Three Pittsburgh Pirates home runs lead the way in the Pirates 13-8 win over the Tampa Bay Rays. Kyle Lobstein started the game in his final spring training tune-up before the season.
The Pittsburgh Pirates wrapped up their Grapefruit League schedule yesterday by defeating the Tampa Bay Rays by a score of 13-8. The home run ball proved essential to the Pirates offense as they hit three on the day including a grand slam from Sean Rodriguez. Kyle Lobstein took the hill in his final tune-up of the spring and pitched pretty well.
In total, Lobstein threw two innings giving up two runs on two hits. He was in the competition for a spot in the starting rotation, but lost the battle to both Jeff Locke and Juan Nicasio. However, he was rewarded for his efforts by winning one of the last two spots in the Pirates bullpen. With Jared Hughes likely headed for the disabled list to start the season, a spot in the bullpen opened up and Lobstein took advantage of it.
Overall, Lobstein had a very successful spring with the Pirates going 2-1 with a 2.77 ERA while striking out eight and walking three in 13.0 innings of work. Lobstein did see time in the majors last season, mostly as a starting pitcher, with the Detroit Tigers. In 13 games with the Tigers, he went 3-8 with a 5.94 ERA. The young left-hander is looking to prove himself for the Pirates this season.
Ryan Vogelsong was next in his final outing of the spring, but he was stricken with bad luck throughout the day. He threw 1.1 innings giving up three runs, only one earned, on two hits while walking two batters. Vogelsong will be the long relief man in the Pirates bullpen during the 2016 season.
Vogelsong is currently in his second stint with the Pirates and is looking to have a better result then the last time he was with the team. He pitched for the Pirates from 2001-2006 and went a combined 10-19 splitting time between the starting rotation and the bullpen. Now, under pitching coach Ray Searage, Vogelsong will be working to get his mechanics back so he can be the effective pitcher he was for the San Francisco Giants during the 2011 and 2012 seasons.
Minor league pitcher Montana DuRapau came in to clean up the inning as he threw 0.2 inning giving up no runs and walking a batter. DuRapau has seen time in three games this spring training and has yet to give up a run in 2.0 innings of work. He spent most of last season with Single A Bradenton, but did see very limited action with Double A Altoona. DuRapau will look to continue his development during the 2016 season.
The back-end of the Pirates bullpen went through their final spring tune-ups next as Mark Melancon, Tony Watson, and Neftali Feliz each threw an inning of work. For the most part, they pitched pretty well and are ready to go for the season.
Melancon threw 1.0 perfect inning retiring the side in order. During limited work in spring training this year, Melancon has yet to give up a run. He set the team record in saves last year and looks to have a repeat performance as the Pirates closer in 2016. Watson did not have as much success. In his 1.0 inning of work he gave up two runs on three hits while striking out three. The big blow to Watson was a two-run home run from Trevor Beckham.
Neftali Feliz also gave up one run in his 1.0 inning on two hits while striking out one batter. Feliz is looking to rebound after a down year last season with the Texas Rangers and the Detroit Tigers where he went 3-4 with a 6.38 ERA. At one time, he was one of the most dominant closers in baseball. He is looking to return to that dominant status with the Pirates here in 2016.
These three guys will be depended upon to close out games for the Pirates this year. If these three can be effective pitchers, it could make for one of the strongest bullpens in all of major league baseball. With three closer type pitchers in your bullpen, you can really shorten the game and have it possibly be over by the seventh inning.
Minor leaguer Guido Knudson finished out the game for Pittsburgh throwing 2.0 innings giving up no runs on three hits while striking out a batter. Knudson will be assigned to Triple A Indianapolis and will more than likely be a September call-up or bullpen relief throughout the course of the 2016 season.
Overall, the pitching did not do bad. Lobstein and Vogelsong showed that they are ready for the season to start. The bullpen also got in some good work as the back end of the bullpen got in the work it needed before the season begins. The bullpen will definitely be a strong spot on this team in 2016 and will be key to the Pirates success.
The pitching was helped yesterday by a great offensive attack as Pittsburgh hit three home runs and scored 13 runs on the day. The Pirates were able to get a total of 14 hits on the afternoon with many players joining in on the hit parade. All but five of the 18 players who had an at bat yesterday got hits and Sean Rodriguez and Matt Joyce combined for seven of the teams 13 RBI on the day.
The offensive star of the day, however, was Michael Morse. He was yesterday's designated hitter and went 2 for 2 with an RBI, a walk, and two runs scored. Morse is vying for a spot on the Pittsburgh bench this season. After the acquisition of David Freese bumped Morse out of the first base platoon, he has had to become more versatile and take his talents to the outfield.
Morse has really heated up this spring and is having a good one with the Pirates. He finished Grapefruit League action with a .359 batting average and 4 RBI. Morse is a quality power bat to have coming off of the Pirates bench in big situations. Power is something that the team might be lacking this season, and Morse is someone who can provide that pop when needed.
The big run producers on the afternoon were Matt Joyce and Sean Rodriguez. Each hit a home run in the game and combined to drive in seven of the teams 13 runs on the afternoon. Both will be featured on this year's Pirates bench and they will be used to give certain guys days off throughout the course of the regular season.
Joyce went 1 for 2 with a big three-run home run off of Jake Odorizzi in the first inning to get the Pirates off to a bang. Joyce also walked and scored a run in the game. Joyce is currently slated as the Pirates fourth outfielder and will be used to back up both Starling Marte and Gregory Polanco. Joyce is a veteran presence on the bench to help guide this team to success in 2016.
Rodriguez's big hit came in the second inning when he hit a grand slam off of Steve Geltz to pull the Pirates way out in front. Rodriguez finished the day going 1 for 2 with a run scored, a walk, and a strike out. Rodriguez will be Pittsburgh's utility man for the 2016 season. His ability to play multiple positions is a big advantage for the Pirates. He will be seeing a lot more time this season than he has in previous years and will be a key to the Pirates success.
The Pirates do have one more game before they open their season on Sunday afternoon. They will travel to Indianapolis to take on the Cincinnati Reds at Victory Field, the Triple A home of the Indianapolis Indians. The Reds will be sending right hander Alfredo Simon to the hill and the Pirates will counter with minor leaguer Wilfredo Boscan. First pitch for the exhibition game is scheduled for 1:35 p.m.
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