SB Nation Pittsburgh - Pirates Vs. Phillies: Bucs Win 2 Straight, Split Serieshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48827/pitt-fv.png2012-06-29T00:45:26-04:00http://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/rss/stream/28808642012-06-29T00:45:26-04:002012-06-29T00:45:26-04:00Pirates Vs. Phillies: A.J. Burnett Wins Again As Pirates Win 2nd Straight
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vu2A6neKAixIn6CkeqyUcmXnPkE=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828131/large_pittsburgh.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bucsdugout.com/">Pirates</a>' <span>A.J. Burnett</span> won his eighth straight start, beating the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/">Phillies</a> 5-4 in a game that was closer than it initially appeared it would be.</p>
<p>The Bucs scored all five of their runs in the first inning, thanks in part to a three-run shot by <span>Casey McGehee</span> and a solo homer by <span>Pedro Alvarez</span>.</p>
<p>In the second, however, former Pirates backup catcher <span>Erik Kratz</span> hit a two-run bomb. Then Placido Polanco hit a grounder for an RBI in the sixth. Burnett left after 6.2 innings after striking out seven and walking two, and allowing three earned runs.</p>
<p>The Phillies inched closer in the eighth on a solo homer by <span>Hunter Pence</span>. Despite a leadoff single by <span>Jimmy Rollins</span> against <span>Joel Hanrahan</span> in the ninth, though, the Phillies couldn't bring the tying run home, and the Bucs escaped with a 5-4 win.</p>
<p><i>For more on the Pirates, check out <a href="http://bucsdugout.com">Bucs Dugout</a></i>.</p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/pittsburgh-pirates/2012/6/29/3125296/pirates-vs-phillies-a-j-burnett-recapCharlie Wilmoth2012-06-28T10:23:24-04:002012-06-28T10:23:24-04:00Pirates Vs. Phillies: A.J. Burnett Looking For 8th Consecutive Victory
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vu2A6neKAixIn6CkeqyUcmXnPkE=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828131/large_pittsburgh.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>On May 13, <span>A.J. Burnett</span> pitched in eight innings and allowed two earned runs, but did not earn a decision. Since that day, Burnett has won seven consecutive starts and has dropped his ERA from 5.12 to 3.24. In his latest start, Burnett allowed just two hits and held the <a href="https://www.blessyouboys.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Tigers</a> scoreless through the six innings he pitched.</p>
<p>If Burnett earns his eighth consecutive win, it will be his ninth of the season and will potentially move him in to a tie for the eighth most wins in the MLB and the fifth most in the National League. To do so, he'll have out-pitch <span>Kyle Kendrick</span> of the <a href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Phillies</a>.</p>
<p>Kendrick has struggled to start the 2012 season with a 2-7 record and 5.24 ERA. In his most recent start he allowed six hits and two earned runs in just four innings pitched as he earned a loss to the <a href="https://www.draysbay.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Rays</a>. Now Kendrick will have to bounce back against a <a href="https://www.bucsdugout.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Pirates</a> lineup that found success and racked up 11 runs in a win against the Phillies on Wednesday.</p>
<p>The first pitch at Citizens Bank Park is scheduled to be thrown at 1:05 p.m. ET and will be televised on CSN-Philadelphia and ROOT Sports.</p>
<p><i>Read more about the Pirates at <a href="http://bucsdugout.com/">Bucs Dugout</a> and check out <a href="http://www.thegoodphight.com/">The Good Phight</a> for more on the Phillies. <a href="http://mlb.sbnation.com/">Baseball Nation</a> is your source for news and analysis around Major League Baseball. Also subscribe to the <a href="http://youtube.com/sbnation">SB Nation Youtube channel </a>for video commentary.</i></p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/pittsburgh-pirates/2012/6/28/3123194/pirates-vs-phillies-aj-burnett-kyle-kendrickAdam Stites2012-06-27T22:50:39-04:002012-06-27T22:50:39-04:00Pirates Vs. Phillies Final Score: Pittsburgh Bats Come Alive In 11-7 Win
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vu2A6neKAixIn6CkeqyUcmXnPkE=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828131/large_pittsburgh.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bucsdugout.com/">Pittsburgh Pirates</a> jumped out to an early lead on the Philadelphia Philles, going up 8-2 midway through the game. That lead would begin to fade however as the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/">Phillies</a> stormed back to pull within a run.</p>
<p>In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Phils began to cut into Pittsburgh's lead thanks to a Hunter Pence RBI double and a Shane Victorino RBI single. The very next inning saw Philadelphia pour on some more runs, as it looked like they would soon close the gap on the Pirates. <span>Jimmy Rollins</span> started things off with an RBI triple to cut the lead to 8-5. Two more runs later as the inning ended, the Phillies found themselves down 8-7.</p>
<p>Pittsburgh got their offense back into gear picking up three runs in the eighth inning, powered by an Andrew McCutchen two-run home run to give the Pirates an 11-7 lead. That was enough for the Pirates to hang on for the win and put themselves in position to split the four-game series.</p>
<p><i>Read more about the Pirates at <a href="http://bucsdugout.com/">Bucs Dugout</a> and check out <a href="http://www.thegoodphight.com/"><b>The Good Phight</b></a> for more on the Phillies. <a href="http://mlb.sbnation.com/">Baseball Nation</a> is your source for news and analysis around Major League Baseball. Also subscribe to the <a href="http://youtube.com/sbnation">SB Nation Youtube channel </a>for video commentary.</i></p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/pittsburgh-pirates/2012/6/27/3122435/pirates-vs-phillies-final-scoreAlfie Crow2012-06-27T20:59:53-04:002012-06-27T20:59:53-04:00Pirates Vs. Phillies Score Update: Pittsburgh Jumps Out To Big 8-2 Lead
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vu2A6neKAixIn6CkeqyUcmXnPkE=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828131/large_pittsburgh.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bucsdugout.com/">Pittsburgh Pirates</a> dropped the first two games in the series to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/">Philadelphia Phillies</a>, but are on their way to what looks like a victory midway through the sixth inning. The Pirates currently hold an 8-2 lead over Philadelphia, thans to two good offensive innings in a row.</p>
<p>Philadelphia took an early lead in the bottom of the first inning, picking up two runs thanks to a pair of home runs by <span>Chase Utley</span> and <span>Carlos Ruiz</span>. The Buccos rallied however in the very next inning thanks to a <span>Michael McKenry</span> three-run blast to give the Pirates the lead. Pittsburgh added on five more runs and currently hold an 8-2 lead.</p>
<p><i>Read more about the Pirates at <a href="http://bucsdugout.com/">Bucs Dugout</a> and check out <a href="http://www.thegoodphight.com/"><b>The Good Phight</b></a> for more on the Phillies. <a href="http://mlb.sbnation.com/">Baseball Nation</a> is your source for news and analysis around Major League Baseball. Also subscribe to the <a href="http://youtube.com/sbnation">SB Nation Youtube channel </a>for video commentary.</i></p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/pittsburgh-pirates/2012/6/27/3122209/pirates-vs-phillies-score-updateAlfie Crow2012-06-27T12:35:58-04:002012-06-27T12:35:58-04:00Pirates Vs. Phillies: Pittsburgh Hopes To Spoil Chase Utley's 2012 Debut
<figure>
<img alt="PITTSBURGH, PA - JUNE 21: James McDonald #53 of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches against the Minnesota Twins during the game on June 21, 2012 at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/_KgIkAdx2FNIHuRdN5BvU7OBa_o=/26x0:973x631/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/7535626/146653101.jpg" />
<figcaption>PITTSBURGH, PA - JUNE 21: James McDonald #53 of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches against the Minnesota Twins during the game on June 21, 2012 at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images) | Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Pittsburgh Pirates play the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday night as Chase Utley will make his 2012 debut.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/">Philadelphia Phillies</a> have had a very lackluster first half of the 2012 season. Mainly due to injuries to key players, the Phillies find themselves in fourth place in the NL East, eight games behind the division-leading <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Washington Nationals</a>. One of those key players, second baseman <span>Chase Utley</span>, is projected to make his first start of the 2012 season on Wednesday.</p>
<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bucsdugout.com/">Pittsburgh Pirates</a> do have the pitcher with the third-best ERA in the Major's in <span>James McDonald</span> (6-3, 2.19 ERA) going to the hill. McDonald is coming off a complete game against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.twinkietown.com/">Minnesota Twins</a> on June 21, allowing only one run on six hits.</p>
<p>The Phillies on the other hand send pitcher <span>Raul Valdes</span> (2-0, 1.84 ERA) to the hill. Valdes, normally a reliever, is being used with the Phillies' rotation being pushed up because of a doubleheader on Sunday. Valdes has made 12 appearances this season, allowing only three runs on eight hits in 14 and two-thirds innings, striking out 17 batters.</p>
<p>The game is scheduled for a 7:05 p.m. first pitch from Citizens Bank Park. Television coverage will be provided by ROOT Sports and radio coverage will be provided by 93.7 KDKA FM.</p>
<p><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Read more about the Pirates at <a style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #000000; font-weight: bold;" href="http://bucsdugout.com/">Bucs Dugout</a> and check out <a href="http://www.thegoodphight.com/"><b>The Good Phight</b></a> for more on the Phillies. <a style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #000000; font-weight: bold;" href="http://mlb.sbnation.com/">Baseball Nation</a> is your source for news and analysis around Major League Baseball. Also subscribe to the <a style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #000000; font-weight: bold;" href="http://youtube.com/sbnation">SB Nation Youtube channel </a>for video commentary.</i></p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/pittsburgh-pirates/2012/6/27/3120932/pirates-vs-phillies-preview-james-mcdonald-chase-utleyTim Blank2012-06-26T22:22:08-04:002012-06-26T22:22:08-04:00Pirates Vs. Phillies Recap: Bucs Drop Second Straight To Phils
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vu2A6neKAixIn6CkeqyUcmXnPkE=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828131/large_pittsburgh.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bucsdugout.com/">Pittsburgh Pirates</a> dropped their second straight to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/">Philadelphia Phillies</a> on Tuesday night, losing 5-4. The Bucs fell behind in the first inning and despite several chances to take the lead, they could never quite get over the hump as the Phillies' offense came through when called upon. <span>Erik Bedard</span> went six innings for Clint Hurdle, giving up four runs while striking out three and walking two. The Phils did their damage in the early innings and a <span>Ty Wigginton</span> two-run shot in the bottom of the third pushed their lead to 4-1.</p>
<p>But the winning run, it turned out, would not come until bottom of the eighth as catcher <span>Carlos Ruiz</span> hit a solo blast off <span>Juan Cruz</span>. It would prove to be valuable insurance as Matt McKenry would hit his fourth homer in the next half inning to make it a one-run game. But closer <span>Jonathan Papelbon</span> would hold on, retiring <span>Alex Presley</span> and <span>Jose Tabata</span> to preserve the 5-4 win.</p>
<p>McKenry finished the night three for three with two RBIs and a run. The Bucs still have a chance to split the four-game series but they'll need <span>James McDonald</span> to stop the skid on Wednesday night. He'll be opposed by <span>Raul Valdes</span>.</p>
<p><i>For more on the Pirates, check out <a href="http://bucsdugout.com/">Bucs Dugout.</a> For more on the Phillies, there's <a href="http://www.thegoodphight.com/">The Good Phight</a>. For more on the other 28 teams, check out <a href="http://mlb.sbnation.com/">SBN's Baseball Nation</a>.</i></p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/pittsburgh-pirates/2012/6/26/3119871/phillies-vs-pirates-score-recapBrendan Porath2012-06-26T18:13:38-04:002012-06-26T18:13:38-04:00Daniel Moskos Designated For Assignment As Pirates Finish Roster Moves
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vu2A6neKAixIn6CkeqyUcmXnPkE=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828131/large_pittsburgh.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>Completing the series of roster moves that saw the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bucsdugout.com/">Pirates</a> <a href="http://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/pittsburgh-pirates/2012/6/26/3119194/pirates-add-drew-sutton-eric-fryer-demote-doug-slaten-matt-hague/in/2880864">add</a> <span>Drew Sutton</span> and <span>Eric Fryer</span> to the 25-man roster, the Bucs have <a href="https://twitter.com/BrinkPG/status/217738675428134912">designated</a> reliever <span>Daniel Moskos</span> for assignment.</p>
<p>Moskos was the fourth overall pick in the 2007 Major League Draft, and he became a symbol of the failures of former Bucs GM Dave Littlefield, who selected Moskos, who even then projected as a reliever, over current <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.camdenchat.com/">Orioles</a> star <span>Matt Wieters</span>. It's not Moskos' fault that he isn't Wieters', obviously, but the Pirates attempted to draft a late-inning reliever, always an incredibly bad decision at No. 4 overall, and got even less. Moskos did make it to the majors, but he hit a wall as a starter and, other than some decent pitching at Altoona in 2010 and Indianapolis in 2011, really never looked much like a reliable major-leaguer.</p>
<p>There's a good chance Moskos will pass through waivers and end up back in the Pirates organization.</p>
<p><i>For more on the Pirates, check out <a href="http://bucsdugout.com">Bucs Dugout</a></i>.</p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/pittsburgh-pirates/2012/6/26/3119423/daniel-moskos-designated-for-assignment-pirates-roster-dannyCharlie Wilmoth2012-06-26T16:47:12-04:002012-06-26T16:47:12-04:00Pirates Vs. Phillies: Tuesday Starting Lineups
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vu2A6neKAixIn6CkeqyUcmXnPkE=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828131/large_pittsburgh.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>After dropping the first game of the weekday series against their in-state foe, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bucsdugout.com/">Pittsburgh Pirates</a> look to get back on track on Tuesday, sending <span>Erik Bedard</span> to the mound. Bedard, though, has gone just 4-7 this season with a 4.12 ERA in 14 starts. He will be opposite the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/">Philadelphia Phillies</a>' <span>Vance Worley</span>, who is 3-4 with a 2.78 ERA this season. Though dropping Monday night's contest, its second straight, Pittsburgh has won six of its last nine games.</p>
<p>First pitch against the Phillies is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. EST and will be televised by ROOT.</p>
<p>Here are tonight's starting lineups:</p>
<h3>Pirates (38-34)</h3>
<p><span>Jose Tabata</span> LF<br><span>Neil Walker</span> 2B<br><span>Andrew McCutchen</span> CF<br><span>Garrett Jones</span> RF<br>Case McGehee 1B<br><span>Pedro Alvarez</span> 3B<br><span>Clint Barmes</span> SS<br><span>Michael McKenry</span> C<br>Erik Bedard P</p>
<h3>Phillies (35-40)</h3>
<p><span>Jimmy Rollins</span> SS<br><span>Placido Polanco</span> 3B<br><span>Hunter Pence</span> RF<br><span>Carlos Ruiz</span> C<br><span>Shane Victorino</span> CF<br><span>Ty Wigginton</span> 1B<br><span>John Mayberry</span> LF<br><span>Mike Fontenot</span> 2B<br>Vance Worley P</p>
<p><i>For more on the Pirates, check out <a href="http://bucsdugout.com/">Bucs Dugout.</a> For more on the Phillies, there's <a href="http://www.thegoodphight.com/">The Good Phight</a>. For more on the other 28 teams, check out <a href="http://mlb.sbnation.com/">SBN's Baseball Nation</a>.</i></p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/pittsburgh-pirates/2012/6/26/3119210/pittsburgh-pirates-philadelphia-phillies-starting-lineupsJoey Kaufman