Phils 7 Bucs 4

For awhile there, it looked like Kevin Correia wasn't gonna get anyone out. The first four Phils singled, two runs were in, and it looked bleak (Correia was giving up hits on balls stroked to the opposite side that were placed where the Bucs weren't; he looked scarily like a RH Zach Duke).

But KC found his rhythm, got a foul pop and two K's to end the inning, and cruised from there, retiring nine of the last ten hitters he faced and running up five whiffs.

The Bucs got four consecutive knocks in their half of the frame, but only one run as Neil Walker was gunned going from first to third, a point of emphasis this year (taking the extra base, that is, not the getting gunned part!) Lyle Overbay notched the RBI.

Pittsburgh went ahead in the sixth 3-2 when a Walker base on balls and doubles by Tony Sanchez and Andy Marte combined to bring home a pair. But Fernando Nieve took care of that quickly.

Ryan Howard, the first batter he faced, went deep to the opposite field, and the Phillies touched him up for five hits and four runs in just an 1-1/3 of work. Marte singled home one more and Bryan Morris gave up a tally in the ninth on a homer to make the final 7-4.

Tomorrow they'll do it again, this time in Clearwater. Paul Maholm will start for the Pirates against Roy Halladay of the Phillies. Jeff Karstens, Sean Gallagher and Chris Leroux are slated to follow.

-- Matt Diaz stole a sack as the go-go Bucs now have eleven steals in Grapefruit League play, tops in the circuit. They've been caught three times.

-- Michael Dubee, Buc minor-leaguer, tossed 2/3 of an inning today, giving up a hit and claiming a K. The Phils pitching coach kept a close eye on him - that would be his dad, Rich Dubee.

-- Brandon Moss and Delwyn Young played against their old teammates. Moss was in left and went 1-for-2 with a run; Young was at second and had an 0-for-3 afternoon.

-- Add Ronny Cedeno to the list of the walking wounded. He has a bruised finger, and is day-to-day until he can grip a bat again, although he is taking infield practice.

-- Evan Meek threw BP this morning at Pirate City and is penciled in to make his Grapefruit League debut on Monday.

-- Tim Williams of Pirates Prospects posted a point-counterpoint argument over the respective merits of taking 3B Anthony Rendon or RHP Gerritt Cole with the first pick of the draft.