June 29
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Until Sunday, Jason Jaramillo had never spent an hour in the on-deck circle. "It was weird," Jaramillo said after the Pirates absorbed a soggy, 3-2 loss against the Kansas City Royals. "It was like I was leading off a new game. My blood was flowing a little too much. We got close, but just couldn't pull it off." Royals right-hander Zack Greinke was dominant for six innings. A rain delay in the seventh knocked Greinke out of the game - but also short-circuited the Pirates' lone rally. "I think it squashed a little bit of our momentum," manager John Russell said. With Kansas City leading 3-0, Adam LaRoche began the bottom of the seventh with a single to center, his third hit of the game. ..."
June 28
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Zack Greinke and a rain delay short-circuited the Pirates' offense today, as the Kansas City Royals held on for a 3-2 victory. The Pirates managed seven hits, all but one of them singles. After finally scoring in the seventh inning, they waited out a long rain delay and did not get another hit. David DeJesus' solo homer in the fourth inning off of right-hander Charlie Morton (0-1) gave the Royals the lead. Kansas City went up 3-0 in fifth on doubles by Alberto Collapso and Mark Teahen, a single by Mitch Maier and DeJesus' fielder's choice grounder. The Pirates scratched out just four singles through the first six innings against Greinke (10-3), who came in with the majors' best ERA (1.90). ..."
June 28
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Delwyn Young, tonight, delivered a career-high four RBI, including a three-run home run, to power the Pirates past the Kansas City Royals, 6-2. Young homered in the fourth inning off Bruce Chen. In the eighth, he hit a run-scoring single to right. Over his past 11 starts, Young is batting .416 with two homers and seven RBI. Pirates left-hander Paul Maholm picked up the victory, allowing two runs on five hits in seven innings. Maholm (5-4) had lost three of his previous four decisions, and in that span, had raised his ERA by more than a half-point. Perhaps it helped being back at PNC Park, where Maholm has gone 10-3 with a 2.98 ERA in 22 starts since last season. It was the Pirates' fourth ..."
June 27
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Virgil Vasquez was waived three times in a three-month span this offseason. He may have found a home. The 27-year-old right-hander pitched six strong innings and recorded his first major-league victory, as the Pirates powered past the Royals, 5-3, on Friday night at PNC Park. "It was the most comfortable I've ever been," he said. "You know that you are a big-league pitcher inside, but you never really know until you do it. It was just nice just to do it." Vasquez, recalled earlier in the day from Triple-A Indianapolis to replace demoted Ian Snell, allowed two runs on four hits in his first major-league start in nearly two years. Most impressively, Vasquez (1-0) struck out seven - albeit ..."
June 26
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Right-hander Virgil Vasquez was called up from Triple-A and will start tonight against Kansas City. Righty Charlie Morton was pushed back to Sunday, giving his tender hamstring more time to heal. • Catcher Ryan Doumit (broken bone in right wrist) will leave Sunday for Bradenton, Fla., to work out at the team's spring training facility. Doumit could be on track to return to the Pirates by the end of July. "We are very pleased with his progress," general manager Neal Huntington said. • Outfielder Brandon Moss got a rare start last night against a left-handed pitcher. Not just any left-hander, but American League Cy Young winner Cliff Lee. Manager John Russell said he has liked Moss' approach ..."