Then he gave up two doubles in the top of the 5th, and Trenton had tied up the game again, at 2-2.
The Curve threatened in the bottom of the 5th.� Chen reached base on a fielding error by the Trenton third baseman.� Back-to-back singles by d'Arnaud and Harrison -- a line drive into right field by d'Arnaud and a bunt single by Harrison -- loaded the bases for Altoona.� But Pettitte got SS Jordy Mercer to bounce back to the mound, where he fired the ball back to the catcher, forcing out Chen at the plate, then on to first base to complete the double play.� A strikeout ended the inning.
WAR is a context-neutral statistic. Describing a stat as comprehensive, despite its disregard toward a player’s high-leverage performance, immediately damages its trustworthiness in many fans’ eyes. However, removing context gives WAR a stronger predictive value.
Never mind that tonight was the opening game of the Eastern League championship series against the Trenton Thunder. The Altoona Curve had extra pressure...
According to Rob Biertempfel, the Pittsburgh Pirates are expected to start Starling Marte in Altoona at the beginning of the 2011 season. Biertempfel also...
The Pirates offense continues to sputter while the pitching remained sharp. James McDonald pitched eight shutout innings, but the Pirates were unable to break through and were beaten by New York in ten innings.
The Pirates had another late inning rally. This time they held on for the win by getting three ninth inning runs off Francisco Cordero. All three runs came around on a two-out double by Andrew McCutchen and Joel Hanrahan shut the door in the bottom of the inning.
The Pittsburgh Pirates have claimed right handed pitcher Chris Leroux off of waivers from the Florida Marlins, and have designated right handed pitcher Brian...
The Oakland Athletics have signed Akinori Iwamura after the former Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman was released on Friday. Iwamura hit for a .182/.292/.267 line...