Rally Falls Shot; Pirates Drop 10-9 Decision As Keller Is Clocked

Today's Game:

Mitch Keller led it off, with Chasen Shreve, Clay Holmes, Chase De Jong, Michael Feliz, Rick Rodriguez, Braeden Ogle and Yerry De Los Santos  getting a turn afterward. It's pretty much the A-Team lineup in the field - Gregory started in right, Anthony Alford in center,  Cole Tucker at SS (E-Gon's at DH) and Kevin Newman getting a blow with no rest for Fraze, who the team is likely showcasing.

Keller had a rough start; he was hit hard and unlucky to boot, giving up an Alphonse-and-Gaston hit and deflecting a potential DP  ball that was ticketed for Tuck's glove. Shreve replaced him with an out, but it was already 3-0 Rays. Kells came back for the second (spring rules) and gave up another run on a leadoff oppo bomb before striking out the side. He got two outs in the third before a dinger, single double and Austin Meadows homer brought on Holmes.

DeJong followed and was solid, giving up a run in three frames, and Feliz tossed a goose egg in the seventh. The usually dependable Ric Rod gave up a run on a couple of soft hits and only got a out, but Ogle was equal to the task and prevented any more damage. Yerry De Los Santos worked a quiet ninth.

Nick Gonzales had a two-hit day - 2020 Bowman First

The Pirates tried to keep up. Ke'Bryan Hayes knocked home Fraze in the first, who had tripled, and Bryan Reynolds belted a two-run shot in the third. Colin Moran banged a two-run blast in the fifth. Nick Gonzales singled home a tally and Jared Oliva's double plated another pair to make it very interesting at 9-8 after six. The Buc bomb squad opened the ninth with back-to-back knocks by Andrew Susac and Ji-Hwan Bae. A one-out Gonzales bloop made it 10-9, but no cigar was to be had; that's how it ended.

There was some pretty good stickwork today - Fraze, Gonzales, Reynolds and Erik Gonzalez had a pair of hits each; the windy conditions did make for some interesting chases.

Notes:

• Both sides broke out green caps to honor St. Paddy.
• Tyler Glasnow started today's game against his formers, and has been announced as the Opening Day guy for Tampa Bay. Austin Meadows also played, with two knocks including a home run, and Stetson Allie, who tossed a scoreless frame.
• IF Ji-Hwan Bae along with C's Christian Kelley and Arden Pabst were reassigned to minor league camp.
• Injury check: Phil Evans hammy should be ready for action again by the weekend; he needs to show up in his battle for the corner IF/PH bench spot with the Toddfather. Blake Cederlind is awaiting a second opinion on his UCL, which has been delayed because of Covid protocols, to determine if he needs TJ surgery or rest.
• The Pirates Top 30 Prospects, per MLB Pipeline.
• Pirate ticket sales have been pushed back as the team works with the state to figure out how many people will be allowed in PNC Park and in what sort of social distancing configuration. They were supposed to be available starting today; no new sales date has been determined yet.

Tomorrow's Game: 

It's an off day for Pittsburgh, just their second of the spring. The Buccaneers are back in action Friday when they host the Orioles.