Yankees Take Walk in the Park En Route to 7-4 Win

Chris Stratton toed the slab; it's his first Pirates start, but he was a starter throughout his career until he arrived in Pittsburgh in May of last year. He walked the bases loaded with two outs in the first, but got a swinging strikeout to escape unscathed. The Bucs went down quietly. Stratton walked the leadoff Yankee in the second, bringing in Rob Erlin. One well stroked single and a two-out bleeder to third put the Pinstripers up 1-0. The Bucs took the lead when Gregory doubled and JR Murphy went long with his third dinger of camp. Erlin got himself into a bases loaded, one out jam (he issued two walks) in the third before Mike Feliz entered and ended the threat with a whiff & pop. It was another zippo for Pittsburgh, which left runners on the corners with an out after a hit-and-run. Ric Rod worked the fourth calmly and so did Dovy in the fifth; the Pirates were also tamed in both frames.

Chris Stratton needs a good spring; he's out of options - photo Pittsburgh Pirates

Cody Ponce posted another goose egg and Gregory doubled home a third run for the Buccaneers. Cody got the first two outs of the seventh before giving up a ground rule double; John O'Reilly (Hi-A RHP) came in and shut the gate. There was no noise from the Pirates, and it remained 3-1 good guys after seven. James Marvel started the eighth; he walked three batters, then gave up a triple, single and another walk before Ike Schlabach (Hi-A LHP) was waved on with two outs, and he walked three straight to force home two more tallies. It was another scoreless frame for the Pittsburgh nine. Shelty liked Ike and kept him in. A couple more walks and a wild pitch wrapped around an out brought in Nick Economos (Hi-A RHP) who cleaned up. Pittsburgh put together three straight one-out singles to chase home a run before the fat lady warbled, with the finale 7-4 New York.

Tough to compete when ya walk 14 batters; tougher when seven of those walks are in the same inning.

Tomorrow: Pittsburgh visits Tampa Bay at 1:05,with the game broadcast by 93.7 The Fan. Mitch Keller gets the ball at Charlotte Sports Park.

Notes:

• Gregory had two doubles; he looks to be 100% this spring. JR Murphy's third homer was also just his third hit of the spring; he's batting .188.
• The Pirates pitchers had 10 K to go with the 14 walks; every pitcher but Schaback punched out a hitter.

J-Bell, the key man - photo Pittsburgh Pirates

• Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com picked each team's most indispensable player; no surprise that he selected J-Bell for the Bucs.