Sid Bream pulls a Michael Keaton at PiratesFest

By Tim Benz

http://triblive.com/sports/

December 9, 2017

Once my eye stopped twitching after flashing back to Francisco Cabrera's hit, I could appreciate the scene.

Former Pirate Sid Bream was at PNC Park Saturday afternoon. Yes, in Pirates jersey. Not a Braves one like the one he wore sliding across home plate to end Game 7 of the 1992 NLCS.

He was on stage with four Pirates players he helped eliminate that fateful October night: Bob Walk, Doug Drabek, Mike LaValliere and John Wehner.

The men were holding court for a question-and-answer session with fans at Pirate Fest.

Bream, who maintained roots in Pittsburgh and seemingly identified as a Pirate despite the ominous footnote he holds, choked up at one point.

“I always wished I could've won (a championship) with these guys, because they meant so much to me,” said Bream.

He slightly turned his head away from Drabek and LaValliere, almost as if he didn't feel comfortable looking at them while talking about his slide, knowing how that play prevented his former teammates from going on to the World Series.

I admit I got choked up, too. Maybe it was Bream's reaction. Or maybe it was the ghost pain I still feel in my right hand whenever the topic of “When Sid slid” comes up.

See, while Bream was celebrating at home plate, I was at Syracuse punching a steel door in my dorm common room.

Bream and Cabrera broke my heart. That door broke my middle knuckle.

A fan asked the players if they thought the remaining core of the Pirates that has carried over from the 2013-2015 playoff years was good enough to make another playoff run.

The parallels are obvious. Those Pirates went through three consecutive empty postseason trips in 1990, '91 and '92. Their window closed after Sid slid. Twenty consecutive losing seasons ensued.

These Pirates missed the playoffs in 2016 after three qualifications in a row. Then 2017 got even worse. So are the Pirates headed for another two decades of losing?

With Bream's love for the franchise he once vanquished already on display, it made his answer ring loudly.

“This might be a little cruel, but I think ownership in some ways has a huge part in determining what a team is going to be like,” Bream paused as applause filled the room. “I think that there have been opportunities over the years here with the more modern day teams to bring in somebody that would tell the team ‘We want to win.' Take in point, the Houston Astros. They don't go out and get a rookie. They go out and get (Justin) Verlander. That tells the team ‘We want to win.' ”

Bream wasn't done.

“The first year that they were going to get over .500 (2012), they were 16 games over .500 in August. And they had an opportunity to go out and get Hunter Pence. But instead, they got someone else who wasn't established in the game. And you just saw the team go (downhill).”

The 2012 Pirates finished with 79 wins. Presumably Bream meant Travis Snyder, who had never played more than 82 games in a season at that point.

Ironically, Bream was sitting in exactly the same spot Michael Keaton was when he openly questioned the willingness of Pirates management to spend money for talent by saying “Write the check” moments before he went on the field to throw out the ceremonial first pitch in April 2006.

Bream's barb was pretty close to that level, as he preached at the team's biggest fan function of the year.

It's tough to debate Bream, especially when general manager Neal Huntington had this to say on that same stage minutes later in his own Q&A:

“There are a lot of those teams that put everything they have into this year's club. And their fans are thrilled. Until they don't win. Then, they start to lose 95 games. And they've got to rebuild. Because they've mortgaged their future for their present. It happened in Kansas City.”

Yeah, Neal. It happened in Kansas City. Exactly. Similar to those early 90s Pirates, the Royals had four straight years at .500 or better after a decade of losing baseball. But they actually won it all in 2015.

Do you think those five ex-Pirates who were on that stage before you would've taken that? How about guys from the more recent era?

Do you think the fans and alumni would be less inclined to hurl such pointed criticisms at you if those things had happened?

I say: “Yes.” “Absolutely.” And “no doubt”

So what's the message, Mr. Huntington? Don't ever “go for broke” because you might actually wind up broke?

Ok, I get it. But you haven't. And I don't feel like the Pirates are living on Major League Baseball's Park Avenue as a result.

Are you serious with this: “The fans are thrilled until the team doesn't win” bologna? Well, what if the team actually does, you know … win?

Ok, I better calm down. My twitching eye and throbbing Cabrera-knuckle injury are starting to flare up again.

Tim Benz hosts the Steelers pregame show on WDVE and ESPN Pittsburgh. He is a regular host/contributor on KDKA-TV and 105.9 FM.

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Neil Walker returning to Pirates? Don’t hold your breath

By Mark Madden

http://www.timesonline.com/sports

November 17, 2017

Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports that the Pirates have “some interest in [a] reunion with free agent Neil Walker.” The catalyst: Difficulty with getting infielder/DUI specialist Jung-Ho Kang into the United States.

It’s a crock. It’s a big, steaming pile of fake news.

That doesn’t reflect badly on Morosi, an excellent reporter. Morosi got spoon-fed this garbage by the Pirates to generate good PR: “Bring back the local guy!” Get some Buc talk on the radio in the middle of football and hockey seasons.

But Walker will never play for the Pirates again.

Why would he want to?

The Pirates never seriously entered into talks with Walker regarding a long-term contract prior to trading him to the New York Mets for pitcher Jon Niese on December 9, 2015.

Oh, the Pirates made a cursory offer in ’15: One that Walker called, at the time, “not very realistic.”

Walker, a Pine-Richland High School graduate, wanted to stay in Pittsburgh. The Pirates pointedly did not want him.

Why? Good question. Walker’s performance merited at least seriously discussing a long-term deal, especially with Gerrit Cole, for example, counting the days until he can escape Pittsburgh.

But the organization, especially GM Neal Huntington, considers Walker a flawed player.

Or maybe the Pirates just don’t like Walker. He didn’t always toe the company line when it came to discussing shenanigans.

Walker very likely noticed that the Pirates are a flawed organization.

For Walker to return to Pittsburgh after the way the Pirates treated him would compromise his dignity.

Unless the Pirates are the highest bidder, that is.

But they won’t be. No chance.

Walker made $17.2 million last season, which he split between the Mets and Milwaukee. He won’t get that now. At 33, his stats don’t warrant it.

But Walker still figures to get between $9-11 million per season. He’s going to look for a 2- to 3-year deal.

Does anyone really think the Pirates have “some interest” in paying that when they barely bargained with Walker after some of his best seasons?

It’s just another in a series of Pirate cons designed to make you think they’re trying to win. “We almost got Neil Walker back!”

Walker would help the Pirates. Critics call him injury-prone. Walker only played 111 games this past season, and 113 in 2016. But Josh Harrison only played 128 games last year. Francisco Cervelli played just 81.

Walker has had back surgery, and that’s disturbing. But he’s hardly crippled.

Walker is likely a corner infielder at this point in his career. Who would you rather see as a regular, Walker or David Freese? Kang probably won’t return. But if he does, and the Pirates sign Walker, Harrison returns to his old super-utility role and gets the equivalent at-bats of a starter that way.

Walker hit .265 last season with a .362 on-base percentage, .439 slugging percentage and a .801 OPS. Those figures would have ranked fifth, third, third and second, respectively, on the Pirates.

Walker would make the Pirates stronger. But that’s not a big concern for owner Bob Nutting.

Maintaining profit margin is.

Pirates attendance has dropped over 579K since their 98-win season in 2015. The Pirates’ local TV ratings decreased by 27 percent in 2017.

Besides Morosi’s report about Walker, another rumor is floating: Pirates payroll will be slashed by $15 million before the 2018 season. Last year saw Pirates players earn $109m, the sixth-lowest total in MLB.

Sign Walker, or help the bottom line?

The Pirates can’t do both. So bet on the latter.

Mark Madden hosts a radio show 3-6 p.m. weekdays on WXDX-FM (105.9).

Nats' Gio Gonzalez gives up 5 in 1st of 11-8 loss to Pirates

by howard fendrich
http://www.thenewstribune.com/
October 1, 2017

Pittsburgh Pirates' Chris Bostick hits a single to center field during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Washington. Mark Tenally AP Photo

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Gio Gonzalez did not sound like someone who wanted to pitch in a meaningless regular-season finale.

Didn't exactly pitch like it, either.

Gonzalez gave up five runs in the first inning of yet another concerning outing for a Washington Nationals starting pitcher, and the NL East champions wrapped up their 162-game schedule with an 11-8 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday.

"Before this start, I felt great. ... I felt like I actually did something. Then today's game, I did nothing. Took a couple steps back," said Gonzalez (15-9), before adding sarcastically: "That's what I wanted to do right? That's why I wanted to pitch the last game of the season."

He needed 39 pitches across 16 arduous minutes to record the game's first three outs, while his ERA rose from 2.75 to 2.96 just in that opening inning. The Pirates batted around as the lefty walked two batters, hit Jordan Luplow to force in a run with the bases loaded and allowed Max Moroff's three-run double along with Jacob Stallings' RBI single.

"He was under the weather," manager Dusty Baker said about Gonzalez. "He's been there for a few days now. I could sort of tell, because it looked kind of like he lost some weight."

This came a day after 2016 NL Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer left his last pre-playoffs start for Washington in the fourth inning after feeling something wrong with his right hamstring. At least Scherzer sounded optimistic about things Sunday, saying that an MRI exam showed he had only "tweaked" his muscle, not strained it.

Gonzalez went 4 1/3 innings, allowing six runs. It was his shortest appearance of a bounce-back season after going 11-11 with a 4.57 ERA in 2016 and part of a downward trend of late: Four of Gonzalez's last five starts lasted five innings or fewer.

Just to introduce another element of uncertainty from a game that didn't matter, Tanner Roark — slated to join Stephen Strasburg, Scherzer and Gonzalez in Washington's postseason rotation — entered in the sixth and promptly gave up two runs in his one-inning tuneup.

Hardly the preferred sort of preparation before facing the defending World Series champion Chicago Cubs in an NL Division Series that starts in the nation's capital in less than a week.

Plus, the time of 4 hours, 22 minutes made this the longest nine-inning regular-season game in both Pirates and Nationals history.

"Pointless," Gonzalez called it.

Joked Pirates manager Clint Hurdle: "You guys didn't know we had the ESPN Sunday night game."

UH, OH

Washington's hitters did not exactly look ready for prime time: They went 0 for 7 with the bases loaded.

HARPER

There was a welcome sight for Washington in the seventh: RF Bryce Harper racing home from first — hair in full flow — on Adrian Sanchez's double, showing no signs of trouble from the hyperextended left knee that landed the 2015 NL MVP on the DL for 42 games. "First time I've really turned it on in seven weeks or so," Harper said, "so it felt good."

GOODBYE WERTH?

In the last regular-season game of LF Jayson Werth's $126 million, seven-year contract, he was greeted by a standing ovation from some in the announced crowd of 36,652 before his first at-bat. A video montage played on the scoreboard above center field and fans held signs saluting him, including one that read, "Thank you, Jayson." Werth doffed his batting helmet to the crowd before his final at-bat. When he jogged off the field in the ninth, Harper met him outside the dugout for a hug.

FIRSTS

Angel Sanchez (1-0) earned his first big league win with two shutout innings in relief for Pittsburgh. George Kontos got the final out for his first save in 322 appearances in the majors. "I feel like it's fitting," Kontos said. "I've waited five full seasons in the big leagues to notch that off the belt, and I'm just very grateful for the opportunity to come here and pitch in some big situations."

UP NEXT

Nationals: Host the NL Central champion Cubs in Game 1 of the NLDS on Friday. Washington went 97-65, two more wins than a year ago and one short of the Nationals-best 98 in 2012.

___

Follow Howard Fendrich on Twitter at http://twitter.com/HowardFendrich

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Scherzer exits with hamstring cramp, Nats fall to Bucs 4-1

By Brian McNally, The Associated Press

http://www.nydailynews.com/

September 30, 2017

Pittsburgh Pirates' Sean Rodriguez scores on a Max Moroff triple during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017, in Washington. The Pittsburgh Pirates won the game 4-1. (Mark Tenally/AP)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Nationals ace Max Scherzer was pulled with a hamstring cramp while tuning up for the playoffs, and NL East champion Washington lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-1 Saturday night.

The Nationals said Scherzer was sent for a precautionary MRI on his right hamstring. Manager Dusty Baker didn't elaborate on the severity of the injury.

Scherzer, who leads the NL in strikeouts and is 16-6 with a 2.51 ERA, was preparing for the Nationals' matchup against the Chicago Cubs in the best-of-five Division Series that begins Friday in Washington. But the two-time Cy Young Award winner stumbled on a 2-2 pitch to Josh Bell in the fourth inning, briefly hopped around the mound and bent over at the waist.

Scherzer then began to throw a full-count pitch, but abruptly stopped when time was called.

Baker, pitching coach Mike Maddux and team trainers visited the mound and quickly took out Scherzer.

Scherzer had given up one hit and struck out five, raising his total to 268, in 3 1/3 scoreless innings when he was hurt.

The Pirates rallied with four runs in the ninth inning off Brandon Kintzler (2-1). Sean Rodriguez singled home the tying run with Pittsburgh trailing 1-0 and down to its final strike. Max Moroff later hit a bases-loaded triple.

George Kontos (1-6) got the win and Felipe Rivero had his 21st save.

Ryan Zimmerman hit an RBI single in the second off Jameson Taillon, who gave up four hits in seven innings.

HARPER AGAIN IN LINEUP

A day after saying he wouldn't use Bruce Harper, Baker started the 2015 NL MVP. Harper returned this week from a hyperextended left knee that kept him out more than six weeks. Harper posted his second consecutive 0-for-4 day at the plate.

Baker said Harper came through Friday's game with limited soreness and is getting the outfielder ready for the playoffs.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Pirates: CF Andrew McCutchen was scratched just 90 minutes before the game with left foot discomfort after fouling a ball off that foot in Friday's loss to Washington. McCutchen, in the original lineup batting third, was seen limping badly in the Pirates clubhouse before the game.

Nationals: Washington 3B Anthony Rendon asked for a night off and Baker granted it. Rendon told Baker "he's a little fatigued" after playing 146 games this season, but plans to play in Sunday's regular-season finale. . The Nationals reinstated IF Stephen Drew from the 60-day DL and placed RHP Sean Kelley (bone chips, right elbow) on the 60-day DL.

UP NEXT

Pirates: LHP Steven Brault (1-0, 3.86 ERA) closes the season for Pittsburgh. He has never faced the Nationals. The International League pitcher of the year (10-5, 1.94 ERA, 20 starts) has a 2.81 ERA in his three starts.

Nationals: LHP Gio Gonzalez (15-7. 2.68 ERA) gets the final regular-season start for Washington. Gonzalez has a chance to set his career low in ERA, which was 2.89 in 2012, when he finished third in the NL Cy Young Award voting.

Bell's homer sends Pirates to sweep of Orioles

By Alan Saunders, The Associated Press
http://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/
September 27, 2017




Pittsburgh Pirates' Josh Bell (55) celebrates with David Freese (23) after hitting a two-run home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2017 in Pittsburgh (Keith Srakocic/AP)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — With four games remaining in their season, the Pittsburgh Pirates will likely finish next-to-last in the majors in home runs.

But rookie first baseman Josh Bell is a sign for hope in the future. Bell hit a two-run shot as the Pirates beat the Baltimore Orioles 5-3 on Wednesday night to sweep a two-game interleague series.

Bell's home run, his 25th of the season, came in the third inning off Baltimore starter Gabriel Ynoa and put the Pirates ahead 4-3. Bell also hit an RBI single in the first.

He's the first Pirates rookie to hit 25 homers since Jason Bay set a franchise record with 26 in 2004.

"I feel like I'm in a good spot," Bell said. "I'm happy with what I'm bringing to the table."

Bell's homer outburst as a rookie is made more impressive by the fact the most he ever hit in a minor-league season was 14 in 2016.

"He's in uncharted territory," manager Clint Hurdle said. "He's never played this many games. He's at 155. That's a lot. He's toeing up, posting up and it looks like a strong finish for him."

Ynoa (2-3) lasted just three innings and gave up four runs on five hits. He struck out three.

"I was trying to attack the hitters, but things didn't work out for me," Ynoa said through an interpreter. "Unfortunately, I was missing with my fastball, and the hitters took advantage of that."

Gregory Polanco homered to lead off the second, his 11th this season and first since August 4.

Starling Marte singled and stole second in the fifth inning, giving him 20 steals for the fifth consecutive year, despite an 80-game suspension for violating baseball's performance-enhancing drug policy.

Chad Kuhl (8-11) went five-plus innings, allowing three runs on eight hits. He had five strikeouts, including two against Manny Machado.

All the damage against Kuhl came in the second. Chance Cisco and Anthony Santander hit RBI doubles, sandwiching J.J. Hardy's run-scoring groundout.


Baltimore Orioles' Pedro Alvarez tips his helmet to the cheering crowd during a video tribute to him from his days as a Pirate, during his first at-bat in Wednesday's game (Keith Srakocic/AP)

Pedro Alvarez started the rally with a single in his first game at PNC Park since leaving the Pirates. He played for Pittsburgh from 2010 to 2015 and was greeted with a warm reception by the crowd.

"That was pretty cool," Alvarez said. "I didn't know what to expect. I thought it was very classy on the Pirates' part. I'm not too much of an emotional guy, but that was pretty cool to get that kind of reception from the organization and the fans."

Felipe Rivero pitched the ninth for his 20th save in 22 chances. Rivero's first pitch of the outing was clocked at 102.6 mph by Statcast, the fastest pitch thrown by a National League pitcher this season.

TRAINING ROOM

Orioles: RHP Jeremy Hellickson (sore back) and RHP Dylan Bundy (left hamstring strain) will both be shut down for the remainder of the season. ... SS Tim Beckham (right hamstring) missed his third consecutive game. ... CF Adam Jones (leg soreness) did not play for the second straight day.

Pirates: SS Jordy Mercer (knee) missed his third straight game.

UP NEXT

Orioles: After an off day, Wade Miley (8-14, 5.52 ERA) will start the final series of the season Friday against Tampa Bay at Tropicana Field. Miley is 0-4 with a 9.92 ERA in September.

Pirates: Ivan Nova (11-14, 4.14) will start a four-game series in Washington on Thursday. Nova has lost four straight decisions and eight of his last nine dating to July 23.

McCutchen's 1st grand slam powers Pirates over Orioles 10-1

By Alan Saunders, The Associated Press

http://www.nydailynews.com/

September 26, 2017

Andrew McCutchen (.278, 28 HR, 87 RBI) celebrates as he heads to third base after hitting his first career grand-slam home run in the second inning against the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2017, in Pittsburgh.(Keith Srakocic/AP)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Andrew McCutchen knew it as soon as the ball left his bat.

The Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder had sent a ball 412 feet into the center field seats, clearing the wall for his first career grand slam as part of an eight-RBI game in his team's 10-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday night.

McCutchen raised his arms in celebration, as if to suggest a burden had been lifted from his shoulders.

The five-time All Star and 2013 National League MVP had 5,016 major-league at-bats coming into the game and 201 home runs, but had never hit one with the bases load until he connected with Baltimore starter Kevin Gausman's 2-1 offering in the second inning.

McCutchen had been open about the grand slam remaining an item on his career bucket list this season, and he said it was definitely on his mind as he stepped into the batter's box with three men on base.

"He's been very transparent about the fact that it's on his bucket list," manager Clint Hurdle said. "It's been on his to-do list. And there's been a good quantity of at-bats. He's driven in runs, hadn't been able to hit a grand slam. He was able to wipe that off the list tonight. His facial expression on the trip around the bases said it all."

That wasn't the end of McCutchen's big night. In his first at-bat, McCutchen had hit an RBI double and scored. He also singled and scored in the fifth. In the seventh inning, he came up needing a triple for the cycle. Instead, he hit a three-run home run to give him eight RBIs, one off the franchise record and the most by a Pirate since Jason Bay in 2004.

McCutchen was feted by the PNC Park faithful with curtain calls after each of his home runs and was removed from the game to an ovation in the top of the ninth inning.

"You cherish all the good days and the bad ones," McCutchen said. "You'll have more bad ones than good ones, that's for sure. When you have a good one, it's something special."

McCutchen has spent nine seasons in Pittsburgh, but faces an uncertain future. He was the subject of trade rumors last offseason. The club holds an option for his services for 2018.

"I thought it was appropriate at the time, in front of the hometown crowd, last homestand," Hurdle said. "It's a special night. The fans were very appreciative. He's done a lot of wonderful things here on the North Shore. Tonight was a very, very special night for him."

Josh Bell and Gregory Polanco drove in runs as the Pirates rallied for six runs in four innings against Gausman (11-11).

"I didn't give up too many hard-hit balls except for the two that McCutchen hit," Gausman said. "That was the difference, obviously. Kind of frustrating. I feel like I've been kind of getting in a groove lately."

Pirates starter Trevor Williams (7-9) worked six three-hit innings and allowed just one run. He struck out six, giving him 116 on the season, the most by a Pirates rookie since Paul Maholm in 2006.

Rookie Steven Brault pitched the final three innings for his first career save.

TRAINING ROOM

Orioles: SS Tim Beckham missed his second straight game with a right hamstring injury suffered on Saturday. Manager Buck Showalter hopes for him to return this season. ... CF Adam Jones (leg soreness) did not play.

Pirates: SS Jordy Mercer (knee) missed his second consecutive game.

UP NEXT

Orioles: Gabriel Ynoa (2-2, 3.41 ERA) will make his fourth start of the season. He's coming off his best start of the season, a one-run, eight-inning outing against Tampa on Sept. 21.

Pirates: Chad Kuhl (7-11, 4.31) will make his 31st start of the season. He's coming off a four-run performance, all of which came via solo home runs.

Cardinals stumble again with 4-1 loss to Pirates

By Will Graves, The Associated Press

http://lancasteronline.com/sports/

September 25, 2017

Chris Bostick scores on a sacrifice fly by Elias Diaz in the third inning (Gene J. Puskar/AP)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals are running out of time to make their September surge extend their season beyond the first day of October.

Seung Hwan Oh's difficult season hit another low point when he surrendered a go-ahead two-run homer to Pittsburgh's Starling Marte in the fifth inning on Sunday as the Pirates pulled away for a 4-1 victory to blunt the Cardinals' momentum heading into the regular season's final week.

St. Louis began the day 1½ games behind Colorado for the NL's second wild card but mustered just four hits against Jameson Taillon and five relievers while falling to Pittsburgh for the second time in less than 24 hours. The Cardinals headed home for a seven-game homestand starting on Monday against the Chicago Cubs with little wiggle room left.

"Yeah we understand the urgency," St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said. "We understand all the numbers. We just don't spend too much time on them because they're irrelevant to what we have to do. What we have to do is go play good baseball, that's it."

The Cardinals came into Pittsburgh riding a sweep of Cincinnati. They leave having dropped two of three to the Pirates. On Saturday night Pittsburgh chased Lance Lynn in the first inning of an 11-6 romp. On Sunday the Pirates relied on five strong innings from Taillon (8-7) and pounced when Oh (1-6) ran into trouble in the fifth.

With the score 1-1, Pat Bostick singled against Oh leading off the inning and Starling Marte followed with his seventh home run . The drive was the 10th allowed by Oh this season in 62 appearances. He gave up just five in 76 games a rookie in 2016.

"Obviously, everyone can see how it is, very tough," Oh said through a translator. "None of the fastballs or off-speed pitches are working well."

Jordan Luplow went deep an inning later off Brett Cecil to give Pittsburgh a three-run cushion. Taillon labored at times through his final home start of the season and needed 95 pitches to get 15 outs. He kept the Cardinals in check and five pitchers combined for hitless relief, with Felipe Rivero striking out two in a perfect ninth for his 19th save in 21 chances.

"The command was a little off, but he made pitches at crunch time throughout the game," Hurdle said of Taillon. "His competitive fire was burning."

Matt Carpenter hit his 22nd home run for St. Louis but the Cardinals went 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position and left eight men on base. St. Louis had a chance to close the gap in the seventh, loading the bases with two outs. Pittsburgh reliever George Kontos got Tommy Pham to hit into a forceout to end the threat.

"We were getting two outs, men in scoring position, bases loaded," Matheny said. "Someone's got to come through and do something really big and it didn't happen. It's not easy to do."

FINISHING KICK

Taillon's first full season in the majors included a battle with testicular cancer that forced him to miss more than a month. He's endured an uneven year on the mound and has only worked into the seventh three times since returning from the disabled list in June. Still, the 25-year-old lowered his ERA this month to 3.91 in four starts.

"That was my goal I committed to in September, specifically after that little layoff I had," Taillon said. "I really wanted to finish strong, so it felt strong to have a good one."

Pirates manager Clint Hurdle praised Taillon's mettle in the fifth, when Taillon battled through a pair of one-out singles to strike out Carpenter and Pham.

"He showed the guys in the dugout something," Hurdle said. "I think he threw one fastball at 97. He threw some curveballs that were sharp even though the pitches were over 30. To see that fight, he had good stuff today. The command was a little off, but he made pitches at crunch time throughout the game. His competitive fire was burning."

TRAINER'S ROOM

Cardinals: 1B Jose Martinez is dealing with a sprained left thumb and a timetable for his return is uncertain. Martinez had an MRI in St. Louis on Saturday that revealed no serious damage. Martinez flew to St. Louis after leaving Friday night's win against the Pirates in the sixth inning due to pain in the thumb.

Pirates: SS Jordy Mercer was held out of the lineup after exiting Saturday night's victory with soreness in his left knee.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: RHP Luke Weaver (7-1, 2.05 ERA) starts Monday against the Cubs and LHP Jon Lester (11-8, 4.56). St. Louis is 4-11 against Chicago this season.

Pirates: RHP Trevor Williams (6-9, 4.18) starts Tuesday versus Baltimore and RHP Kevin Gausman (11-10, 4.61).

___

More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

Lynn struggles in Cardinals' 11-6 loss to Pirates

By Wes Crosby, The Associated Press

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports

September 23, 2017

Pittsburgh Pirates' Starling Marte slides safely into third with a triple off St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Josh Lucas in the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017 in Pittsburgh.(Gene J. Puskar/AP)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Lance Lynn said he felt fine. He and the St. Louis Cardinals just slipped up Saturday night.

Lynn allowed eight runs in the first inning, and the Cardinals ended a four-game winning streak with an 11-6 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Lynn (11-8) got two outs before being pulled after six hits and eight runs in his shortest outing since Aug. 13, 2015, also at Pittsburgh.

"There were a couple balls up, and then a couple things didn't go my way," Lynn said. "Unfortunately, that happens some nights. Usually, I'm able to get through it. Tonight it just kind of snowballed.

"It's that time of year where you feel good. I'm just happy I feel good, but I've got to hone it back in and make quality pitches."

St. Louis (81-73) entered the day 1 1/2 games behind Colorado, which plays San Diego on Saturday night, for the second NL wild card.

The Cardinals remained five games behind the Cubs in the NL Central after Chicago lost to Milwaukee, which is a half-game ahead of the Cardinals.

Tommy Pham gave the Cardinals a 2-0 lead against Gerrit Cole (12-11) two batters into the game when he sent the first pitch of his at-bat over the center-field wall. Pham was 2 for 4 with three RBIs.

Then Pittsburgh got to Lynn. David Freese and Elias Dias each singled with the bases loaded before Jordy Mercer and Starling Marte each tripled to build an 8-2 lead. Marte also walked in the inning, and Adam Frazier doubled and walked in the inning.

"It looked like (Lynn) was just missing it," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. "(He) got into bad counts, too much movement, wasn't able to make the adjustments to get back on the plate. ... Then they were in a position where they needed big hits, and they kind of stacked them together to the point where he couldn't stop the bleeding."

Marte added another Pirates run with a sacrifice fly in the third inning, Mercer made it 10-3 with a double in the fifth and Freese also doubled to make it 11-6 in the eighth.

"They know what they want to do when they get up there," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "Sometimes when it happens, it looks easy. It looks effortless."

Even with two wins in its past three games, Pittsburgh (70-85) has lost eight of its past 10.

Cole (12-11) allowed five runs and seven hits for his first win since Aug. 26. He had lost three straight decisions.

STUMBLING OUT OF THE GATE

On his 42nd pitch of the first inning, Lynn walked Frazier before Matheny pulled him in favor of reliever Josh Lucas. He had not allowed more than seven runs in a start this season.

AN UNUSUAL RECORD

Trailing 10-3 entering the sixth inning, Matheny tied a major league record by using six pinch-hitters in an inning in an apparent attempt to save his regulars for Sunday. The Cardinals scored three runs to cut the Pirates' lead to 10-6.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: RHP John Gant (0-0, 3.86) will look for his second major league win when he faces the Pirates on Sunday. His first win came June 17, 2016, against the Atlanta Braves. Gant allowed two runs in one inning his last time out on Sept. 19 after pitching five scoreless innings in his previous four appearances.

Pirates: RHP Jameson Taillon (7-7, 4.73) will attempt to put together a second consecutive strong start when he takes the mound Sunday. After allowing six runs on 11 hits in 4 2/3 innings against the Chicago Cubs on Sept. 7, he surrendered two on six hits in five innings during a 3-0 loss to the Brewers on Sept. 18.

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