The Pirates and Yankees each went deep three times, but the Yankees made theirs count for more and won the game, 7-5. The Bucs are now 7-5-1 this spring.
The game featured the usual mixture of good and bad signs, along with the sort of thing that happens mostly in spring training. Yesterday, it was a four-base error. Today, Tony Wolters managed to strike out on a pitch that hit him in . . . um . . . a bad spot.
Of more concern, Anthony Alford exited with the dreaded “right wrist discomfort” after taking a Corey Kluber pitch off his hand. After the game, Alford said he was fine, although there’s been no word yet on any x-rays. Hopefully, they’ll be able to upgrade him to right wrist annoyance, or even right wrist tingle.
J.T. Brubaker probably didn’t help himself in the rotation battle, giving up four runs in two innings. Actually, one and two-thirds innings, as his second frame was rolled over with two out. Brubaker allowed an RBI double to Dwight Hicks in the first and a three-run home run to D.J. LeMahieu in the second.
There were the usual good relief outings. Rich Rodriguez gave up one hit and fanned two in a scoreless inning. David Bednar, Geoff Hartlieb and Sam Howard each threw a 1-2-3 inning, with Hartlieb fanning two. Max Kranick gave up a two-run dinger to Ryan LaMarre after an error prolonged his inning. Yerry De Los Santos allowed a solo shot to Socrates Brito. The pitchers didn’t walk a batter.
On the offensive side, Troy Stokes, Jr., is no doubt trying to insert himself into the outfield discussion. He went 2-for-3 and crushed one to left for his second home run of the spring. He also had a sliding catch on a liner. Adam Frazier went 3-for-4 and is hitting .667 since he got into action. Bryan Reynolds hit his first home run of the spring, off submariner Darren O’Day.
The prospects showed up a bit more. Travis Swaggerty had a double. Rodolfo Castro showed he doesn’t need any help to hit dingerz, launching a two-run shot, showing the power that makes him so tantalizing as a prospect.
