STARTS RIGHT NOW. IT IS A BIG DAY FOR BASEBALL HERE IN PITTSBURGH. THANKS FOR JOINING US AT NOON. I’M LILY COLEMAN IN FOR ELENA LAQUATRA. THE PIRATES HOME OPENER JUST ABOUT FOUR HOURS AWAY. AND EXCITEMENT IS BUILDING. OUR TEAM IS READY FOR IT ALL. WE’RE LOOKING AT WHAT’S NEW FOR THIS YEAR AND THE WEATHER FOR TODAY’S GAME. PLUS, BUCKO, SKIPPER DEREK SHELTON ON EXPECTATIONS FOR THE SEASON. LET’S BEGIN WITH ANDREW STOCKEY DOWN AT PNC PARK. ANDREW NORTH SHORE IS THE PLACE TO BE TODAY. LILLY IT CERTAINLY IS A HAPPY HOME. OPENING DAY TO YOU AND ALL THE PIRATE NATION AS THE PIRATES GET READY TO KICK OFF ANOTHER BASEBALL SEASON. IN FACT, WE JUST SAW THE PLAYERS. PAUL SKENES SOME OF THE PITCHERS WARMING UP NEAR THE BULLPEN BEHIND ME. GAME DAY AND GAME TIME IS GETTING VERY, VERY CLOSE AS THE PIRATES GET READY TO OPEN THE HOME HALF OF THEIR SEASON. AFTER A ROUGH START ON THE ROAD, GOING TWO AND FIVE. NOW THIS, OF COURSE, IS THE HOME OPENER AT PNC PARK. IT’S THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THIS BALLPARK. IT’S HARD TO BELIEVE THIS BALLPARK IS 25 YEARS OLD, AND WHILE THE NEWNESS IS NO LONGER THERE, THE VIEW AND THE FEELING NEVER CHANGES. IT’S ONE OF THE BEST BALLPARKS IN ALL OF AMERICA. NOW, THIS HOME OPENER IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN SOME OF THE PREVIOUS PIRATE HOME OPENERS. BECAUSE OF THE OPPOSITION, THEY’RE ABOUT TO PLAY A TEAM THAT’S MAYBE ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS BRANDS IN ALL OF SPORTS THE NEW YORK YANKEES, THE YANKEES AND THEIR TORPEDO BATS. AS YOU PROBABLY HEARD ABOUT COMING HERE TO TOWN AS WELL. WE WERE JUST IN THE PIRATE CLUBHOUSE, ASKING A FEW OF THE PLAYERS ABOUT PLAYING THE PIRATES AND THE FEELING OF PLAYING ON OPENING DAY. STADIUM ITSELF IS IT SPEAKS FOR ITSELF. IT’S ONE OF THE BEST IN THE LEAGUE, IF NOT THE BEST IN THE LEAGUE. JUST A VIEW, ALL THAT. SO I’M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO TO A NEW OPENING DAY FOR ME. YEAH, IT’S JUST ANOTHER TEAM TO ME. YOU KNOW THEY’RE DOING THEIR THING OVER THERE. YOU KNOW, THE YANKEES ARE THE YANKEES. I HAVE NO ISSUE WITH WHOEVER WE PLAY ON OPENING DAY AND WHATEVER FANS ARE IN THE STANDS, IT’S IT’S I’M OUT THERE TO GO DO MY JOB. NEW PIRATE PITCHER JUSTIN LAWRENCE TALKING ABOUT FACING THE YANKEES AND PLAYING AT PNC PARK. A LOT PLANNED FOR THE OPENING CEREMONIES HERE, INCLUDING MARK FOGEL OF OAKMONT, THROWING OUT THE FIRST PITCH. WE’LL HAVE A BLACKHAWK HELICOPTER FLYOVER AND THEN THE STARTING PITCHER TODAY IS MITCH KELLER. AND TODAY IS HIS BIRTHDAY. IT’S THE PIRATES OF THE YANKEES AT THE PITTSBURGH TIME OF 412 HERE AT PNC PARK. MUCH MORE COMING YOUR WAY FROM THE NORTH SHORE A LITTLE BIT LATER IN THE NEWSCAST, LIVE AT PNC PARK. I’M ANDRE
Pirates face Yankees in historic home opener: Everything you need to know
The Pittsburgh Pirates are set to take on the New York Yankees for their home opener at PNC Park on Friday.Today’s game will mark the first time in Pirates history the Yankees have been Pittsburgh’s opponent for the home opener.Game Time InformationGates will open at 2 p.m. with the first pitch set for 4:12 p.m. The Pirates encourage all fans to be in their seats by 3:35 p.m. to begin the pregame ceremony. Each guest is permitted to bring one bag into the ballpark provided that the bag is soft-sided and 16” x 16” x 8” or smaller. Bags exceeding these dimensions will not be permitted inside the ballpark. Exceptions to this policy include diaper bags and medical reasons. Click here to learn more about the policies. All bags are subject to search.Marc Fogel, the western Pennsylvania teacher who was freed from a Russian prison in February, will throw out the first pitch.Pirates vs. Yankees PreviewThe Pirates are 2-5 following a season-opening road trip in Florida. The Bucs played a four-game series at Miami and three in Tampa, defeating each team once. Isiah Kiner-Falefa is Pittsburgh’s top hitter with a .333 batting average, and Oneil Cruz has two home runs.The Yankees are 4-2 after sweeping three games from Milwaukee and dropping two of three to Arizona. Aaron Judge is batting .417 with five home runs and 15 RBI in his first six games.Mitch Keller (1-0, 1.50 ERA) gets the start for the Pirates against New York’s Max Fried (0-0, 3.86 ERA).Keller threw six strong innings in his first start of the season, allowing just one run and striking out four batters in Miami on March 28.Home Opener Forecast from Meteorologist Jeff VerszylaWith the first pitch for the game scheduled for 4:12 p.m., the weather should cooperate. Skies will be fairly cloudy, with temperatures in the low 60s with just a small chance of a passing sprinkle at game time. By the seventh-inning stretch, skies will remain cloudy with temperatures taking a slight dip into the upper 50s.What’s New at PNC Park One of the many new changes is the gear fans can get at the team shop.”Homage does a T-shirt for the pierogy race. So that’s always a fun one. We have that in both adult and children’s shirts. So, just definitely things that will connect with the fans, things that remind them of their childhood and the experiences here at the park,” said Terry Walcutt, general manager of Fanatics PNC Park.A new menu will also be available starting opening day.Aramark Senior Executive Chef Gabor Kovats says they wanted a menu to not only pay homage to Pittsburgh’s history but also give visiting fans a food experience they will never forget.”If you go to a ballpark, you get the standard, same stuff pretzels, hotdogs, anywhere you go. Philadelphia, you know, I got Philly cheesesteak. We don’t have anything in Pittsburgh besides Manny’s that represents that. So, I’m just trying to put a repertoire of ideas out that we can turn into something that’s going to stick with us in the long run,” Kovats said.Where to ParkParking lots surrounding PNC Park include Gold 1 lot, Gold 1 garage, Gold 2 lot, Gold 4 lot, Red 5 garage, Red 5A lot, Red 6 lot, Blue 10 garage, Red 7A lot, and Red 7C lot.Parking around PNC Park appears to be sold out at this time. Additional garages and lots may be available throughout downtown. Visitors are encouraged to download the “ParkPGH” app or visit m.parkpgh.org to find parking spaces throughout the season. Click here for more information surrounding parking.
PITTSBURGH —The Pittsburgh Pirates are set to take on the New York Yankees for their home opener at PNC Park on Friday.
Today’s game will mark the first time in Pirates history the Yankees have been Pittsburgh’s opponent for the home opener.
Game Time Information
Gates will open at 2 p.m. with the first pitch set for 4:12 p.m.
The Pirates encourage all fans to be in their seats by 3:35 p.m. to begin the pregame ceremony.
Each guest is permitted to bring one bag into the ballpark provided that the bag is soft-sided and 16” x 16” x 8” or smaller. Bags exceeding these dimensions will not be permitted inside the ballpark.
Exceptions to this policy include diaper bags and medical reasons. Click here to learn more about the policies. All bags are subject to search.
Marc Fogel, the western Pennsylvania teacher who was freed from a Russian prison in February, will throw out the first pitch.
Pirates vs. Yankees Preview
The Pirates are 2-5 following a season-opening road trip in Florida. The Bucs played a four-game series at Miami and three in Tampa, defeating each team once. Isiah Kiner-Falefa is Pittsburgh’s top hitter with a .333 batting average, and Oneil Cruz has two home runs.
The Yankees are 4-2 after sweeping three games from Milwaukee and dropping two of three to Arizona. Aaron Judge is batting .417 with five home runs and 15 RBI in his first six games.
Mitch Keller (1-0, 1.50 ERA) gets the start for the Pirates against New York’s Max Fried (0-0, 3.86 ERA).
Keller threw six strong innings in his first start of the season, allowing just one run and striking out four batters in Miami on March 28.
Home Opener Forecast from Meteorologist Jeff Verszyla
With the first pitch for the game scheduled for 4:12 p.m., the weather should cooperate.
Skies will be fairly cloudy, with temperatures in the low 60s with just a small chance of a passing sprinkle at game time.
By the seventh-inning stretch, skies will remain cloudy with temperatures taking a slight dip into the upper 50s.
What’s New at PNC Park
One of the many new changes is the gear fans can get at the team shop.
“Homage does a T-shirt for the pierogy race. So that’s always a fun one. We have that in both adult and children’s shirts. So, just definitely things that will connect with the fans, things that remind them of their childhood and the experiences here at the park,” said Terry Walcutt, general manager of Fanatics PNC Park.
A new menu will also be available starting opening day.
Aramark Senior Executive Chef Gabor Kovats says they wanted a menu to not only pay homage to Pittsburgh’s history but also give visiting fans a food experience they will never forget.
“If you go to a ballpark, you get the standard, same stuff pretzels, hotdogs, anywhere you go. Philadelphia, you know, I got Philly cheesesteak. We don’t have anything in Pittsburgh besides Manny’s that represents that. So, I’m just trying to put a repertoire of ideas out that we can turn into something that’s going to stick with us in the long run,” Kovats said.
Where to Park
Parking lots surrounding PNC Park include Gold 1 lot, Gold 1 garage, Gold 2 lot, Gold 4 lot, Red 5 garage, Red 5A lot, Red 6 lot, Blue 10 garage, Red 7A lot, and Red 7C lot.
Parking around PNC Park appears to be sold out at this time. Additional garages and lots may be available throughout downtown.
Visitors are encouraged to download the “ParkPGH” app or visit m.parkpgh.org to find parking spaces throughout the season.
Click here for more information surrounding parking.
