Blogs

MINNEAPOLIS — The Pirates are at the Metrodome for the first time since 2001 and for the last time — the Twins will move into a new, dome-less ballpark next season. The last time the Pirates played on artificial turf was July 11, 2004, when they faced the Montreal Expos at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in [...]

Pirates staffers worked late in the night yesterday to set up this afternoon’s visit by 15 Penguins players and head coach Dan Bylsma to PNC Park. The Pens brought along a gleaming silver prize — the Stanley Cup. Sidney Crosby, wearing flip-flops and a Pirates jersey, toted the Cup onto the field. Bill Guerin threw [...]

The mood in the clubhouse this morning was very buoyant, which is fitting because of all the good news — Ryan Doumit is on his way back (though it will be a bit yet), Sid and the Cup will be in the house today, and the offense finally woke up last night. • Re: Doumit: [...]

Right fielder Brandon Moss, stuck in an 0-for-15 slump, is getting a three-day breather. He’s out of the lineup tonight and will sit again tomorrow. The Pirates are off Monday, then begin a three-game set Tuesday in Minneapolis against the Twins. Moss hit his lone home run May 12. He batted .203 in April, .305 [...]

The Pirates this afternoon signed their first-round draft pick, catcher Tony Sanchez. Sanchez will receive a bonus of about $2.5 million, which is the slot amount for the fourth overall pick. “We are very pleased to add a player with the tools, skills and intangibles of Tony Sanchez to our organization,” Pirates scouting director Greg [...]

ATLANTA – Andy LaRoche tapped a two-out, two-run single in the top of the ninth inning and the Pirates beat the Braves, 3-1, on Thursday afternoon at Turner Field. LaRoche’s full-count single up the middle off Braves reliever Rafael Soriano (1-1) scored Andrew McCutchen and Adam LaRoche as the Pirates’ split the four-game series. The [...]

Here are the starting lineups for today’s 1:10 p.m. game at Turner Field. Georgia native Brandon Moss, who is 0 for 8 in the series and 4 for 23 (.174) this month, will get the day off. The Braves placed first baseman Greg Norton on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right ankle. Barbaro [...]

ATLANTA – Talk about anticlimactic. Pirates newly acquired right-hander Charlie Morton’s debut against his former team lasted one inning Wednesday night. Morton, one of three prospects received from the Braves in the Nate McLouth trade, threw 13 pitches before leaving with tightness in his left hamstring. The bullpen, led by deposed starter Jeff Karstens, did [...]

• Reliever Tyler Yates returned to Pittsburgh today for further tests on his bothersome right elbow that flared up during Tuesday’s simulated game. “I was super sore,” Yates said on Tuesday night. Manager John Russell said it may be as long as a week before they have a diagnosis. “We thought he was making very [...]

Here are the starting lineups for tonight’s 7:10 p.m. game at Turner Field, as former Braves pitcher Charlie Morton makes his debut with the Pirates, who are coming off back-to-back one-run losses to the Braves. PIRATES – 1. Andrew McCutchen cf, 2. Nyjer Morgan lf, 3. Freddy Sanchez 2b, 4. Adam LaRoche 1b, 5. Andy [...]