The Pittsburgh Pirates scored three runs in the first inning, but it wasnt enough as they fell to the Baltimore Orioles by the final score of 5-3. Williams started and gave up two runs in five innings of work.
The Pittsburgh Pirates scored early and often, but it wasnt enough as they lost to the Baltimore Orioles by a score of 5-3. They started the game off with consecutive hits and were able to score three runs in inning number one. However, that is all they could muster and the bullpen faltered at the end of the game causing the Pirates to lose.
Minor leaguer Trevor Williams started the game and performed pretty well throwing 5.0 innings giving up two runs on seven hits while striking out five. He was hurt by the home run ball in inning number one as Nolan Reimold and former Pirate Pedro Alvarez each homered the put the Orioles to an early 2-0 lead. Overall, it was a good start for Williams and will definitely be something he can build upon as the season approaches.
Williams has had a good spring training for Pittsburgh appearing in three game and throwing 7.0 innings giving up two runs which is good for a 2.57 ERA. Williams will more than likely start the year in the Triple A Indianapolis rotation, and could be used in a spot start or two with the Pirates during the season.
Last year, Williams split time between Double A and Triple A going a combined 7-10 with a 3.85 ERA. Williams has shown good strikeout numbers throughout his professional years striking out over 100 batters twice in his three years, and he is showing that ability again here in spring training. Williams is someone I am looking for to help the Pirates in the future.
The Triple A starting rotation could be one of the best rotations in minor league baseball this season. As it currently looks you could have a rotation of Tyler Glasnow, Jameson Taillon, Williams, AJ Schugel, and Cory Luebke. All five of these pitchers have great talent and, if needed, could be called up to start a game for the Pirates and would do it effectively. For the Pirates, this back log of pitching talent is a good dilemma to have.
Tony Watson entered the game next and was very efficient in his 2.0 innings of work giving up one hit and striking out 2 batters. Watson has been his normal self over the course of spring training as he is pitching to a 3.86 ERA in six games. Watson will be key in the back of the Pirates bullpen as he will be the set-up man for Pittsburgh. Himself along with Neftali Feliz and Mark Melancon will be tasked with finishing the game for the Pirates.
Then, the bullpen started to struggle as Arquimedes Caminero was up next and pitched 1.0 inning giving up one run on two hits while walking one and striking out one. Caminero has been inconsistent throughout the course of spring training this year. He currently has a 10.00 ERA this spring training.
He was successful his last two times out combining to throw 3.2 innings only allowing one hit and striking out one. However, in the three games prior to that he threw a combined 3.1 innings giving up nine runs and striking out four. For Caminero, consistency has been something that has been bugging him over the last few seasons. If he can become a pitcher who can consistently get batters out, it will bode much better for his career.
Cory Luebke was next and once again he struggled on the mound tonight. Luebke threw 1.0 inning giving up two runs on three hits on the afternoon. Luebke is fighting for one of the final spots in the Pirates bullpen. With Watson the only current lefty in the Pirates bullpen, there is still one lefty spot remaining and two pitchers fighting for it. Luebke did not help his case today with his performance.
Luebke currently has a 5.74 ERA through four games pitched. Luebke is fighting back from a multitude of injuries over the last couple of seasons and this season is a chance to turn things around. With one spot remaining and Luebke and Kyle Lobstein fighting for it, this last week of the season will definitely be an interesting one for both pithcers.
Overall, Williams put out a good start, and the back-end of the bullpen fell out at the end. Williams definitely impressed me on the mound and set himself up for a good start to the year at Triple A Indianapolis. Caminero and Luebke both have things to work on as the season approaches, and both have exactly one week to fix it.
Offensively, the Pirates scored first but couldnt add on. They scored all three runs in the first inning as an RBI Triple by Josh Harrison and an RBI single by Jake Goebbert scored the Pirates runs on the afternoon. However, there were some good performances on the day despite the lack of runs scored on the afternoon.
The offensive star of the afternoon was Harrison, who went 1 for 3 on the afternoon with an RBI, a run scored, and a walk. Moving into the everyday second baseman role, Harrison no longer has to worry about where he is going to play on any given day. He can relax and work on what needs to be worked on at the plate and in the field.
Harrison has been the face of hustle on this Pittsburgh Pirates team and that was apparent again this afternoon. His RBI triple was actually a routine fly ball to left that fell into no man's land. However, no one was covering third base, so once Harrison got to second he turned on the jets and got into third without a contest. This hustle is why I am a huge Harrison fan and why I think he will succeed as the second baseman in 2016.
Jordy Mercer also had a good offensive day going 2 for 2 on the afternoon. Mercer is having a good spring training to this point hitting .289 with one home run and one RBI. A traditionally slow starter at the plate, Mercer is looking to improve with the bat this season. He has been a good defender throughout his career, but the offense has never really come around.
Mercer is slated to be the everyday short stop for the Pirates in 2016 as he was in 2015. Mercer really did not come through with the bat until June last season where he hit .304. prior to that he barely hit .200 in the months of April and May. This fast start for Mercer could be a sign of things to come, and if he can transfer this over to the regular season, we could be in store for a break-out year from Mercer.
John Jaso is the final offensive star of the day going 1 for 2 with a walk out of the leadoff spot. Jaso walked to start the game and hit a double in his second at-bat of the day. Jaso has been solid in the transition to first base and overall is hitting .226 this spring with two RBI. Jaso has been a reliable hitter throughout his career and will be just fine as the Pirates first baseman.
We have noticed this spring that manager Clint Hurdle has not been using the traditional lineup. He has been leading off with Jaso, one of the slower guys on the team, and hitting Andrew McCutchen in the second spot. Jaso's ability to get on base is a plus for having him leadoff. You want your leadoff man to get on base and then be driven in by the three and four hitters. As long as Jaso cam get on base consistently I have no problem with him leading off the game.
The Pirates are back in action tomorrow at McKechnie Field when they take on the Minnesota Twins. The Twins will be throwing righty Tyler Duffy (0-1 6.48). Last time out he threw 4.0 innings giving up one run on five hits while striking out two. The Pirates will counter with righty Gerrit Cole (0-0 9.00). Last time out Cole gave up two runs in 2.0 innings of work against the Detroit Tigers. He has been dealing with a side injury and has thrown a couple of side sessions over the course of spring training. Cole will be testing that side tomorrow to see if it is ready for Opening Day. First pitch for tomorrow is scheduled for 1:05 p.m.
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