The Pittsburgh Pirates played two games this afternoon in part of a split squad day. And both games had very different results.
Lefty Erik Bedard started against the Baltimore Orioles at McKechnie Field in Bradenton on Saturday in the Bucs 6-6 tie. Bedard, who will get the Pirates Opening Day nod at PNC Park on Thursday, allowed four runs on five hits. He walked two and struck out two.
All four runs scored off Bedard came via the long ball in the 4th inning back-to-back. Ronny Paulino connected for a three-run shot, and Jai Miller followed with a solo-homer.
“The one pitch, yeah he just hit a bad location on the pitch to Paulino,” Pirates Manager Clint Hurdle said. “That’s a homer anywhere you play, any day you play. And the other ball was blown out. It was a wind blown home run. I thought he pitched very well, changed speeds again.”
“He just saw these guys a few days ago, so he still had weapons. Still worked good, worked quick. As far as commanding the running game when people on, that was efficient. Used all of his pitches, soft, hard, worked the ball glove side, all the things we expect out of him he was able to do.”
Trailing 4-1 in the bottom half of the inning, the Pirates retook the lead by scoring four runs off O’s starter Jake Arietta.
Casey McGehee walked and Garrett Jones hit a two-run homer –his fourth on the spring. Jones currently leads the team with RBI (16). With runners on the corners, Bedard sacrificed Clint Barmes to second and Rod Barajas scored on the play. Barmes scampered to third and scored as the catcher Paulino threw wildly to third base.
After Neil Walker doubled in the 5th, McGehee followed with a two-bagger to plate their sixth run of the game.
Game Notes:
- Relief: Joel Hanrahan: IP, 2 H, R, K; Chris Leroux: IP, 2 K; Kris Harvey (minors): IP, H, R, BB, K; Jose Diaz (minors): IP
- The game was delayed by rain for 46 minutes after the sixth inning.
- The Pirates finished the home portion of their schedule and drew a total of 82,390 fans for 15 dates; a per game average of 5,493 fans. The total attendance figure ranks third in the history of McKechnie Field.
- Alex Presley went 1-for-4 with a homer and is now hitting .333 (19-for-57) in 22 games. Presley also leads the team with 12 runs scored; Casey McGehee went 2-for-4 with a walk, double, RBI and run scored.
Right-hander Kevin Correia started against the Minnesota Twins in Fort Myers on Saturday in the Pirates 15-3 loss. Correia made his fifth start during Grapefruit League action. After three straight starts without giving up an earned run, Correia struggled for his second straight start on the mound. Overall, Correia allowed 10 runs on 12 hits over 2.1 innings. He didn’t walk or strikeout a batter over his outing.
Six runs scored off Correia in the bottom of the 2nd frame. The Twins started the inning with four straight singles off Correia. The fourth knock by Danny Valencia brought in the first run. First baseman Chris Parmelee hit a RBI ground out, before Correia gave up three straight RBI singles. With two outs, Justin Morneau hit a RBI double to plate the sixth run of the frame.
Correia allowed four more in the bottom of the 3rd. Former Bucco Ryan Doumit lead off with a homer to right field, and Valencia followed with his second hit off Correia, this time a double to center. Correia gave up two more base knocks before being pulled from the game. Righty reliever Matt McSwain (minors) gave up a RBI double and ground out to plate the final run to Correia’s line.
The Twins plated three more runs off righty reliever Daniel McCutchen, who is battling for a spot in the Pirates bullpen this spring in the 5th.
The Pirates were only able to score three runs off the Twins’ arms despite picking up 11 hits. Anthony Norman (minors) hit a RBI triple in the 7th inning.
The long ball came into play in the late innings for the Bucs. Michael McKenry hit his first home run of the spring in the 8th inning. First baseman Matt Hague continues his huge spring with his second home run in as many games. Hague connected off of Twins’ reliever Caleb Thielba in the bottom of the 9th –his sixth of the spring, which leads the team. Hague continues his strong push to break camp with the club and his hitting .373 this spring with 13 RBI over 22 games during Grapefruit League action.
Game Notes:
- Relief: Matt McSwain: 1.2 IP, H; Daniel McCutchen: IP, 3 H, 3 R, BB; Tim Wood: 2 IP, 4 H, 2 R; Juan Cruz: 0.1 IP; Ryan Beckamn: 0.2 IP
- Jose Tabata picked up a pair of hits; Michael McKenry had two hits, including his first home run of the spring; Matt Hague hit his team-leading sixth home run.
- Juan Cruz was hit by a comebacker in his right forearm during the game against the Twins in Fort Myers and he was removed from the game as a precaution.
Sunday Game Info:
- The Pirates will close out the Florida portion of spring training as they play the Blue Jays in Dunedin at 1:05. Right-hander Jeff Karstens will start for the Bucs against Toronto’s righty Brandon Morrow.
