Notes: O's Outslug Pirates; Phils Come Calling; Random Stuff

Today: The Pirates are home against the Phils at LECOM Park, with first pitch at 1:05. Ivan Nova will start, with George Kontos, Josh Smoker, Edgar Santana and Kyle Crick to follow. And hey - Corey Dickerson gets his first start in a Bucco jersey.

Yesterday: Tyler was Jeckyl & Hyde in his three frames - he gave up two runs on four hits (including a 2B & HR), but with six Ks and no walks while facing the O's likely Opening Day lineup. He had help from the sticks - Fraze unloaded a two-out, bases-juiced triple past first while Starling was busy, too, doubling in a run and then kissing the wall in a fruitless effort to bring Colby Rasmus' homer back. Back-to-back two-baggers by J-Bell & Colin Moran chalked up another run, so Tyler left with a 5-2 bulge.

Didn't last long after Jack Leatherstich, Damien Magnifico and Jordan Milbrath all got knocked around to make it 10-7 bad guys after six. Richard Rodriguez and Tyler Jones shut the gates, but the damage was done as the Bucs fell short 10-8. Frazier went 3-for-3 w/two runs scored and three RBI, Moran 3-for-4, and Marte & Bryce Brentz were 2-for-3. Pittsburgh had 16 hits, including seven for extra bases, but stranded 10 and left 13 RISP. The Birds had 11 hits and sent three balls into the seats, accounting for six runs. Manny Machado was a monster - he was 3-for-3 with a double, dinger and four RBI.


Notes:

• Jhan Marinez , Alex Presley and Engelb Vielma (remember him?) played for Baltimore in the A Game.
• In the B Game, Austin Meadows continued his rocket ride with another homer.
• Jameson Taillon is the new Pirates' MLBPA rep, taking over Gerrit Cole's old position.
• David Schoenfield of ESPN's Sweet Spot has put a spotlight on the Pirates often overlooked but red flag weakness: they haven't gotten much homegrown help either in the draft or from the international (ie, Latino) market. That shows signs of turning around some now, but in the first few years of the Coonelly/Huntington era, even with some sweet draft positioning, have been more miss than hit. He suggests the competitiveness narrative should focus more on player evaluation & development fails rather than penny-pinching.