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Grilli's first blown save spoils Locke's start in loss Pirates starter Jeff Locke kept his unbeaten streak alive Wednesday at Great American Ball Park. Closer Jason Grilli couldn't say the same about his own impressive run, blowing his first save of the season en route to a 2-1 loss to the Reds in 13 innings. Cumpton looks to force series split in second start Though Brandon Phillips may have gotten on track with a walk-off single in the 13th inning Wednesday, Pirates rookie Brandon Cumpton will try to ensure it's not the case in Thursday's series finale at Great American Ball Park, where Homer Bailey starts for the home side. Strikeouts glaring for struggling Pirates offense At the beginning of play Wednesday, the Braves were the only National League team to strike out more times (645) than the Pirates (599) this season. That's contributed to Pittsburgh ranking 24th in the Majors in runs scored with 266 before taking on the Reds on Wednesday. Improving Alvarez still striking out in middle of lineup Third baseman Pedro Alvarez entered Wednesday's matchup with the Reds having reached base safely in 14 of 16 games this month. In that span, he hit five homers and accounted for 14 of his 43 RBIs, and manager Clint Hurdle said Alvarez has been showing glimpses of the player the... Lefty Zagurski opts to explore free agency After being designated for assignment Saturday and clearing waivers Tuesday, left-hander Mike Zagurski opted to enter free agency. Early runs help Morton, Bucs finally top Latos Pirates manger Clint Hurdle had a feeling Reds starter Mat Latos was due for a loss. A dominant performance from Charlie Morton and a big first inning from the Pirates' offense turned Hurdle's feeling into reality, as Pittsburgh beat Cincinnati, 4-0, on Tuesday at Great American Ball Park. Walker questions intent of Chapman's chin music In the ninth inning of Monday's 4-1 loss to the Reds, Neil Walker led off against Cincinnati closer Aroldis Chapman. With the count even at two balls and two strikes, Chapman buzzed a 100-mph fastball right past the chin of Walker, who barely evaded it and fell to his back. Gomez's second rehab start postponed due to rain Injured right-hander Jeanmar Gomez was expected to make his second rehab start Tuesday with Triple-A Indianapolis as he recovers from a right forearm strain and inflammation, but rain postponed the game. McGuire signs, capping busy weeks for high schooler The Pirates announced they signed Reese McGuire, one of their two first-round selections in the Draft who was previously committed to play at the University of San Diego. The Kentwood (Wash.) High School catcher signed for $2.369 million, about $200,000 below the slot value for the 14th pick. Strong effort from Liriano derailed by home runs With a chance to move into second place in the National League Central by beating the team in front of them, the Pirates fell just short on Monday, losing to the Reds 4-1 at Great American Ball Park. Francisco Liriano allowed his first two homers of the season. Marte back in Pirates' starting lineup Left fielder Starling Marte was scratched before Thursday's game against the Giants and didn't start the next three games. He entered Sunday's win against the Dodgers in the sixth inning and finished the game, leaving manager Clint Hurdle confident Marte was ready for a pivotal series against the Reds. Mercer again at short, but Barmes still in mix For the third straight day, Pirates manager Clint Hurdle went with Jordy Mercer at shortstop, as the Bucs began a three-game series against the Reds. Mercer's name has been in the starting lineup more and more of late, but that doesn't mean Hurdle is abandoning Clint Barmes at short. Wandy gets throwing in with pitching coach Wandy Rodriguez made the trip to Cincinnati with the team this week. Before Monday's game, Rodriguez, who left a June 5 start against the Braves with left forearm tightness, was able to get some work done with pitching coach Ray Searage. Tale of pitchers from India gets Hollywood treatment When the Pittsburgh Pirates signed Dinesh Patel and Rinku Singh after the pair won a reality show searching for the next big talent in India, it was stuff of Hollywood legend. The cast and crew of the movie "Million Dollar Arm," now in production, took to Atlanta to film. McCutchen behind pace in NL All-Star voting Andrew McCutchen ranks seventh among National League outfielders in All-Star voting as of Sunday's latest balloting update. Starting pitching depth paying off for Pirates The Pirates have used 11 different starting pitchers already this season after employing only 10 all of last year, a sign of the club's improved depth. Cumpton earns second start Thursday at Reds Right-hander Brandon Cumpton will remain in the Pirates' rotation and make his next start in the finale of a four-game series with the Reds in Cincinnati on Thursday. Alvarez's three-run shot makes winner of Cole Pedro Alvarez launched a three-run homer off Zack Greinke to break a 2-2 tie in the fifth and give the Pirates a 6-3 win behind rookie starter Gerrit Cole, who won his second decision in as many starts on Sunday. Comeback bid falls short in 11th in Cumpton's debut After the Pirates had clawed into a tie on Travis Snider's homer with one out in the ninth, the Dodgers scored twice in the 11th to take a 5-3 win over the Pirates on Saturday at PNC Park. Pirates pull off rehearsed 'Rudy' play The final run of the Pirates' 3-0 Friday night victory appeared to be a result of answered opportunity when Andrew McCutchen tagged up and scored on Neil Walker's foul popup about 100 feet beyond first base. Pirates designate left-hander Zagurski for assignment Left-hander Mike Zagurski, whose comeback hopes with the Pirates dead-ended in a series of ineffective outings, was designated for assignment on Saturday, clearing roster space for Brandon Cumpton. Marte misses third straight game with rib issue Starling Marte remained out of the Pirates' lineup on Saturday but remained on the team's active roster. Lefty-hitting Alex Presley was back in left and atop the batting order. Grilli digs deep to close Locke's gem vs. Dodgers Jeff Locke permitted just two hits over seven shutout innings as the Bucs blanked the Dodgers, 3-0, on Friday at PNC Park. Hurdle not matching wits with Mattingly in opener Opposition players aren't the only ones scouted by Major League teams, who also put together their own information on managers. Pirates ace Burnett has tear in right calf With veteran A.J. Burnett sidelined by a Grade 1 tear in his right calf, fellow righty Brandon Cumpton will make his Major League debut for the Pirates on Saturday in a start vs. the Dodgers. Morton returns with solid effort as Bucs lose to Giants Pitching on the one-year anniversary of his perfect game against Houston, Matt Cain on Thursday blanked the Pirates on two hits for 6 2/3 innings in the Giants' 10-0 win over Charlie Morton, taking the luster off Morton's first start after recovering from Tommy John surgery last June 14. Pirates sign fourth-round Draft pick, nine others The Pirates signed 10 players from the 2013 First-Year Player Draft, the team announced Thursday. Sam Houston State lefty Cody Dickson, a fourth-round selection, was the most notable of the 10. Rib-cage discomfort sidelines Marte Starling Marte's hopes of building on his first career four-hit game were spoiled a couple of hours prior to the start of Thursday night's game, when he was a late scratch from the Pirates lineup due to discomfort in his left rib-cage area. Bucs' Leyva remembers dad fondly Bert Leyva was fiercely proud of his son and his baseball career. But Nick Leyva, the Pirates' third-base coach, was even prouder of his father, who was 16 when he was born.

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