Blogs

Doug Mientkiewicz sustained a hip flexor injury last night while trying to make a diving stop at third base. Manager John Russell said Mientkiewiz is day to day.
Lineups for today’s game:
BREWERS — Weeks 2B, Counsell SS, Braun LF, Fielder 1B, Hart RF, Kapler CF, Hall 3B, Kendall C, Sabathia (8-0, 1.59) LHP
PIRATES — Wilson [...]

Here’s a new twist to the lineup: Brandon Moss in the No. 2 spot.
“It just seemed like a nice fit,” manager John Russell said this afternoon. “I don’t know if he’s (always) a No. 2 hitter for us, but it seemed like a good fit for tonight.”
Russell wanted to stack some left-handed bats at [...]

Left-hander Tom Gorzelanny (6-8, 6.82), making his second start since being recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis, will take the mound against the Milwaukee Brewers at 7:05 tonight at PNC Park, as the Pirates try to snap a season-long seven-game losing streak.
The Pirates are 1-8 against the Brewers this season, including a three-game sweep in Milwaukee [...]

The Pirates have revealed six of the seven players they will send to the in the Arizona Fall League.
The list of players going to the Scottsdale Scorpions consists of right-handed pitchers Jimmy Barthmaier, Jared Hughes, Jeff Sues and Mike Crotta, catcher Steve Lerud and infielder Shelby Ford. There also is one outfielder spot which is [...]

One arrived from Boston. The other came from Los Angeles. They converged in Pittsburgh as two highly-regarded prospects.
But, lately, they have been headed in opposite directions.
Left fielder Brandon Moss and third baseman Andy LaRoche – the two position players acquired in the Jason Bay deal – are dealing differently with their transition from big-market [...]

Slumping Andy LaRoche is out of the lineup for tonight’s game against the Cubs, as the Pirates try to snap a five-game losing streak at 7:05 p.m. at PNC Park. Doug Mientkiewicz will start at third in place of LaRoche, who is hitless in his past 23 at-bats. Brandon Moss will make his first start [...]

Cubs (80-50) vs. Pirates (57-73)
Center fielder Nate McLouth, who has missed his past five starts with a stomach virus, is back in the starting lineup for tonight’s 7:05 p.m. game against the first-place Cubs at PNC Park. Jeff Karstens (2-2, 2.25 ERA) will start for the Pirates, who have lost four in a row and [...]

MILWAUKEE — Pirates manager John Russell was ejected before the top of the sixth inning of today’s game against the Brewers.
Russell was angry after home plate umpire Bob Davidson tossed Adam LaRoche as LaRoche was walking off the field between innings. Russell and Davidson shouted at each other for a minute or so, then Russell [...]

MILWAUKEE — Center fielder Nate McLouth (stomach virus) feels better today — he arrived early at Miller Park on the team bus and will be in uniform during the game — but is sitting out for the fifth day in a row.
“It looks like he’s back among the living again,” manager John [...]

MILWAUKEE — If Frank Coonelly had his way, the Pirates and Cleveland Indians would meet every season.
The teams will clash June 23-25, 2009 at PNC Park, but it’s not because Major League Baseball has given in to the Pirates team president’s request.
“We’ve let the commissioner’s office know it’s a great rivalry and the Indians should [...]