Pittsburgh 5 – Chicago 0: A.J. Burnett throws a 1-hit complete game shutout gem vs Cubs
PIRATES 5 – CUBS 0 With the starting rotation faltering of late, the Pirates needed a big start from A.J. Burnett (13-3, 3.27 ERA) tonight and he was sensational, throwing a 1-hit complete game shutout gem in the Pirates (59-44) 5-0 win over the Chicago Cubs (43-59) on Tuesday night. Burnett took a no-hitter into the 8th inning and lost the no hitter with 2 outs in the 8th when Adrian Cardenas singled to right on a 3-2 count. It will go down as a controversial at-bat as umpire Jeff Nelson didn’t give Burnett two close pitches that just missed the corner, especially the 2-2 pitch prior to Cardenas hitting the single with the 3-2 count. Burnett would go out and throw a
Pirates ship Casey McGehee to Yankees for struggling reliever RHP Chad Qualls
The Pittsburgh Pirates beat the buzzer, shipping first baseman Casey McGehee to the New York Yankees in exchange for 33 year old reliever Chad Qualls who has struggled this season with a 4.89 ERA and was designated for assignment by Philadelphia on June 28th and then traded to the Yankees on July 1.
Pirates acquire Marlins first baseman Gaby Sanchez
The Pittsburgh Pirates have acquired Florida Marlins first baseman Gaby Sanchez in exchange for Gorky’s Hernandez, and a competitive-balance pick, Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports first reported. The Pirates will also receive minor league reliever Kyle Kaminska, the team’s 25th round pick in 2007 and has spent most of this season in double-A. Sanchez, 28, hit .202 with 3 home runs and 17 RBIs in 55 games with the Marlins and was demoted to Triple-A New Orleans on July 4, after the Marlins acquired Carlos Lee.
Daniel McCutchen recall, Sutton sent down
Daniel McCutchen is backup with the big club, officially recalled this afternoon as the team designated RF Drew Sutton for assignment. McCutchen has not appeared in the Majors this season….. went 5-2 with a 3.56 ERA in 26 games for Triple-A Indianapolis. In 43 innings, mostly in relief, McCutchen struck out 31 and walked 13. McCutchen has a 4.67 ERA in 107 career Major League games with the Pirates from 2009-2011. The 29 year old last pitched for the Pirates in the Majors on September 28, 2011.
Morning Pens Buzz on Doan; Yandle; Huselius a potential camp invite?; Tangradi-Malkin-Neal together?
MORNING PENS BUZZ — As Shane Doan has intensified talks with interested teams, there is said to be frustrations among some interested teams who feel agent Terry Bross who’s majority of clients are baseball players, has used the media to drive up Doan’s price, and don’t like how he’s negotiated through the media. In some sense it’s an agent job to drive up the price but the sense I get from league sources is that a few teams don’t like how he’s publicly specified which teams have “strong interest”. Look for Bross to become much more quiet as Doan gets closer to picking a team.
Analysis on Pirates dealing Brad Lincoln to Toronto for outfielder Travis Snider in what management see’s as a high upside move
The Pittsburgh Pirates made a swap of 2006 first round picks, acquiring outfielder Travis Snider from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for RHP Brad Lincoln.
MLB: Pirates eyeing bench player in trade talks for Kevin Correia?
HUNTINGTON SEEKING BENCH PLAYER FOR CORREIA?
The Latest Steelers Camp Rumblings
THE LATEST STEELERS CAMP RUMBLINGS — One reason the Steelers have no clue for when Mike Wallace is going to show up is because his agent Bus Cook had been advocating for Wallace to report to camp last Wednesday and still is, but Wallace has gone against Cook’s advice to report, individuals close to Cook are saying. Maybe Wallace will come to his senses and report this week or maybe it will be at least a few weeks down the road. The Steelers just don’t know at this point. — The Steelers final offer to Wallace before they took it off the table was more but similar to Antonio Brown’s 5 year – $42.5 million deal. The final offer to
McDonald’s struggles to throw strikes a glaring concern after 4th straight disappointing start
With a fourth straight disappointing start, James McDonald (10-5, 3.38 ERA) struggles on the mound is becoming a growing concern for the Pirates with two months left in the season. In the Pirates 9-5 loss to Houston on Sunday, McDonald walked a career-high 7 batters, in just five innings, allowing 6 hits and 5 runs. McDonald has allowed 16 earned runs in his last three starts and has an 8.71 ERA in his last four starts. The biggest concern with McDonald has been the walks, as he’s walked 19 batters in his last four starts and has pitched 5 innings or less in three of his last four starts.
A stronger Chris Carter is making some noise early in camp
2nd year Outside linebacker Chris Carter, the team’s 5th round pick in 2010, is taking advantage of first team reps and making an impression as James Harrison and Jason Worilds remain on the pup list. The 6-foot-1 Carter who has come to camp 10 lbs heavier than last season and is pushing 260 lbs, is showing improved strength which is making him a factor in 1-on-1 battles as he stood out today in Linebackers vs Tight Ends, getting the best of David Johnson on a few occasions. Carter is a player the Steelers are hoping can provide legitimate depth at OLB as Carter has pass rushing ability. In his final season in College at Fresno State, Carter had 11 sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss