Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

Gerrit Cole struck out 10 batters in 8 1/3 innings to lead the Pirates to a 4-1 win over the Mets Friday night. He gave up only six hits – all singles – and lowered his ERA to 2.05. Chris Stewart had two hits and an RBI for Pittsburgh. Jung Ho Kang, Pedro Alvarez and Gregory Polanco also drove in runs as the Pirates dropped New York to 7-13 on the road. Prince Fielder smacked two homers, drove in four runs and helped the Texas Rangershold off the New York Yankees 10-9 Friday night for their third straight win. The Yankees have lost four in a row and eight of nine. Brandon Moss homered and drove in three runs, while Carlos Carrasco allowed two runs in six innings to help the Indians earn a 7-3 win over Cincinnati. It was Cleveland’s fourth win in a row and sixth in eight games. Washington Nationals beat the Philadelphia Phillies 2-1. The Phillies have lost three of four after winning six in a row. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Neil Walker of the Pittsburgh Pirates shares a laugh with a teammate during spring training in Florida Friday. The Pirates' first spring training game is March 4 against Toronto. The first regular season game is April 4 against the Phillies. Photo courtesy of the Pittsburgh Pirates The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Punxsutawney native Devin Mesoraco has been called up to the major leagues, and will be joining the Cincinnati Reds when they play the Phillies this afternoon. For more on this story check out http://www.wpxz1041fm.com/ or http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110831&content_id=24009888¬ebook_id=24012500&vkey=notebook_cin&c_id=cin

The Phillie Phanatic has officially dethroned his archrival, the mascot formerly known as The San Diego Chicken, as America's favorite sports mascot in a Forbes annual fan survey. The Famous Chicken – as he’s now known – is number two in the survey this year. The Pirate Parrot didn’t make the top 10 – but maybe after the Ultimate Fishing Town contest we can work on moving him up in the rankings. By the way, voting in the first round of the fishing town contest is going on for 2 more weeks. http://wfnfishingtown.com/town/bradford-pa Photo by Dave Arrigo and provided by the Pittsburgh Pirates

The Philadelphia Phillies rallied for a 7-4 victory today in Grapefruit League play. The Pirates had taken a 4-3 lead in the sixth as Neil Walker scored on Garrett Jones' groundout and Andy Marte's second RBI, a double. The Phillies rallied for three runs in the seventh and added an insurance run in the eighth. Lyle Overbay had an RBI single for the Pirates in the first inning and Marte added an RBI single in the fourth. The Pirates will play the Phillies again Saturday in Clearwater at 1:05 p.m. Photo of Lyle Overbay by Dave Arrigo, and provided by the Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pirates beat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-1 today in Grapefruit League play. Pitcher Charlie Morton gave up two hits, an earned run, struck out two batters and didn't walk any in three innings. Brad Lincoln worked the fourth, fifth and sixth innings and retired the side in order all three times. He had one strikeout. Tyler Yates and Jeff Locke each worked an inning without giving up a hit. The Pirates are at home in Bradenton, Fla., at 1:05 p.m. tomorrow against the Philadelphia Phillies. Pictured, Jason Jaramillo, who hit two doubles today. Photo by Dave Arrigo and provided by the Pittsburgh Pirates

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi joined Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania and Congressman Joe Barton of Texas as they made good on their World Series wagers this afternoon. Specter presented Pelosi with Hershey’s chocolate and Barton gave her deep-dish pecan pies from the historic Collin Street Bakery in Corsicana, Texas. The San Francisco Giants beat the Philadelphia Phillies to get into the World Series, and beat the Texas Rangers in the Series. Photo provided by Specter's office

Philadelphia Phillies Hall of Fame pitcher Robin Roberts has died, according to a statement released by the team. He was 83. Roberts died of natural causes this morning at his home in Temple Terrace, Fla. Roberts led the Phillies to the 1950 National League pennant as part of the famed "Whiz Kids." He won 286 games over his career and put together six consecutive 20-win seasons. Roberts had 45 career shutouts, 2,357 strikeouts and a lifetime ERA of 3.40.

OK. OK. I'm a Phillies fan, but I'll congratulate the Yankees' fans anyway -- especially if they enter the Tailgate at Home contest. You still have a couple more hours to enter -- and possibly win a $100 gift card from Tops.

The Philadelphia Inquirer has apologized to its readers for mistakenly running a Macy's ad congratulating the Philadelphia Phillies on winning back-to-back World Series titles. The ad was in the paper today, a day after the New York Yankees beat the Phillies to take a 3 games to 1 lead in the World Series. The three-quarter-page ad is on the back of the front section and features a T-shirt with the Phillies logo, the commissioner's trophy and the phrase "Back To Back World Series Champions." The Inquirer released a message to readers saying the paper deeply regrets the error. http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/A_message_to_our_readers.html

Governor David A. Paterson and Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell today announced the details of their inter-state wager on the 2009 World Series between the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies. Under the wager, the state with the losing team will offer a weekend vacation to a resident of the state with the winning team. Accommodations, meals and tickets for the vacation package will be donated by the respective companies, organizations and venues hosting the trip. The losing city will host the all-expenses paid weekend getaway. “I hear the City of Philadelphia is beautiful this time of year, and I expect that after six games, a lucky winner in New York will get to tour that historic American city. But we’ll make sure they’re back in time for the ticker-tape parade on Broadway,” Governor Paterson said. “In the unlikely event that the Bronx Bombers drop the series to Philly, we may not convert the lucky winners into Yankee fans, but once they visit this great State, they wil...

Pennsylvania senators Arlen Specter and Bob Casey work closely with New York senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand on many issues. But now they're on different teams – not inside the Capitol – but on the baseball diamond. If the Philadelphia Phillies win the World Series, Specter and Casey will get cheesecakes from Junior's. If the New York Yankees win, Schumer and Gillibrand get Philly cheesesteaks. “I give Senators Specter and Casey credit for sticking with their team but I can already taste those delicious Philly cheesesteaks,” Schumer said. “And even though the Phillies won the World Series last year, there’s no comparing the Yankees’ 26 World Series victories to the Phillies two. When the dust settles, I am confident that the Yankees will be victorious and Senator Gillibrand and I will be enjoying our Philly cheesesteaks.” “It’s great to see the Bronx Bombers back in the World Series with so many familiar faces from their storied run in the 1990’s,” Specter said. ...

Former Philadelphia Phillies manager Danny Ozark, who led the team to three consecutive National League East titles in the late 1970s, has died at his home in Florida. He was 85. He was named manager of the Phillies on November 1, 1972, and was named Associated Press Manager of the Year in 1976 after leading the Phillies to a 101-61 record. Ozark had a 594-510 record in seven seasons in Philadelphia. For more on this story, go to Phillies.com .

Several members of the Pennsylvania Senate paid tribute today to longtime Philadelphia Phillies broadcaster Harry Kalas, who died last week. The senators speaking are Ted Ericson, Jake Corman, Larry Farnese, John Rafferty, Mike Stack and Mike O'Pake. Tribute to Harry Kalas .

Longtime Philadelphia Phillies broadcaster Harry Kalas, who punctuated innumerable home runs with his "Outta here!" call, died Monday after being found passed out in the broadcast booth before a game against the Washington Nationals. He was 73. "We lost our voice today," team president David Montgomery said, his voice cracking. "He has loved our game and made just a tremendous contribution to our sport and certainly to our organization." Kalas, who turned 73 on March 26, has broadcast Phillies games since 1971. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002 as the recipient of the Ford C. Frick Award. Goveror Rendell's statement: “I am shocked and saddened by Harry’s untimely and unexpected passing. He was a Philadelphia institution who made the game for countless fans. The entire professional baseball family is the less with his loss, and I offer my sincere condolences to the Kalas family.” Senator Specter's statement: "As the voice o...

My prediction is: a repeat.

All players on the fields by 10:00. After the morning stretch and long toss, the players once again broke into their individual groups for instruction. Monday's team fundamental was bunt plays, taking place from 11:00 to 11:20. A total of 17 pitchers threw BP today. Non-roster righthander Brian Slocum did not throw due to a slight hamstring strain. Infielder Andy LaRoche was back on the fields participating in all drills. The pitchers were done by 12:30 and the catchers were done at 1:05 after taking batting practice. Tuesday's workout will be the final one conducted at Pirate City. The first official game is scheduled for 1:05 Wednesday at McKechnie Field. Chris Bootcheck (RH) will start for the Pirates against Philadelphia's Jamie Moyer (LH). Following Bootcheck will be eight more relief pitchers, tossing an inning apiece. In the photo provided by the Pittsburgh Pirates, Nate McLouth and Adam LaRoche await their turn in the batting cage.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Hundreds of thousands of fans showered the World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies with brotherly love and confetti on Friday, climbing trees and ladders, hanging out of windows and packing sidewalks, balconies and rooftops to honor the team that ended the city's 25-year title drought. Left fielder Pat Burrell led the confetti-filled parade, riding on a horse-drawn beer wagon and pumping his fists in the air. Next came eight flatbed trucks filled with waving players and other members of the Phillies organization, including the furry green Phanatic mascot. For the full story, go to pennlive.com .

HARRISBURG – Governor Edward G. Rendell today congratulated the Philadelphia Phillies on winning the 104th World Series, the team’s first world championship in 28 years. “I’m thrilled for what this team has achieved. Nobody believed in them at the beginning of the year. What they accomplished is a great tribute to Charlie Manuel, the coaches, players and the Phillies’ ownership,” Governor Rendell said. “As Brad Lidge got ready to throw the last pitch to Eric Hinske, I couldn’t help thinking of Tug McGraw striking out Willie Wilson 28 years ago. The feeling was every bit as great now as it was then.”

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jake Lancianese is a 10-year-old who knows the two things you need when calling in a promise from a politician: a good memory and rock-solid documentation. That's how the fifth-grader from Aston got to attend Game 4 of the World Series with Gov. Ed Rendell on Sunday. Rendell visited Hilltop Elementary School in 2004, when Jake was in first grade, and asked students why early childhood education was important. What would happen, he asked, if a strong building was built on a weak foundation? Jake raised his hand. "It would fall down." Rendell told the boy he was right, and added that the next time the Phillies made it to the World Series he would get him a ticket. The governor promptly forgot. Not Jake. For the full story, go to pennlive.com .