Looking ahead to first pitch …
Game: Pirates (78-49) vs. Colorado Rockies (51-75), 7:07 p.m., PNC Park
Pitchers: LHP J.A. Happ (2-1, 2.08) vs. LHP Chris Rusin (4-6, 4.97)
TV, radio: Root Sports, 93.7 The Fan
Online: Gameday | Multimedia | Media notes
Josh’s five pregame notes:
• The 1960 World Series champion Pirates will be celebrated tonight at PNC Park, and it doesn’t get cooler than that. Those guys are Pittsburgh royalty and a handful are still visible around PNC Park from time to time.
Clint Hurdle loves having players from those days around his players whenever possible.
“There is no telling what can transpire,” Hurdle said. “I want them to know that we honor them and we respect them. We want them in here. We’re thankful for their hard work, the history that they created.”
Apparently members of that team are big fans of the current Pirates.
“They’ve been watching these guys play,” Hurdle said. “That’s one of the coolest things, how much baseball those guys watch. It’s a good day.”
• Andrew McCutchen is on an extraordinary roll since early May. Hurdle doesn’t recall anything in particular that jump-started McCutchen’s season.
“I don’t think the light came on,” Hurdle said. “I don’t think anyone heard music. I think there are times when players get tired of what they’ve been doing. I really believe that. Grit, resolve, whatever you want to call it.”
One of McCutchen’s great strengths is his bat speed. Hurdle was asked to compare McCutchen’s bat speed to anyone he’s ever seen.
“I can’t,” Hurdle said.
• McCutchen has walked 20 times in 25 games in August. Hurdle can’t imagine that’s going to change.
“There might be one or two guys in the league who could (offer protection to McCutchen) by hitting behind him,” Hurdle said. “It’s just the way it is.”
• Starling Marte isn’t in the lineup tonight against a lefty, which is especially rare. But he didn’t have a particularly good trip in Miami.
Hurdle wants all of his outfielders to receive an occasional day off and, because of the Pirates’ newfound depth, can easily do so. Josh Harrison will get the start in left field tonight.
“I want to give him a break from the batting part of it,” Hurdle said.
• Gregory Polanco, understandably, was still the talk of PNC Park on Saturday.
Hurdle simply loves this kid.
“Everything he’s done has been because of hard work,” Hurdle said. “The routines, paying attention, watching video of his sliding, taking opportunities to go head first or hold up in a pop-up slide at first. It’s all happening because of hard work for him, the desire to get better and take instruction. That’s why people coach. You can help them make a difference and when they do well, you’re so proud of them.”
Follow the game with Matt:
7:07 p.m.: Hey, it’s Matt taking over for Josh. Rockies in the gray, Pirates in the black alternate tops. Happ retires the side in order.
7:25: Aramis Ramirez launches his first home run at PNC Park — as a Pirate — since July 20, 2003. A three-run rip to straightaway left. 3-0 Pirates in front of what appears to be a near-capacity crowd.
7:39: Zac Weiss, who will be handling Duquesne coverage for us, just noted that Jim Leyland was on the elevator before the game. Might have wanted to say hello to the members of the 1960 Pirates team who were honored before first pitch.
7:57: Pirates give up one, but it could have been worse. After back-to-back hits, Charlie Blackmon‘s bouncer made it 3-1. He advanced on a steal and a throwing error by Francisco Cervelli, but the Rockies didn’t send him home on a fly ball to Polanco, whose throw sailed all the way to the backstop. Happ closed the inning by catching a Carlos Gonzalez popup.
8:20: Two more runners for the Rox in the fourth, but Happ eludes trouble, if not athletic trainer Todd Tomczak. Nick Hundley‘s liner to the mound caught a piece of Happ, but the Pirates lefty stays in the game.
8:32: Happ whiffs in a 3-2 count to end the fourth. Walks to Cervelli and Neil Walker (intentional) had put two runners on.
8:42: Some were asking about the pregame ceremony. Among those on the field: Hal Smith, ElRoy Face, Bill Virdon, Bill Mazeroski, Bob Friend, Dick Groat, Vern Law and, representing their father, Luis and Roberto Clemente, Jr.
8:59: Arquimedes Caminero cleans up a ragged top of the sixth, retiring Hundley on a groundout to end the inning. Jung Ho Kang‘s throwing error had created a bit of a mess, but he made a nice stop on the next play to get an out at second. Some jams, but another strong outing from Happ overall.
9:11: Pedro Alvarez lines out hard to center field. Three to go from the North Shore, still 3-1.
9:34: Make it 4-1 Pittsburgh. Walker and pinch-hitter Michael Morse ripped back-to-back singles to start the inning, and Polanco’s groundout got the run home.
9:49: A couple hard-hit balls, but Tony Watson did his job … again. Scoreless eighth.
10:17: It got dicey in the ninth, with Ben Paulsen demolishing a two-run homer to left. But, Mark Melancon recovered to complete the victory. Amusing ending as Harrison caught a liner and jogged 40 feet to the bag himself, as pinch-runner Daniel Descalso was off on the pitch to Charlie Blackmon.
August 29, 2015
Final: Pirates 4, Rockies 3
240by Josh Yohe • Game previews • Pirates
Looking ahead to first pitch …
Game: Pirates (78-49) vs. Colorado Rockies (51-75), 7:07 p.m., PNC Park
Pitchers: LHP J.A. Happ (2-1, 2.08) vs. LHP Chris Rusin (4-6, 4.97)
TV, radio: Root Sports, 93.7 The Fan
Online: Gameday | Multimedia | Media notes
Josh’s five pregame notes:
• The 1960 World Series champion Pirates will be celebrated tonight at PNC Park, and it doesn’t get cooler than that. Those guys are Pittsburgh royalty and a handful are still visible around PNC Park from time to time.
Clint Hurdle loves having players from those days around his players whenever possible.
“There is no telling what can transpire,” Hurdle said. “I want them to know that we honor them and we respect them. We want them in here. We’re thankful for their hard work, the history that they created.”
Apparently members of that team are big fans of the current Pirates.
“They’ve been watching these guys play,” Hurdle said. “That’s one of the coolest things, how much baseball those guys watch. It’s a good day.”
• Andrew McCutchen is on an extraordinary roll since early May. Hurdle doesn’t recall anything in particular that jump-started McCutchen’s season.
“I don’t think the light came on,” Hurdle said. “I don’t think anyone heard music. I think there are times when players get tired of what they’ve been doing. I really believe that. Grit, resolve, whatever you want to call it.”
One of McCutchen’s great strengths is his bat speed. Hurdle was asked to compare McCutchen’s bat speed to anyone he’s ever seen.
“I can’t,” Hurdle said.
• McCutchen has walked 20 times in 25 games in August. Hurdle can’t imagine that’s going to change.
“There might be one or two guys in the league who could (offer protection to McCutchen) by hitting behind him,” Hurdle said. “It’s just the way it is.”
• Starling Marte isn’t in the lineup tonight against a lefty, which is especially rare. But he didn’t have a particularly good trip in Miami.
Hurdle wants all of his outfielders to receive an occasional day off and, because of the Pirates’ newfound depth, can easily do so. Josh Harrison will get the start in left field tonight.
“I want to give him a break from the batting part of it,” Hurdle said.
• Gregory Polanco, understandably, was still the talk of PNC Park on Saturday.
Hurdle simply loves this kid.
“Everything he’s done has been because of hard work,” Hurdle said. “The routines, paying attention, watching video of his sliding, taking opportunities to go head first or hold up in a pop-up slide at first. It’s all happening because of hard work for him, the desire to get better and take instruction. That’s why people coach. You can help them make a difference and when they do well, you’re so proud of them.”
Follow the game with Matt:
7:07 p.m.: Hey, it’s Matt taking over for Josh. Rockies in the gray, Pirates in the black alternate tops. Happ retires the side in order.
7:25: Aramis Ramirez launches his first home run at PNC Park — as a Pirate — since July 20, 2003. A three-run rip to straightaway left. 3-0 Pirates in front of what appears to be a near-capacity crowd.
7:39: Zac Weiss, who will be handling Duquesne coverage for us, just noted that Jim Leyland was on the elevator before the game. Might have wanted to say hello to the members of the 1960 Pirates team who were honored before first pitch.
7:57: Pirates give up one, but it could have been worse. After back-to-back hits, Charlie Blackmon‘s bouncer made it 3-1. He advanced on a steal and a throwing error by Francisco Cervelli, but the Rockies didn’t send him home on a fly ball to Polanco, whose throw sailed all the way to the backstop. Happ closed the inning by catching a Carlos Gonzalez popup.
8:20: Two more runners for the Rox in the fourth, but Happ eludes trouble, if not athletic trainer Todd Tomczak. Nick Hundley‘s liner to the mound caught a piece of Happ, but the Pirates lefty stays in the game.
8:32: Happ whiffs in a 3-2 count to end the fourth. Walks to Cervelli and Neil Walker (intentional) had put two runners on.
8:42: Some were asking about the pregame ceremony. Among those on the field: Hal Smith, ElRoy Face, Bill Virdon, Bill Mazeroski, Bob Friend, Dick Groat, Vern Law and, representing their father, Luis and Roberto Clemente, Jr.
8:59: Arquimedes Caminero cleans up a ragged top of the sixth, retiring Hundley on a groundout to end the inning. Jung Ho Kang‘s throwing error had created a bit of a mess, but he made a nice stop on the next play to get an out at second. Some jams, but another strong outing from Happ overall.
9:11: Pedro Alvarez lines out hard to center field. Three to go from the North Shore, still 3-1.
9:34: Make it 4-1 Pittsburgh. Walker and pinch-hitter Michael Morse ripped back-to-back singles to start the inning, and Polanco’s groundout got the run home.
9:49: A couple hard-hit balls, but Tony Watson did his job … again. Scoreless eighth.
10:17: It got dicey in the ninth, with Ben Paulsen demolishing a two-run homer to left. But, Mark Melancon recovered to complete the victory. Amusing ending as Harrison caught a liner and jogged 40 feet to the bag himself, as pinch-runner Daniel Descalso was off on the pitch to Charlie Blackmon.