BRADENTON, Fla. --- When Lonnie Chisenhall left the game after one inning Saturday with what was termed by the Pirates as “general lower-extremity tightness,” there was cause for concern.
Chisenhall was limited to just 29 games with the Indians last season because of multiple calf strains. The Pirates signed him to a one-year, $2.75-million contract in November knowing he was a health risk but hoping he could hold them over in right field until Gregory Polanco recovers from shoulder surgery.
Alas, Chisenhall’s injury – tightness in the legs for those who don’t have a medical dictionary handy – was not serious as the Pirates edged the Yankees 8-7 in an exhibition game at LECOM Park.
The right fielder was walking without a limp after the game and said he and the Pirates were just being cautious after his travails of last season.
The Pirates had a shortened pre-game workout in the morning because of various team meetings and Chisenhall felt he did not loosen up properly. He struck out in his lone at-bat then was replaced by Bryan Reynolds.
“It was just an awkward morning and the thing is it’s March 2, so we just wanted to be careful,” Chisenhall told me. “I learned the hard way too many times last year after trying to push things. We decided to take advantage of it still being fairly early in spring training and not take any chances.”
The Pirates rallied from a 3-1 deficit with a five-run fourth inning that included run-scoring singles by Kevin Kramer and Steven Baron and a two-run triple by Corey Dickerson. Consecutive doubles by Will Craig, Jose Osuna and Cole Tucker in the seventh pushed the Pirates’ lead to 8-4.
Dickerson and Baron each had two hits and two RBIs. Dickerson was the designated hitter for the second time in three days and the Gold Glove winner will see his first action in left field next week.
• It has been a rough second time through the rotation for three of the four pitchers vying for the fifth starter’s job.
Jordan Lyles gave up three runs and seven hits in three innings Saturday. He also had two walks and one strikeout.
That outing came after Steven Brault allowed four runs in one-plus inning to the Yankees on Thursday in Tampa, Fla., and Nick Kingham was tagged for five runs in three innings by the Phillies on Friday.
Rookie Davis pitched two scoreless innings Friday against the Blue Jays in his spring debut.
“There was a lot going on out there today,” Lyles said. “It wasn’t my best, but at least I got my work in and threw all my pitches.”
The Yankees hit four doubles off Lyles and scored one run in each of his three innings. Troy Tulowitzki doubled and scored on Miguel Andujar’s double in the first, Estevan Florial doubled in the second and was singled in by Thairo Estrada, then added an RBI double in the third.
Clint Hurdle was pleased with Lyles’ outing.
“A lot of stuff happened in this game,” Hurdle said, echoing Lyles said. “He did fine.”
Felipe Vazquez, Keone Kela and Richard Rodriguez all pitched a scoreless inning in their first major-league game action of the spring. Vazquez struck out two of the three batters he faced.
Francisco Liriano gave up one run in one inning and Doyvadas Neverauskas was tagged for three runs in 1 1/3 innings before the Pirates held on to snap a four-game losing streak and even their Grapefruit League record at 4-4.
Minor-leaguer Montana DuRapau relieved Neverauskas and got the last two outs for the save.
Meanwhile, Jameson Taillon and Trevor Williams each pitched three innings in a simulated game at Pirate City.
• Minor-league infielder/outfielder Alfredo Reyes was added to the major-league camp as a non-roster player.
Reyes, 25, played in a combined 101 games at Triple-A Indianapolis, Double-A Altoona and High-A Bradenton last season. He hit .286/.386/.356 with four home runs and 35 stolen bases.
It was by far the best season of Reyes’ eight-year professional career. His career minor-league line is .240/.305/.305 in 607 games.
The Pirates now have 62 players in camp.
• Former Pirates shortstop and hitting coach Jay Bell made the trip with the Yankees from their spring training base in Tampa, Fla.
Bell will manage Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this season, putting him one step closer to his long-time goal of becoming a major-league manager. He spent last season as Double-A Trenton’s manager.
“I had to get back to Pennsylvania,” Bell said with a smile.
• The Pirates host the Rays at 1:05 p.m. Sunday with Mitch Keller starting against Ryne Stanek, Tampa Bay’s most frequently used “opener” last season. Also scheduled to pitch for the Pirates are Clay Holmes, Kyle Crick, Nick Burdi, Aaron Slegers, Geoff Hartlieb and Luis Escobar.