Bucs Win Opener; Today's Lineup & Notes...

The Bucs took their Grapefruit League opener from Toronto yesterday 8-7. Pedro had a big day with 4 RBI, including a three run shot the opposite way. Jung-Ho Kang and Elias Diaz also homered.   Jaff Decker added a pair of hits, including a two-run double.

Stolmy Pimentel and Ryan Beckman had tough afternoons (although Beckman hung on for the save). Ryan is just getting a taste, but Stolmy has a job on the line, and he would be well served to find the strike zone sooner as opposed to later. Casey Sadler worked the two scoreless frames for the win.

Our only take: we'd like to see El Toro turn on a couple of balls; PNC Park is not very kind to guys who take their pokes at left.

Bye-bye ball. (photo: David Arrigo/Pirates)

Todays Game: 1:05 at McKechnie Field, with no radio or TV, but a webcast on Pirates.com.. The match up is Gerrit Cole (11-5, 3.65) vs. Marcus Stroman (11-6, 3.65).

Lineup: Josh Harrison 3B, Francisco Cervelli C, Andrew Lambo DH, Pedro Alvarez 1B, Jordy Mercer SS, Neil Walker 2B, Steve Lombardozzi LF, Mel Rojas Jr. CF, Willie Garcia RF.
Bench: Brent Morel, Wilkins Castillo, Alen Hansen, Deibinson Romero, Gift Ngoepe, Keon Broxton, Jaff Decker, Elias Diaz, Jose Tabata.
Pitchers: Gerrit Cole, Vance Worley, Radhames Liz, Tony Watson, Jared Hughes, Antonio Bastardo, John Holdzkom.

First team infield, scrubberinos in the outfield. It looks like Clint is going to give his bubble guys a looks all over the field; versatility is definitely the bench theme this year.

• Not unexpected: Russ Martin chatted with the Pirate press gang and had nothing but nice things to say about Pittsburgh, even about the FO. He cited the fifth year of his Toronto offer and a chance to go home as factors in play with leaving (and, of course, the compensation).
• Kang made a couple of nice plays in the field, being in the right place at the right time thanks to a shift. That's one Pirate ploy we weren't certain he would pick up right away (we sorta doubt it's used much in the KBO), but so far, so good in that aspect.
• The Bucs played their first game with a running clock as MLB's "pace of play" rules kicked in. The teams didn't have a problem, though the game went 3 hours plus - fifteen runs and a passel of spring-time player switches being the main culprits.
• Corey Hart is expected to return to action Monday after cutting his foot in a hot-tub slip.
• Not so with ex-Pirate closer Joel Hanrahan. He needs a second TJ surgery and hasn't pitched since 2012; the baseball gods haven't been very kind to Hanny since he left town.