Pirates home opener hits Pittsburgh on Friday
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The most beautiful view in Major League Baseball. Photo: Joe Sargent/MLB Photos via Getty Images
Opening Day has finally arrived in Pittsburgh. The Pirates will host the New York Yankees on Friday after starting the season with a seven-game road trip.
Why it matters: Even when the Pirates struggle — and they have for decades — Pittsburghers show out for the home opener on the North Shore at PNC Park, which consistently earns accolades as one of baseball's top stadiums.
For fans wanting to show some spirit, here's a handy guide to prepare for the season's first home game.
⚾ State of play: Pittsburgh (2-5) got back in the win column Wednesday afternoon, defeating the Tampa Bay Rays 4-2.
- All-star phenom Paul Skenes notched his first win of the season. He won't pitch on Friday.
- The Pirates became the first team in over 100 years to have their first three losses of the season end in walk-offs. The last team to accomplish this dubious distinction was the Pirates in 1924.
- Oakmont resident and teacher Marc Fogel will throw out the first pitch. Fogel was released from a Russian prison in February after spending more than three years locked away for bringing a small amount of medical cannabis into the country.
⏪ Catch up quick: The Pirates started red hot last year, but a 10-game losing streak in August snowballed into a poor finish and ended the season 76-86, last place in the NL Central.
- They missed the playoffs for the ninth straight season.
🎟️ Ticket situation: Prices are surging ahead of the home opener against the New York Yankees, whose large fan base travels well, leading to above-average prices each time they come to Pittsburgh.
- MLB.com lists upper-level outfield seats at $101 plus fees, while standing-room-only tickets are available for $49 plus fees.
- Prices on the secondary market start at $40.
🎳 The intrigue: Several Yankees players use so-called torpedo bats that move the barrel closer to the handle and resemble bowling pins. The Yankees are crushing home runs left and right and causing a firestorm among fans, even though the bats are technically legal.
🏴☠️ Fun fact: The first pitch on Opening Day is at 4:12pm, in homage to Allegheny County's 412 area code. Gates open at 2pm.
- Four Blackhawk helicopters are expected to fly over before the start of the game.
📺 How to watch: Broadcast on Sportsnet Pittsburgh, or stream games on the SNP 360 app starting at $21.99/month.
- Games are also broadcast over the radio on 93.7 FM.
🌭 New food: Aramark is debuting several new snacks at PNC this season, including popcorn-filled plastic bats, a baseball-shaped cup for cold drinks and a Pirate Parrot mask that comes with cotton candy.
- Chipped ham empanadas are filled with barbecue chipped ham, cheddar cheese and pickles.
- Fried almond torte is a funnel cake batter dipped, fried and topped with raspberry sauce, icing and burnt almonds.
- Polish Cannonballs are deep-fried croquettes of egg noodles, kielbasa, cabbage, bacon and cheddar cheese, served with an herb crema dip.
🎊 Party time: Festivities expand beyond the outfield walls on Opening Day in Pittsburgh. Federal Street in front of the stadium, the Roberto Clemente Bridge, and two blocks of 6th Street in Downtown will be closed off to vehicles and filled with food, drink and merriment for Buccos fans.
- From noon to 4pm, a free "Grand Slam" block party will be held on 6th Street between Ft. Duquesne Boulevard and Penn Avenue with food and drink specials from local restaurants, live brass band music, yard games, and a raffle, according to the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership.
- Vendors on Federal Street outside PNC Park will open at 1pm.