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Pirates Vs. Nationals Score Update: Bucs Down 2-0 Early

2012-05-17T00:02:35Z

The Pirates have struggled offensively so far, getting just one hit and struggling to get contact as Washington Nationals pitcher Gio Gonzalez struck out five batters through the first three innings. The Pirates took two of three games from the Nationals in their first match up of the season, but are down 2-0 early to the Nats.

The Nats picked up an early score in the first inning when Ryan Zimmerman plated Bryce Harper on a ground out to shortstop. In the bottom of the third inning, shortstop Ian Desmond extended the Nats lead with a solo home run to left field, giving the Nats the 2-0 lead after three innings.

Center fielder Andrew McCutchen has the only hit so far for the Bucs.

For more on the Pirates, check out Bucs Dugout. For more on the Nats, there's Federal Baseball. For more on baseball and the MLB in general, visit SB Nation's dedicated MLB hub Baseball Nation.

Pirates Option Alex Presley, Recall Evan Meek

2012-05-16T20:26:21Z

The Pittsburgh Pirates made a roster move on Wednesday before their matchup with the Washington Nationals, sending outfielder Alex Presley to triple-a and recalled right-handed pitcher Evan Meek, according to Rob Biertempfel.

#Pirates option Alex Presley to triple-a, recall rhp evan meek
— Rob Biertempfel (@BiertempfelTrib) May 16, 2012

With Brad Lincoln's spot start, the Bucs would have been operating with a short bullpen so they needed another reliever for a few games. The belief is also that the Pirates will send Meek back down in favor of catcher Jake Fox for the Bucs interleague series against the Detroit Tigers.

Presely had struggled while in the lineup as an outfield, so his demotion shouldn't come as too much of a surprise.

For more on the Pirates, check out Bucs Dugout. For more on the Nats, there's Federal Baseball. For more on baseball and the MLB in general, visit SB Nation's dedicated MLB hub Baseball Nation.

Pirates Take On The Nationals Once Again, This Time In D.C.

2012-05-16T20:09:57Z

The Bucs are set to face off against the Washington Nationals again, but this time on the road in D.C.

The Pirates and Nationals don't face each other very often, but their second series in a week begins in D.C. Wednesday night as Erik Bedard takes on Gio Gonzalez (7:05, ROOT Sports).

Gonzalez didn't pitch in last week's series. He's been a big part of the Nationals' resurgence this year, striking out 50 batters in 41.2 innings so far. Bedard might have his hands full keeping up with him.

Bedard, meanwhile, returns after missing a start due to back spasms.

Since the Pirates and Nationals' last series, one of the bigger stories surrounding the Nats has been Stephen Strasburg's struggles in his last start, and the unusual reason for them -- he somehow got Hot Stuff ointment in his groin. The Pirates, perhaps fortunately, will miss Strasburg in this brief two-game set. After Gonzalez on Wednesday, James McDonald and the Bucs will take on Jordan Zimmermann on Thursday at 7:05 before heading to Detroit for an interleague series against the Tigers.

For more on the Pirates, check out Bucs Dugout. For more on the Nats, there's Federal Baseball.

Steelers Offensive Line: Willie Colon To Move To Left Guard

2012-05-16T18:37:13Z

The offensive line has been an area that Pittsburgh Steelers fans have been questioning all offseason. After drafting guard David DeCastro in the first round and tackle Mike Adams in the second round, the Steelers look to be going in the right direction as Willie Colon will move from tackle to guard, according to Mike Prisuta.

This isn't to say the move was inevitable.

Several naysayers over the years have stated that it would never happen and they included Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette who stated just last May, "The move is not going to happen. Cheerleaders on the sideline at Heinz Field will occur before Colon is moved to guard in this offense."

In addition to that, Steelers Depot guesses that Max Starks will start at left tackle and Marcus Gilbert will go to right tackle to at least start the season.

Gilbert is better suited RT long term. Maybe @MaxStarks78 will be ready to start season at LT initially so Gilbert can stat at RT. #steelers
— Steelers Depot (@Steelersdepot) May 16, 2012

But there's also the possibility that because Colon is moving from tackle to guard, that the Steelers are planning on starting Mike Adams at the beginning of the season.

Willie Colon says he's moving to left guard. Guess that means #Steelers plan on starting 2 rookies on OL -- DeCastro and Adams.
— Mark Kaboly (@MarkKaboly_Trib) May 16, 2012

Steelers fans will have to keep an eye on the line as the offseason continues.

For more on the Pittsburgh Steelers, head on over to Behind the Steel Curtain. For all the latest offseason news across the league, please visit the SB Nation NFL Hub Page.

ACC Basketball Tournaments To Expand To 14 Teams With Additions Of Pitt, Syracuse

2012-05-16T18:02:34Z

With the addition of both the Pittsburgh Panthers and Syracuse Orange to the ACC, questions had been floating around as to what 14 teams would mean to the annual men's and women's basketball tournaments. Those questions were laid to rest Tuesday as ACC commissioner John Swofford confirmed that the tournament will expand to include all 14 teams in the conference when both Pitt and Syracuse join in 2013.

Swofford also said all 14 teams will make ACC basketball tournaments. Wednesday through Sunday.
— Ira Schoffel (@IraSchoffel) May 16, 2012

The tournament will be expanded by an additional day, so it is not clear at the outset how many byes will be awarded and how the tournament will be structured now. However, because the tournament will now be spread over five days, it can be assumed that it will not follow the standard structure for a 14-team single elimination tournament, which includes giving only the top two teams byes.

Both tournaments will be held at the Greensboro Coliseum for the next three years, according to Swofford.

Steelers Center Maurkice Pouncey Among Top Under-25 Players, NFL.com Says

2012-05-16T16:57:05Z

The Steelers' Maurkice Pouncey is featured on NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah's list of the top 10 NFL players under 25, along with NaVorro Bowman, A.J. Green, Rob Gronkowski, LeSean McCoy, Von Miller, Cam Newton, Jason Pierre-Paul, Aldon Smith and Matthew Stafford. Here's what Jeremiah has to say about Pouncey:

Pouncey has put together two dominant seasons for the Steelers and established himself as the top center in the NFL. The Jets' Nick Mangold and the Panthers' Ryan Kalil are both outstanding but neither possesses Pouncey's combination of size and athletic ability. He has the strength to anchor in pass protection and the power to create movement at the point of attack in the run game. He is outstanding at the second level. He can adjust and pick off linebackers with very little effort. He should be the top player at his position for a very long time.

With the additions of David DeCastro and Mike Adams to Pouncey and fellow youngster Marcus Gilbert, the Steelers' offensive line is coming together quickly, and Pouncey is its anchor.

Another Steeler, Rashard Mendenhall, is in the "just missed the cut" category. So are a few other AFC North players in Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton and defensive tackle Geno Atkins and Browns corner Joe Haden.

For more on the Steelers, check out Behind The Steel Curtain.

Pirates Vs. Nationals: Bucs Face Gio Gonzalez, Jordan Zimmermann In Two-Game Set

2012-05-16T16:34:34Z

The Pirates and Nationals don't face each other very often, but their second series in a week begins in D.C. Wednesday night as Erik Bedard takes on Gio Gonzalez (7:05, ROOT Sports).

Bedard, meanwhile, returns after missing a start due to back spasms.

For more on the Pirates, check out Bucs Dugout. For more on the Nats, there's Federal Baseball.

Penn State Scandal: Jerry Sandusky's Lawyer Asks For Some Charges To Be Dropped

2012-05-16T16:28:35Z

Joe Amendola, the defense attorney for former Penn St. Nittany Lions defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky is asking the judge of Sandusky's child molestation case to drop some of the charges. In an article published by Sara Ganim of The Patriot-News, Amendola claims that the charges against Sandusky are too vague.

Unless prosecutors can give more specific dates for the alleged crimes, Sandusky can't prepare a good defense, Amendola said. Amendola is also asking Judge John Cleland to throw out two specific cases against Sandusky in which no accusers have been identified.

Amendola claims the witnesses that are a part of the 2000 case, janitors who witnessed strange behavior by Sandusky in a locker room, would not be able to testify at trial. One of the janitors has dementia and the other would only be repeating hearsay.

In one of the other cases, involving alleged Victim 6, Amendola claims there is not enough evidence to claim that anything sexual occurred with him.

For the latest updates on the Penn State scandal and the Jerry Sandusky trial, visit our StoryStream. For more on the Nittany Lions, please visit Black Shoe Diaries, SB Nation's Penn State blog.