Monday: Day Off, Yesterday's Recap, Notes

Yesterday: Ah, that quest for a fifth starter. Mitch Keller may be the guy, but not yet. He walked a pair, gave up a dinger among his three hits and was roughed up for four first-inning runs by the Rays. Clay Holmes walked three and bopped a batter in 1-2/3 IP; Brandon Waddell came on in relief and gave up a long ball. Aaron Slegers was nickeled-and-dimed to death, giving up two infield knocks and a HBP to open the eighth, and they all scored before he could get the third out. On the other side of the coin, at least Kyle Crick and Nick Burdi were competent, but they were the exception in the 10-4 loss.

K-Man is swinging the stick better in the early slogging (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

The Bucs collected seven hits, led by Kevin Newman's pair of raps and Pablo Reye's homer. There was a little excitement as an unlikely beanball war broke out, with Rays' skipper barking at Clint after a tit-for-tat exchange of bruises. But we don't think it was bad blood as much as bad control, as there were 13 walks and four boppings dealt by Pirates and Rays moundsmen. Anyway, the umps sounded a warning and it was peaches and cream pretty much afterwards.

Notes:

• Pittsburgh is off today and visit the O's Tuesday, with Archie scheduled to see his first action.
• Keone Kela won't talk to the media, no reason given, no reason needed. 
• Lonnie Chisenhall's removal Saturday for "tightness" seems to be nothing more than a precautionary move by the Bucs, so that's one bullet dodged. He came out at his own request, saying that he just didn't have his legs under him and saw no reason to push it in the spring.