Groundhog Day...Pirates Lose 11-4

The O's are back and Willy was out to stop them. Three hits (one a pop lost in the sun), a walk and a wild pitch in the opening frame wasn't the way, though, and the Birds jumped on top, 2-0. It was the same ol' for the Bucs, stranding a pair. A leadoff hit and walk brought on Nick Mears; a double steal and ground ball single made it 4-0. The O's added two more off Steven Brault; a two-out single plated a run; the throw home let the Oriole advance a base, and he scored on a bloop to left. Pittsburgh stranded a couple of more runners. Steven and Blake Cederlind put up a zero in the fourth, leaving three Baltimores aboard. Pittsburgh jammed the sacks with an out. And holy moly, JR Murphy whacked a ball out of the yard for a grand slam to make the tally 6-4. We can have nice things.

JR takes his trot - photo Pittsburgh Pirates

Michael Feliz gave up a bunt single in the fifth. A steal, wild pitch and infield dribbler later, the O's had another point while the Bucs left two more ducks on the pond. Chad Kuhl got his first call; he had two out and two on when Samuel Reyes relieved (Chad is on a short work leash after TJ surgery) and walked the first Bird and gave up a bases-loaded triple to the next. The Pirates left two more runners on. JT Brubaker got two outs in the seventh, then a walk and Dilson Herrera three-sacker made it 11-4. Pittsburgh stranded a leadoff two-bagger. After an error, wild pitch and K to open the eighth, JT was given a blow by Nik Turley. He bopped a batter, but finished strong with a pair of whiffs. Pittsburgh went down 1-2-3. Edgar Santana tossed a clean inning and the Buccos left two more guys on the basepaths.

Nik Turley - photo 2018 via ESPN.com

The Pirates stranded 12 and went 2-for-14 w/RISP; that happens when your runners get on via walks/HBP (10) and you only have six hits. The pitchers gave up 13 hits, six walks, three wild pitches and two hit batsmen. It's just the spring but geez...

Tomorrow: The Bucs visit the Twinkies on Saturday for a 6:05 tilt that will be aired on 93.7 The Fan. They met to open the spring, with Minny taking a 2-1 decision.

Notes:

• The Pirates have two homers this spring; JR Murphy has banged them both.
• And yay, Jarrod Dyson did make his first appearance today. Other regulars who joined him are Bryan Reynolds, Fraze, J-Bell, El Coffee and Redbeard, so it's beginning to look like a lineup. (They went 2-for-10 with five walks/three whiffs) Kinda interesting to see Adam Frazier in the three-hole w/B-Rey batting second.
• Shelty told the beat boys that the Bucs may play with a four-man outfield as part of their shift bag of tricks. The rover returns! And no matter what you think of shifts, you're bound to get a chuckle from Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com and his tale of Oberlin's "Flytrap."
• In an effort to get the go-go game back in action, the MLB had indie league pitchers make a clean and complete step off the slab before a pickoff try last season. Baseball America noted that it rejuvenated the running game and is going to be given a look in the minors this year.