The Pirates slugged the Orioles, 9-3, yesterday in the next-to-last game of Spring Training in Sarasota, Florida. On the day he was told he had made the team for the season opener in St. Louis, rookie utilityman Diego Castillo went 4-for-4 with his team-leading sixth home run.
Bryan Reynolds and Hunter Owen also homered for the Pirates, who lead all Major League teams with 37 Spring Training home runs.
Starter Bryse Wilson threw three-and-two-thirds innings and gave up two runs on five hits and two walks. He struck out seven. Wil Crowe, who is battling for a rotation spot, pitched two-and-a-third shutout innings.
Zach Thompson will start for the Pirates today in the final preseason game, at Clearwater against the Phillies. You will hear the game on WCCS starting at noon.
Third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes said last weekend that he hopes to be ready to start the season on Thursday in St. Louis after rolling his ankle on March 26th. Hayes ran the bases yesterday and director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said he was “overall, very encouraged.” He said Hayes should be available “early in the season” but stopped short of saying he’ll play in the opener.
Outfielder Greg Allen had more imaging done yesterday on a sore hamstring after he came up lame after sliding into home on Sunday. First baseman Yoshi Tsutsugo is day-to-day with a stiff neck and reliever Sam Howard reported to work yesterday with back spasms. He is also day-to-day.
MLB
The Cardinals announced yesterday that Albert Pujols will be the starting designated hitter in Thursday’s season opener. It will be his 22nd consecutive Opening Day start, which ties him with Hank Aaron and Carl Yastrzemski for the second-longest streak in MLB history, one shy of Pete Rose’s 23 opening day starts in a row.
Tampa Bay pulled off a shocker yesterday, trading former Pirate Austin Meadows to the Tigers for infielder Isaac Paredes and a competitive balance-B pick in this year’s MLB Draft. Meadows hit 27 home runs for Tampa Bay last season.
The Dodgers released a statement Monday that former outfielder Tommy Davis has died at the age of 83. He won three World Series titles with LA and was a two-time NL batting champion. He played for nine other MLB teams before retiring in 1976.
