Twins 4, Pirates 3
The Pirates finished their Grapefruit League action with an 11-20 record, as they now head north to Pennsylvania, where they will play 2 games against the Philliies in Philadelphia. Reliever Anthony Claggett suffered a Blown Save and the Loss, as he gave up 2 runs in the bottom of the 9th for the Twins' walk-off win.
The Pirates were leading 3-2 going into the bottom of the 9th. Claggett walked the first batter, then the next hitter lifted a fly ball to center field, which sailed over CF Starling Marte's head and caromed off the wall for a triple. That brought in the tying run. After a strikeout, the next batter ricocheted a soft liner off Claggett's lower leg. The ball landed over toward third base, where 3B Josh Rodroguez raced in to make the scoop, but his throw to the plate was not in time for C Jason Jaramillo to tag the runner on third, and the winning run scored.
LF Jose Tabata got the game started with a double into left field to open the top of the 1st. 2B Neil Walker bunted Tabata to third, and CF Andrew McCutchen brought him in with a sacrifice fly. Walker started the Pirates' 4th inning rally with a lead-off single into center field. 1B Steve Pearce doubled into center, plating Walker, and RF Matt Diaz's single brought in Pearce. The Pirates had only two baserunners after the 4th inning -- Jaramillo singled in the 8th, and Pearce walked in the 9th.
Jeff Karstens made the start, scattering three singles and a walk over the first four innings. With two outs in the 5th, Karstens got Twins' Denard Span to ground to short, but a wild pitch by SS Ronny Cedeno resulted in a single and a throwing error, and Span positioned on second base. Another single brought Span across the plate with an unearned run. Garrett Olson finished the inning for Karstens, then pitched a scoreless 6th inning. Mike Crotta surrendered his second earned run of the spring, with a walk and a double in the 7th inning. Chris Resop pitched the 8th inning, and kept the Twins from scoring despite a single and a walk.
Also getting into the game: 2B Brian Friday and SS Jordy Mercer
The Pirates traded infielder Josh Fields to the Rockies this afternoon, for a player to be named later or cash. Fields was in Pirates' camp as a non-roster invitee, minor league free agent. He had been sent to the minor league camp at the end of last week. In 21 Grapefruit League games, he went 5-for-29, and struck out 11 times.
Josh Rodriguez, the Pirates' Rule 5 pick from last December, has made the 25-man roster. He will have to stay on the major league roster all season, or else go through waivers and be offered back to the Cleveland Indians. Rodriguez will be a back-up infielder and a bat off the bench. That means that Pedro Ciriaco will be heading back to Indianapolis to begin the season.
C Chris Snyder will begin the season on the Disabled List. That leaves Ryan Doumit and Jason Jaramillo to share catching duties for now, and leaves open a spot for OF John Bowker on the 25-man roster.
Former Pirate RHP Nate Adcock, who was chosen by the Royals in the Rule 5 draft, has won a spot on the Royals' 25-man roster. Like Rodriguez, if he doesn't stick with the Royals, he'll have to go through waivers and be offered back to the Pirates. Adcock pitched for A+ Bradenton in 2010, earning an 11-7 record and a 3.38 ERA. In 141.1 innings, he allowed 131 hits, 53 earned runs, 38 walks, and struck out 113. If he comes back to the Pirates, he would likely be assigned to AA Altoona.
The Indy Indians faced off against the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs in Clearwater, Florida this afternoon.... no results available at this point.
