Notes: Bucs Rally Past Phils; Visit Twins Today; Camp Stuff & the Blame Game

Today: The Pirates travel to Fort Myers' Hammond Stadium for a 1:05 game against Minnesota that's being carried by 93 The Fan and streamed on MLB.TV;  the replay is also on MLBN at eight tonight. Jameson Taillon is scheduled to start v the Twinkies' Jose Berrios. Steven Brault, Michael Feliz, Tyler Eppler and Alex McRae fill out the dance card.

Yesterday: The Pirates rallied for a 4-3 victory over the Phils yesterday. Ivan Nova had a better day, giving up a run on three hits in three IP; the only downer was that last year's home run issue continues as he was taken yard again. But the afternoon's pitching held up; it was 1-1 going into the seventh. The Phils jumped on top after banging four hits and two runs off Edgar Santana. The Bucs? They just said hold my beer. They put up a three-spot, started by a Jacob Stallings' rap, followed by Kevin Newman's RBI double and capped by Jose Osuna's two-out, two-run homer. Kyle Crick got an eighth inning hold and Brett McKinney struck out the side in the ninth for the save of John Stilson's win. Josh Smoker and George Kontos added zeroes to the cause. Stallings was the hit leader, going 2-for-2 with a double.

Notes:

• In a promising early-season sign, the Bucs didn't issue a walk yesterday.
• ICYMI, for the first time, the Pirates are going through the spring with an everyday DH; they used to bat pitchers by habit, but with limited innings and a steady stream of pinch-hitters, Clint finally figured out that it would be more useful to let a batter get a cut.
• Alex Stumpf of Pittsburgh Sports Report lays the Bucco's recent failings at the feet of a FO that failed to fill a hole or two after 2015 and on the club's go-to guys, Cutch, Cole & Kang (JHK literally), who disappeared after that season.