Cannonballs coming: Ike Schlabach continues strong stretch

The GCL and DSL Pirates don’t play on Sundays.

In injury news, Adrian Valerio has gone on the disabled list after injuring his ankle getting a force out last night.

— After being shut out for six innings against Gwinnett, Indianapolis (55-45) exploded for ten runs in the seventh and eighth, and went on to a 10-2 win. Drew Hutchison threw six innings, giving up two runs on three hits and a walk. He struck out four. With the Indians having used four relievers for multiple innings each...

Cole, Bucs look to keep rising in opener

The Pirates and Giants open a three-game series Monday night at AT&T Park. The two teams met earlier this season, with the Giants sweeping all three games on June 30 to July 2.

Despite loss, Pirates see advantages ahead

The Pirates came into Coors Field hot, having trimmed their NL Central deficit to three games and reaching .500 for the first time since April. Though they dropped two of three to the Rockies, the Pirates still left Colorado in excellent position for the coming weeks.

Rockies Roll Over Pirates, 13-3

The Bucs’ recent six-game winning streak felt miles away this afternoon, after their pitching staff was bludgeoned from pillar to post by the Rockies’ offense.

Starter Ivan Nova struck out five batters and only walked one, but he allowed eleven men to reach base during his five-plus innings of work. Four of them scored during the third inning, a death-by-a-thousand-cuts frame that included four singles, a walk, and a hit-by-pitch on a fastball that caught D.J. LeMahieu right in the...

Pirates shuffling OF spots with Polanco out

Gregory Polanco's hamstring injury is giving a few different Pirates the opportunity for more consistent playing time in the outfield.

Nova hoping to find early-season form in finale

The Pirates and Rockies will wrap up their season series Sunday, with veteran right-hander Ivan Nova starting for Pittsburgh and rookie lefty Kyle Freeland getting the ball for Colorado.

Just days after return, Marte in midseason form

Starling Marte dribbled a ninth-inning fastball from Greg Holland just past the pitcher's mound. Using his signature speed, he sprinted down the line, earning the infield hit without a throw. With the bases loaded, Marte had himself his third hit of the night, driving in the Pirates' final run in a 7-3 loss.

Cannonballs coming: West Virginia runs up the score

Morgantown was rained out.

— With Steve Brault promoted, Indianapolis (54-45) went with a bullpen game against Gwinnett. The strategy worked out well, but the offense provided little support and the Indians took a 2-1 loss. Indy managed only six hits and the only run came in unexciting fashion, on a single followed by a wild pitch, fly out and grounder.

Chris Bostick: 0-3
Kevin Newman: 0-4
Jordan Luplow: 1-4
Phil Gosselin: 0-4
Gift Ngoepe: 0-3, 3 K
Johnny Barbato: 2 IP, H, R, 2 K
Edgar...

Pirates’ winning streak ends in 7-3 loss to Rockies

Chad Kuhl had a decent-ish Coors Field start, but the Pirates could do little with German Marquez and the Rockies’ bullpen. The resulting 7-3 loss brought the Bucs’ six-game winning streak to an end.

Kuhl wasn’t exceptionally sharp and tended to run into trouble when he threw a first-pitch ball. He got through the first two innings, but gave up three runs in the third in a rally that started with a one-out single by his mound opponent. Two doubles and a single ultimately followed,...

Pirates place Polanco on DL, recall Brault

The Pirates have placed outfielder Gregory Polanco on the 10-day disabled list and recalled left-hander Steve Brault. Polanco injured his left hamstring in yesterday’s game. First called “discomfort,” it’s now being referred to as a strain. The move is a major blow, as Polanco was a key factor in the Pirates’ July surge. He was batting 387/406/629 in July and 269/322/424 overall. Not only does the injury interrupt a hot streak for Polanco, it raises the possibility that he...

Pirates look to continue win streak with Kuhl on hill

Game time is 8:10 PM.

Pirates

Starling Marte, LF Josh Harrison, 2B Andrew McCutchen, CF Josh Bell, 1B David Freese, 3B John Jaso, RF Francisco Cervelli, C Jordy Mercer, SS Chad Kuhl, P

Rockies

Charlie Blackmon, CF D.J. LeMahieu, 2B Nolan Arenado, 3B Mark Reynolds, 1B Ian Desmond, LF Carlos Gonzalez, RF Trevor Story, SS Tony Wolters, C German Marquez, P

Hamstring forces Polanco to DL; Brault recalled

The Pirates placed outfielder Gregory Polanco on the 10-day disabled list with a left hamstring strain on Saturday and recalled left-hander Steven Brault from Triple-A Indianapolis.

Top of Bucs' lineup thrives in altitude at Coors

The Pirates have found copious offensive success at Coors Field recently, and that trend continued Friday, largely thanks to the top of the Bucs' lineup.

Bucs go for 7th straight with Kuhl on mound

As the Pirates and Rockies prepare for their second game of a three-game series, both of Saturday's starting pitchers are coming off outings that saw them set new strikeout career highs.

Cannonballs coming: Hinsz goes seven

The GCL Pirates were rained out and I’ll have a separate report on Altoona.

— Indianapolis (54-44) lost to Gwinnett, 9-3. Clay Holmes gave up only two hits, but control problems limited him to four innings. He walked six and three only 44 of 80 pitches for strikes. Holmes struck out three and was charged with one run. Tyler Eppler followed and blew up the game, allowing six runs, five earned, in three innings. Chris Bostick and Phil Gosselin each had three hits.

Kevin Newman: 0-5

Pirates bulldoze Rockies 13-5 behind Williams’ studly outing

The Pirates scored early and often, putting up zeroes in only the third and eighth innings, and Trevor Williams survived a hard luck first to work into the seventh as the Pirates rolled over the Rockies for a 13-5 victory, putting them only two games behind the first place Brewers.

After the Pirates scored a pair in the top of the first on singles by Josh Bell and David Freese, the Rockies replied with three runs of their own in the bottom of the inning on four well placed hits - but from...

Altoona loses to Bowie again

Altoona blew an early four-run lead and lost in walkoff fashion, 6-5, to Bowie. It was the Curve’s 83rd straight loss to the Baysox, by rough estimate.

Things looked promising in the first, which Cole Tucker led off with a grounder up the middle for his first AA hit. Another single followed and Jerrick Suiter chopped a ball over the third baseman’s head and into the left field corner for a two-run double. Later in the inning, Michael Suchy (pictured) hit a long HR to left, on which...

Bell has 4 hits, McCutchen 3 as Pirates beat Rockies 13-5

DENVER (AP) — Rookie Josh Bell had a career-high four hits, Andrew McCutchen had three hits and reached base five times, and the surging Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Colorado Rockies 13-5 on Friday night. Rookie Trevor Williams overcame a rough start to pitch 6 2/3 strong innings for his first win in more than a month. Pittsburgh has won a season-high six straight and 12 of 14 to move a game above .500 for the first time since starting the season 3-2. The Pirates (49-48), who tied a season...

Bucs go over .500, beat Rox for 6th straight W

Pirates first baseman Josh Bell didn't waste time. His first two swings Friday night produced five runs.

Polanco exits vs. Rox with apparent leg injury

Pirates outfielder Gregory Polanco exited Friday vs. the Rockies with an apparent leg injury.