Pirates Top Yankees 3-2

 Today's Game:

The early afternoon weather was forecast to be iffy, so the original matchup of Gerrit Cole and Mitch Keller was scratched (Mitch tossed live in the morning on the back fields to stay on schedule) and was instead turned into a Cody Ponce v Jameson Taillon duel. Carson Fulmer, Geoff Hartlieb, Nick Mears, Braeden Ogle and Shea Spitzbarth also toed the rubber. The Pirates debuted Dustin Fowler as DH and Anthony Alford's got his first game of the spring in center after being limited to DH duties.

Gregory is off to a healthy start - photo 2021 Pirates

The rain did come, leading to a lot of peeks out of the locker room to see if it would dry up, and hey, it did. The match started an hour or so late, and the Pirates won the seven-inning contest by a 3-2 tally. Gregory Polanco was the Bucs big man, going 3-for-3 with a homer and three RBI while Bryan Reynolds added a pair of hits. The Yankees scores came on a pair of solo shots off Ponce and Ogle.

Jameson Taillon tossed a pair of scoreless frames for the Evil Empire. Fulmer did the same for the Buccos, fanning three. Ogle and Mears each fanned a pair in their inning in the sun.

Notes:

• Gregory is hitting .455 with two homers and eight RBI in the early slog. He credited his fast start with his health and its carryover to his mental approach.
• Oneill Cruz got into the game late, and played SS as the Bucs continue to give him split time.
• Pittsburgh's three wins so far equal their 2020 Grapefruit League victory total.

Tomorrow's Game:

The Orioles come to Bradenton, with the game aired by AT&T SportsNet and 93.7 The Fan.  JT Brubaker gets the call for the Pirates.