Pirates Seek More Success Against Struggling Giants
While Pittsburgh continues its attempt at securing the club's first postseason appearance since 1992, the reigning World Series champion SF Giants have lost two straight and 22 of 31 at home.
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While Pittsburgh continues its attempt at securing the club's first postseason appearance since 1992, the reigning World Series champion SF Giants have lost two straight and 22 of 31 at home.
"We're having a hard time with the bats here," SF Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "It's got to get better with the pitching side and the hitting side."
Seven-time major-league All-Star Dave Parker is dealing with Parkinson's disease. The 62-year-old Parker, who played with the Oakland A's in 1988 and 1989, said he is able to get by without medication at this point and relies on a healthy diet and plenty of exercise.
Both the Baltimore Orioles and the Pittsburgh Pirates are enjoying quality seasons midway through this year. With each team presenting a legitimate threat to make the playoffs in their respective leagues, the question is, which is most likely to achieve that goal?
The surging Oakland Athletics have a chance to complete yet another sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates, but they'll face a red-hot Francisco Liriano in the series finale at PNC Park on Wednesday night.
Though Jeff Locke hasn't received much attention from the national media, he figures to receive a bit more acclaim after making the NL All-Star team.
"It's easy to say would you put Steve Young in there," John said. But the picks are limited to four, and adding one means removing another. "I'd put Steve Young in there. I may put guys like Hugh McElhenney in there. I may put a guy like Joe Perry in there. I may put a guy like John Henry Johnson from that million dollar backfield (in there). I may throw a Y.A. Tittle in there. Those were guys that were really a big part of the 49ers also, although in a different era. They're all in the Hall of Fame too."
After taking Tuesday's opener 8-2 behind an impressive effort from prized pitching prospect Gerrit Cole, Pittsburgh's bats led the way Wednesday in a 12-8 victory. Starling Marte, Jordy Mercer, Andrew McCutchen and Gaby Sanchez - the top four hitters in the batting order - went a combined 13 for 19 with eight runs.
Francisco Liriano tries to build on another superb performance as the Pirates continue a three-game set against the injury-plagued San Francisco Giants on Wednesday evening.
Consider Tuesday's Giants-Pirates game to be a must-see, as Pittsburgh has called up top prospect Gerrit Cole, who will take the mound and make his major-league debut opposite Tim Lincecum.
Stanford senior right-handed pitcher Mark Appel could well be the first overall choice of the Houston Astros in Thursday afternoon's MLB first-year (amateur) player draft.
With a little time, Starling Marte and the Pirates could make waves throughout baseball.
Mark Appel spurned the Pittsburgh Pirates and decided to remain at Stanford for his senior season, one of the first big casualties of baseball's new restrictions on amateur signing bonuses.
Andrew McCutchen hit two home runs, Neil Walker homered among his five hits and the Pittsburgh Pirates entered the All-Star break in sole possession of first place following a 13-2 win over the San Francisco Giants on Sunday.
James McDonald scattered four hits over seven innings, Mike McKenry homered and the Pittsburgh Pirates edged the San Francisco Giants 3-1 on Saturday.
Kevin Correia pitched six effective innings, Garrett Jones homered and the Pittsburgh Pirates ended a five-game losing streak with a 4-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Sunday.
Emmanuel Burriss scored the winning run on Clint Barmes' throwing error in the ninth inning to give the Giants a 4-3 win and hand Pittsburgh its fifth straight loss.
Matt Cain threw a one-hitter, allowing only a single by Pittsburgh pitcher James McDonald in the sixth inning during a near-perfect performance Friday as the San Francisco Giants beat the Pirates 5-0 in their home opener.
Andrew McCutchen hit a two-run homer, Jeff Karstens bounced back from his worst start of the season and the Pittsburgh Pirates won their first series in three weeks with a 9-2 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday.
Chuck Tanner managed the White Sox, Athletics, Pirates and Braves to a record of 1,352-1,381 from 1970-88.
