Blogs

MILWAUKEE — This is Trib reporter John Grupp at the three-game series with the Brewers, as Trib beat writer Rob Biertempfel is traveling to the Dominican Republic to file an anticipated report on the new Pirates baseball academy. Anyhow, here are some notes from the pre-game clubhouse, which included the return of a familiar face [...]

Eric Hinske, making a homecoming to the state where he was a three-star athlete, will get his fourth consecutive start in right field, and Brian Bixler is back at shortstop as the Pirates meet the nemesis Brewers at 8:05 p.m. tonight at Miller Park in Milwaukee. The retractable roof is cracked right now for a [...]

SAN DIEGO — Ryan who? Jack who? Freddy who? The backups played large roles again today in the Pirates’ 8-3 win against the Padres. Ramon Vazquez, who gave second baseman Freddy Sanchez a breather, singled, walked and scored a run. Robinzon Diaz, a fill-in for wounded catcher Ryan Doumit, lined a two-run single which tied [...]

SAN DIEGO — Jason Jaramillo was supposed to be the defensive catcher. “I still am,” Jaramillo said, grinning after he whacked a pair of doubles in Saturday’s 10-1 rout of the Padres. “I feel comfortable (at the plate). It’s one of those things, you get in there and you feel confident.” Losing Ryan Doumit for [...]

SAN DIEGO — Shortstop Jack Wilson tonight was placed on the 15-day disabled list due to a sprained left middle finger. Infielder Brian Bixler was called up from Triple-A Indianapolis, and will join the team Sunday. Wilson injured the finger during the home opener April 13, and it never fully healed. “It’s pretty painful,” Wilson [...]

SAN DIEGO — Shortstop Jack Wilson’s was scratched from tonight’s lineup against the Padres due to a sprained left middle finger. Ramon Vazquez will start at short and bat seventh. It’s the same finger Wilson injured during the April 13 home opener. Wilson missed three of the next four games because of the injury. Friday [...]

SAN DIEGO — Center fielder Nate McLouth, who was scratched from yesterday’s game due to a tweaked right oblique, is out of action again today. “Nate’s a little better today,” manager John Russell said. “But it’s still day to day. Hopefully, we caught it early enough. If he hurt it real bad, he’ll be sitting [...]

SAN DIEGO — The Pirates today made a roster move — but not the one many folks might have expected. Reliever Craig Hansen was placed on the 15-day disabled list due to neck spasms. Righty Evan Meek was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis and is expected to arrive here in time for tonight’s game against the [...]

SAN DIEGO — Center fielder Nate McLouth was scratched from the Pirates lineup tonight due to a strained right oblique. There was no immediate word on when McLouth was injured — he seemed fine in the clubhouse about an hour before batting practice — or how long he might be sidelined. The re-worked lineup: PIRATES [...]

Lefty Dave Davidson was claimed off waivers by the Marlins. Davidson was designated for assignment when the Pirates acquired Delwyn Young. Davidson, 24, had a 4.15 ERA this season in three relief appearances for Triple-A Indianapolis. • The Pirates raised $76,103 for the Fallen Heroes Fund during the home opener and via an online auction. [...]