LOS ANGELES — Sometimes early results are telling. Just look back a week ago, when Francisco Liriano allowed two runs in the first inning on his way to a third-inning exit.
But sometimes early results are an aberration, like Saturday night at Dodger Stadium, when Liriano labored through the first before putting forth one of his most complete starts as a Pirate in a 3-2 victory, the team’s first since Tuesday.
Seven innings, nine strikeouts, 16 consecutive Dodgers retired, and even an escape in the seventh inning to cap it off and help the Pirates stay one game ahead of the Cubs for the National League’s top wild card position.
“Man, he was good today,” Francisco Cervelli said after catching the 26th of Liriano’s 29 outings this year. “In this game … you never feel 100 percent, but today everything was working well.”
IOWA CITY, Iowa — In the short term, there’s the agony of defeat. Pitt lost to Iowa, 27-24, Saturday night at Kinnick Stadium in the most heartbreaking of manners, as Hawkeyes kicker Marshall Koehn connected on a 57-yard field goal as time expired.
In the long term however, Pat Narduzzi had plenty of cause for satisfaction and said so afterward. Most notably: Nate Peterman.
Making his first start as the Panthers quarterback, Peterman completed 20 of 29 passes for 219 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. That included a 16-of-20 second half.
“I liked how he came out in the fourth quarter and tore it up,” Narduzzi said. “I thought he did a nice job putting the ball where it needed to be. That last drive to score, to tie the game up, was an impressive, impressive drive orchestrated by him.”
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — With a top-billed quarterback possessing an NFL arm facing a defense decimated by player dismissals, one would think the key to Penn State’s offensive success against Rutgers would’ve been through the air.
But when the clock hit 0:00 Saturday night at Beaver Stadium, it was the Nittany Lions’ ground game that had carried the team to a 28-3 victory over the Scarlet Knight. All four touchdowns came not from the arm of Christian Hackenberg, but from his hands, as the Lions ran for 330 yards.
“Saquon Barkley has brought something special to our offense,” James Franklin said. “I think him and Akeel Lynch are a nice 1-2 punch right now.”
CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Evgeni Malkin spoke with reporters for the first time since last spring. He was typically candid about many topics.
Malkin doesn’t seem horribly offended that Mike Johnston has chosen to pair Sidney Crosby with Phil Kessel in the early going. Saying “we’re all one team,” Malkin indicated that he simply wants to play, no matter who his linemates are.
I specifically asked if he’d like to play with Kessel:
CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Good morning from Day 2 of training camp. It’s another capacity crowd at the Lemieux Complex, and the Penguins are on the ice.
9:38 a.m.: Lots of fun four-on-four drills to start practice. Intense stuff. Sergei Plotnikov is really impressive. Skates better than one might think for a big man. And plays with an edge. Really good so far.
9:45: Derrick Pouliot looks good in the early stages of camp. Mike Johnston wanted to see a more impressive battle level from him in one-on-one battles. So far, so good. Just thwarted Evgeni Malkin on a rush.
Things might not be as bleak as they seem for the Steelers.
Or, things might be even bleaker than they seem should the Steelers falter against the 49ers in their 83rd home opener, Sunday at Heinz Field.
Make no mistake: Jim Tomsula, San Francisco’s coach and proud Homestead product, has helped re-stock one of the NFL’s better defensive teams the past few years, even as he’s re-established one of the better ground games. Going off one game, the 49ers probably aren’t as talented as the Patriots, but they’re a solid team and a tough matchup.
LOS ANGELES — There’s no shame in losing to Zack Greinke, but there’s no profit in it either.
For the third time this week, the Pirates were shut down by an elite starting pitcher, or in the case of Chicago’s Jon Lester, a good one with a top-notch pedigree.
If you’re thinking about the wild-card game, which the Pirates should be after Friday’s 6-2 loss at Dodger Stadium kept them five back of the Cardinals with 15 to play, coming up mostly empty against an ace-caliber pitcher provides no consolation, especially when it yields a fourth straight loss.
“We had some good battle at-bats, but we couldn’t get the hit to crack (Greinke),” Clint Hurdle said.
Neil Walker‘s solo home run in the fourth inning was the only damage the Pirates did directly against the Dodgers’ co-ace. Over the course of this Cy Young-worthy season, Greinke has mastered the art of pitching, to the extent that he can look as imperious as he did while striking out a measly three Pirates.
CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. — He’s an enigmatic winger, a guy who possesses some of the NHL’s finest physical tools.
When he’s on, he’s one of the game’s best. But he isn’t always on.
Phil Kessel?
Nah, try David Perron. Entering the final season of his contract, Perron has reached a crossroads in his career. He intends on going in a direction that keeps him with the Penguins for a long time.
The Steelers’ injury report, issued early Friday afternoon, has cornerback Cortez Allen as the lone questionable participant for Sunday’s home opener against the 49ers.
Six listed as probable are safeties Mike Mitchell and Will Allen, linebackers Ryan Shazier and Sean Spence, cornerback Brandon Boykin and quarterback Landry Jones.
CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Good morning from Day 1 of the Penguins’ training camp. Hockey players are on the ice, and I’ll keep you updated all day, every day of camp. Keep checking back here.
9:30 a.m.: Of note, Derrick Pouliot is skating with Ben Lovejoy in morning drills. This isn’t a shock. The Penguins liked how they looked together last season. By the way, there are an absurd number of fans here. Quite a scene for Day 1 of camp.
9:35:Evgeni Malkin is skating with first group this morning. Phil Kessel and Sidney Crosby will take the ice in less than an hour.
CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. — The Penguins open training camp this morning at the Lemieux Sports Complex, and it should be one of the more interesting camps in years.
There are new players, former Penguins, and young guys looking to make a team that, frankly, doesn’t have much room for young guys.
First, some information for fans making their way to the new facility:
Pitt men’s soccer showed its true colors in a 4-0 drubbing delivered by 14th-ranked Wake Forest last Saturday at Ambrose Urbanic Field.
A 3-0-1 start in non-conference play had built some buzz around the Panthers, but the Demon Deacons proved that hype unwarranted. There are several problems still standing in the way of a first ACC victory for Joe Luxbacher’s program.
The biggest of those issues shifted quickly from an uninventive attack to an incohesive back line over a week’s time. Saturday’s loss ended Pitt’s 380 consecutive minutes without conceding a goal. The porous way the streak concluded showed the importance of junior center back Stephane Pierre, who missed the match with an undisclosed injury.
“It’s a huge loss,” said senior goalkeeper and captain Dan Lynd. “There’s no doubt about it.”
Francisco Liriano paced the Pirates to a slump-busting win Saturday over Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers. -- GETTY
September 20, 2015
Francisco in fine form for Saturday showdown
8by Matt Gajtka • Coverage • Pirates
LOS ANGELES — Sometimes early results are telling. Just look back a week ago, when Francisco Liriano allowed two runs in the first inning on his way to a third-inning exit.
But sometimes early results are an aberration, like Saturday night at Dodger Stadium, when Liriano labored through the first before putting forth one of his most complete starts as a Pirate in a 3-2 victory, the team’s first since Tuesday.
Seven innings, nine strikeouts, 16 consecutive Dodgers retired, and even an escape in the seventh inning to cap it off and help the Pirates stay one game ahead of the Cubs for the National League’s top wild card position.
“Man, he was good today,” Francisco Cervelli said after catching the 26th of Liriano’s 29 outings this year. “In this game … you never feel 100 percent, but today everything was working well.”
READ MORE / COMMENT
Peterman quashes QB controversy in Pitt loss
Barkley, Lynch run wild in Penn State romp
Rejuvenated Malkin: ‘We’re all one team’
Penguins training camp, Day 2
Neal’s five kickoff keys: Steelers-49ers
Greinke latest ace to stymie stagnant Pirates
Perron makes pledge to Penguins’ coaches
Cortez listed as Steelers’ lone questionable
Penguins training camp, Day 1
Iowa quarterback C.J. Beathard runs away from Pitt's Rori Blair to set up the winning field goal. -- GETTY
September 20, 2015
Peterman quashes QB controversy in Pitt loss
2by Dejan Kovacevic • Coverage • Pitt
By BRENDAN STILES
IOWA CITY, Iowa — In the short term, there’s the agony of defeat. Pitt lost to Iowa, 27-24, Saturday night at Kinnick Stadium in the most heartbreaking of manners, as Hawkeyes kicker Marshall Koehn connected on a 57-yard field goal as time expired.
In the long term however, Pat Narduzzi had plenty of cause for satisfaction and said so afterward. Most notably: Nate Peterman.
Making his first start as the Panthers quarterback, Peterman completed 20 of 29 passes for 219 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. That included a 16-of-20 second half.
“I liked how he came out in the fourth quarter and tore it up,” Narduzzi said. “I thought he did a nice job putting the ball where it needed to be. That last drive to score, to tie the game up, was an impressive, impressive drive orchestrated by him.”
READ MORE / COMMENT
Saquon Barkley is hoisted up by Mike Gesicki after scoring a Penn State touchdown Saturday. -- GETTY
September 20, 2015
Barkley, Lynch run wild in Penn State romp
2by Connor Whooley • Coverage • Penn State
By CONNOR WHOOLEY
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — With a top-billed quarterback possessing an NFL arm facing a defense decimated by player dismissals, one would think the key to Penn State’s offensive success against Rutgers would’ve been through the air.
But when the clock hit 0:00 Saturday night at Beaver Stadium, it was the Nittany Lions’ ground game that had carried the team to a 28-3 victory over the Scarlet Knight. All four touchdowns came not from the arm of Christian Hackenberg, but from his hands, as the Lions ran for 330 yards.
“Saquon Barkley has brought something special to our offense,” James Franklin said. “I think him and Akeel Lynch are a nice 1-2 punch right now.”
Nice?
Try 195 yards for Barkley, 120 for Lynch.
READ MORE / COMMENT
Evgeni Malkin skates with teammates Saturday at the Lemieux Complex. -- DALI KOVACEVIC
September 19, 2015
Rejuvenated Malkin: ‘We’re all one team’
15by Josh Yohe • Coverage • Penguins
CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Evgeni Malkin spoke with reporters for the first time since last spring. He was typically candid about many topics.
Malkin doesn’t seem horribly offended that Mike Johnston has chosen to pair Sidney Crosby with Phil Kessel in the early going. Saying “we’re all one team,” Malkin indicated that he simply wants to play, no matter who his linemates are.
I specifically asked if he’d like to play with Kessel:
READ MORE / COMMENT
September 19, 2015
Penguins training camp, Day 2
49by Josh Yohe • Coverage • Penguins
CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Good morning from Day 2 of training camp. It’s another capacity crowd at the Lemieux Complex, and the Penguins are on the ice.
9:38 a.m.: Lots of fun four-on-four drills to start practice. Intense stuff. Sergei Plotnikov is really impressive. Skates better than one might think for a big man. And plays with an edge. Really good so far.
9:45: Derrick Pouliot looks good in the early stages of camp. Mike Johnston wanted to see a more impressive battle level from him in one-on-one battles. So far, so good. Just thwarted Evgeni Malkin on a rush.
READ MORE / COMMENT
NaVorro Bowman heeds instructions during the 49ers' Week 1 victory vs. the Vikings. -- GETTY
September 19, 2015
Neal’s five kickoff keys: Steelers-49ers
8by Neal Coolong • Coverage • Steelers
Things might not be as bleak as they seem for the Steelers.
Or, things might be even bleaker than they seem should the Steelers falter against the 49ers in their 83rd home opener, Sunday at Heinz Field.
Make no mistake: Jim Tomsula, San Francisco’s coach and proud Homestead product, has helped re-stock one of the NFL’s better defensive teams the past few years, even as he’s re-established one of the better ground games. Going off one game, the 49ers probably aren’t as talented as the Patriots, but they’re a solid team and a tough matchup.
Here are my five keys leading up to kickoff:
READ MORE / COMMENT
Andrew McCutchen looks skyward for his eighth-inning popup Friday night at Dodger Stadium. -- GETTY
September 19, 2015
Greinke latest ace to stymie stagnant Pirates
77by Matt Gajtka • Coverage • Pirates
LOS ANGELES — There’s no shame in losing to Zack Greinke, but there’s no profit in it either.
For the third time this week, the Pirates were shut down by an elite starting pitcher, or in the case of Chicago’s Jon Lester, a good one with a top-notch pedigree.
If you’re thinking about the wild-card game, which the Pirates should be after Friday’s 6-2 loss at Dodger Stadium kept them five back of the Cardinals with 15 to play, coming up mostly empty against an ace-caliber pitcher provides no consolation, especially when it yields a fourth straight loss.
“We had some good battle at-bats, but we couldn’t get the hit to crack (Greinke),” Clint Hurdle said.
Neil Walker‘s solo home run in the fourth inning was the only damage the Pirates did directly against the Dodgers’ co-ace. Over the course of this Cy Young-worthy season, Greinke has mastered the art of pitching, to the extent that he can look as imperious as he did while striking out a measly three Pirates.
READ MORE / COMMENT
David Perron chases a loose puck near Marc-Andre Fleury's crease Friday. -- DALI KOVACEVIC
September 18, 2015
Perron makes pledge to Penguins’ coaches
27by Josh Yohe • Coverage • Penguins
CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. — He’s an enigmatic winger, a guy who possesses some of the NHL’s finest physical tools.
When he’s on, he’s one of the game’s best. But he isn’t always on.
Phil Kessel?
Nah, try David Perron. Entering the final season of his contract, Perron has reached a crossroads in his career. He intends on going in a direction that keeps him with the Penguins for a long time.
READ MORE / COMMENT
September 18, 2015
Cortez listed as Steelers’ lone questionable
12by Dejan Kovacevic • Coverage • Steelers
The Steelers’ injury report, issued early Friday afternoon, has cornerback Cortez Allen as the lone questionable participant for Sunday’s home opener against the 49ers.
Six listed as probable are safeties Mike Mitchell and Will Allen, linebackers Ryan Shazier and Sean Spence, cornerback Brandon Boykin and quarterback Landry Jones.
READ MORE / COMMENT
The first of many? Phil Kessel scores on a drill against Marc-Andre Fleury. -- DALI KOVACEVIC
September 18, 2015
Penguins training camp, Day 1
39by Josh Yohe • Coverage • Penguins
CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Good morning from Day 1 of the Penguins’ training camp. Hockey players are on the ice, and I’ll keep you updated all day, every day of camp. Keep checking back here.
9:30 a.m.: Of note, Derrick Pouliot is skating with Ben Lovejoy in morning drills. This isn’t a shock. The Penguins liked how they looked together last season. By the way, there are an absurd number of fans here. Quite a scene for Day 1 of camp.
9:35: Evgeni Malkin is skating with first group this morning. Phil Kessel and Sidney Crosby will take the ice in less than an hour.
READ MORE / COMMENT
The first group at the opening of camp gathers around Mike Johnston for instruction. - DALI KOVACEVIC
September 18, 2015
Penguins camp preview: Opening faceoff
59by Josh Yohe • Coverage • Penguins
CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. — The Penguins open training camp this morning at the Lemieux Sports Complex, and it should be one of the more interesting camps in years.
There are new players, former Penguins, and young guys looking to make a team that, frankly, doesn’t have much room for young guys.
First, some information for fans making their way to the new facility:
READ MORE / COMMENT
Junior midfielder Kevin Murray has dropped to the back to cover for injured Stephane Pierre. -- PITT
September 18, 2015
Pitt notebook: Back line adjusts for ‘huge loss’
4by CJ Cunningham • Coverage • Pitt
By C.J. CUNNINGHAM
Pitt men’s soccer showed its true colors in a 4-0 drubbing delivered by 14th-ranked Wake Forest last Saturday at Ambrose Urbanic Field.
A 3-0-1 start in non-conference play had built some buzz around the Panthers, but the Demon Deacons proved that hype unwarranted. There are several problems still standing in the way of a first ACC victory for Joe Luxbacher’s program.
The biggest of those issues shifted quickly from an uninventive attack to an incohesive back line over a week’s time. Saturday’s loss ended Pitt’s 380 consecutive minutes without conceding a goal. The porous way the streak concluded showed the importance of junior center back Stephane Pierre, who missed the match with an undisclosed injury.
“It’s a huge loss,” said senior goalkeeper and captain Dan Lynd. “There’s no doubt about it.”
READ MORE / COMMENT
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