Pirates release 2012 schedule

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates today announced their schedule for the 2012 season.

Here are several of the highlights for the schedule:

• For just the fourth time in PNC Park history, the team will open the season at home on April 5-8 against the Philadelphia Phillies.
• The Pirates will face the Kansas City Royals, Minnesota Twins and Detroit Tigers at PNC Park for interlingua play this season. They will face the Cleveland Indians and Baltimore Orioles in interleague play on the road.
• The Pirates will have a seven-game homestand highlighted by a July 4^th game against the Houston Astros.
• The Bucs will end the season at home in 2012 from September 28 thru October 3. The six-game homestand wraps the Atlanta Braves on October 3.

Here’s the full schedule (It will also be available on pirates.com later today):