The Pirates played two split-squad spring training games this afternoon (Monday):
Orioles 6, Pirates 4 The Pirates were held to 5 hits at McKechnie field this afternoon, but one of the big ones was a 2-run homer over the left field wall in the bottom of the 9th by RF Miles Durham, who was up from minor league camp. 1B Lyle Overbay also singled for the Pirates, scoring the first Pirates' run of the game in the 5th. 3B Pedro Alvarez knocked in the remaining run for the Pirates, in the 6th inning. LF Jose Tabata led off the inning with a single, stole second base, then scored on Alvarez's single Alvarez also doubled for the Pirates.
LF John Bowker, SS Brian Friday, CF Mel Rojas, 3B Andy Marte, 1B Steve Pearce, 2B Chase d'Arnaud, 2B Jim Negrych, and C Wyatt Toregas all got into the game for the Pirates.
Paul Maholm took the loss for the Pirates. He gave up a run in the 1st inning on a double and a single, then another on a solo homer in the 2nd. Jeff Locke allowed a run on two hits in the 6th. He allowed a single and a walk, then with two outs, an RBI single brought in a run. Justin Wilson got the first out, then walked the next three batters to load the bases in the 8th. A double and a sacrifice fly drove in all three of the base runners. Jeff Karstens pitched 2 scoreless innings, then Tyler Yates, and Mike Crotta each pitched a scoreless frame. Cesar Valdez finished up the 8th for Karstens, then pitched a scoreless 9th, facing only 4 batters.
The Pirates opened the official Grapefruit League season with a loss to the Rays. The Pirates were held to just 6 hits. All but two were singles and all but one were by the established major leaguers. 1B Garrett Atkins smacked a ground rule double for an RBI in the top of the 9th, and C Dusty Brown singled moments later. LF Jose Tabata, 2B Neil Walker, 1B Lyle Overbay, and C Chris Snyder had the other hits. LF Alex Presley walked twice in two trips to the plate; the second walk came in the top of the 9th, with two outs and a runner on second base, and the Pirates management watching carefully to see how he'd handle the situation.
Charlie Morton pitched the first two innings for the Pirates. He had the lead-off batter reach base in both innings, on a walk and a single, but both times he got out of the innings courtesy of a double play. Brad Lincoln worked around 2 singles to keep the Rays from scoring in the 3rd, but gave up a solo home run to Evan Longoria in the 4th. Overall, an encouraging outing for Morton, and not too bad for Lincoln. Chris Resop also gave up a solo home run in the 5th, which tied the score at 2-2. After Daniel Moskos pitched a scoreless inning, Daniel McCutchen got into trouble in the 7th. A double and two walks loaded the bases, and another double cleared them, giving the Rays a 5-2 lead. Justin Thomas also struggled in his inning, the 8th, though the 4 runs that came in were all unearned, after a fielding error by 3B Josh Fields. Tom Boleska, up from minor league camp, finished the inning, giving up a single before getting the final out.
Other minor leaguers getting some playing time: 2B Josh Rodriguez, CF Gorkys Hernandez, SS Pedro Ciriaco.
Pirates 21, Manatee-Sarasota 1 (7 innings) The Pirates' top prospects and players fighting for a major league job got the chance to show off their stuff this afternoon in the Pirates' annual charity game against the State College of Florida Manatee-Sarasota. The Pirates pounded out 20 hits, including home runs by 1B Garrett Atkins and 2B/3B Brian Friday. Atkins and Josh Fields, who took turns as the DH, and at third and in left field, each had 3 hits. 2B Corey Wimberly, 1B Steve Pearce, CF Gorkys Hernandez, Friday, C Wayne Toregas, and C Tony Sanchez all had 2 hits. Pearce's two hits were both doubles, and along with a walk, he drove in 4 runs. Atkins and Hernandez each had 3 RBI. The Pirates jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the 1st, with 3 runs. Pearce's first double drove in two, then a sacrifice fly by RF Andrew Lambo brought in Pearce. Wimberly began a rally in the bottom of the 2nd with a double, and the rest of the Pirates took off, adding 7 more runs in that inning. The Pirates scored in each of their 6 at-bats (it was only scheduled for 7 innings).
The Pirates' pitchers were not to be outdone. Aaron Thompson began the game by striking out the Manatees in order in the top of the 1st. Tyler Yates pitched the 2nd, and gave up the lone Manatees' run on a single, a wild pitch, a ground out, and a sacrifice fly. Yates gave up another single before ending the inning. Jeff Locke surrendered a single in his scoreless inning, as did Rudy Owens. Mike Crotta struck out the side, and Justin Wilson and Kyle McPherson both struck out 2 batters without allowing a hit.
The Pirates have signed INF Josh Fields to a minor league contract. Fields is an Oklahoma native who was the White Sox' first round draft pick in 2004. He progressed quickly through their organization, playing mostly third base, and reached the major leagues in 2006, when he played in 11 games for Chicago after spending most of the season in AAA Charlotte (.305, 19 HR, 70 RBI). For the next three seasons, Fields bounced between AAA and the majors. With Charlotte, he totalled 25 homers and 85 RBI with a .262 average in 158 games. He played in 193 games with the White Sox over those seasons, with a .231 average, 30 homers, and 99 RBI. Fields was traded to the Royals after the 2009 season, but he got in little playing time during 2010 due to hip surgery. He played in 13 games for the Royals in September, and his bat showed some promise -- .309 with 3 homers and 6 RBI. The 28-year-old got in some make up for missed at-bats by playing for Los Senadores de San Juan in the Puerto Rican League during October and November. In 22 games, he hit .200 with 6 RBI, though in his last week, he went 7-for-27 (.259). Fields has been invited to the major league camp for spring training, and he will be competing for a utility spot on the major league club.
Just a little action on Monday in the winter leagues as we cheer for a few Pirates' players and friends:
DOMINICAN LEAGUE Tigres de Licey 2, Aguilas Cibaenas 0 -- Los Aguilas were held to three hits and two walks -- one hit and one walk in both the first and last innings, plus a single in the 8th. Starling Marte came into the game as a defensive replacement in center field for Los Aguilas, but he did not get an at-bat. Los Tigres scored one run in the 2nd, on a single, a walk, and a fielding error. They added an insurance run in the 8th, when DH Ronny Paulino led off with a single and was replaced by a pinch-runner. A sacrifice bunt and a throwing error put the runner on third base, and 1B Robinzon Diaz brought him in with a fly ball and an error. A single followed, but two runners were left on base. Tigres' Denny Bautista pitched to 3 batters in the 8th inning and gave up a single.
VENEZUELAN LEAGUE Tiburones de La Guaira 5, Navegantes del Magallanes 4 -- A solo homer in the bottom of the 10th inning broke a 4-4 tie, for Los Tiburones' win. Los Navegantes plated 4 runs in the 4th, on a 2-run homer, followed by four singles and a sacrifice fly. Los Tiburones got onto the scoreboard in the 6th inning, with a run on a double and an RBI single. Jean Machi took the mound in the bottom of the 9th for Magallanes, but he was done in by three fielding errors (of the 5 errors committed by Los Magallanes). A single opened the inning, then Machi got a pop out. The first fielding error put runners on first and second, then Machi struck out the next batter. Another fielding error loaded the bases, and the third error allowed 2 runs to score. An RBI single gave Los Tiburones their third run of the inning and tied the score. Machi was relieved at that point, and a fly out ended the inning.
