The Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Toronto Blue Jays 3-1 in Dunedin, Fla., on Sunday in the Bucs final Spring Training game in Florida.
Right-hander Jeff Karstens allowed one run on four hits over four innings. He walked one and struck out one in his fourth start of the spring. Karstens finished with a 2.12 ERA during Grapefruit League action this spring.
The long run that Karstens gave up came in the 4th inning. After holding the Blue Jays to just two hits over three scoreless frames, Kelly Johnson led off the inning with a double into left field. He tagged up and advanced to third after Jose Bautista hit a deep fly out to right. Johnson scored on a RBI single to center field by Edwin Encarnacion.
Left-hander Daniel Moskos continued his strong spring with another solid inning in relief on Sunday. Moskos allowed just one hit with two strikeouts over his scoreless inning. Over nine appearances (9.0 innings) during Grapefruit League action, Moskos has allowed just one run on six hits with five walks and nine strikeouts. The lefty is battling for a spot in the Bucs ‘pen.
The Pirates plated two runs off Blue Jays reliever Andrew Carpenter in the top of the 8th inning. Nate McLouth, who replaced Alex Presley in left, took a 0-1 pitch for a two-run shot to left center field.
Infielder Matt Hague hit a pinch-hit first pitch home run in the 9th inning for his team-leading seventh long ball of the spring. Hague has now hit a homer in each of his last three games.
Game Notes:
- Relief: Daniel Moskos: IP, H, 2 K; Tim Alderson (minors): IP, H, 2 K; Kris Johnson (minors): 2 IP, 2 H, K; Kyle Cofield (minors): IP, H
- Jose Tabata went 2-for-3 and has now hit safely in five straight games and seven-of-nine to raise his spring average to .306 (19-for-62); Matt Hague homered as a pinch hitter – his team-leading seventh blast of the spring
Monday Game Info:
- The Pirates play the Phillies in Philadelphia tomorrow at 7:05 in game one of a two-game exhibition set. Left-hander Joe Blanton will start for the Phillies and the Bucs will start a member of the bullpen (TBA).
