Musgrove makes it through first spring start healthy taken in Bradenton, Fla. (Courtesy of StepOutside.org)

JOE MUSGROVE - MATT SUNDAY / DKPS

BRADENTON, Fla,. -- Joe Musgrove was healthy after his first start in a major-league exhibition game this spring. That made the big right-hander happy.

Musgrove pitched four innings Friday night in a 6-6 tie with the Tampa Bay Rays at LECOM Park. He allowed two runs and four hits while striking out five and walking none.

In October, Musgrove underwent surgery to repair a stress reaction in his pelvic bone, as well as a hernia. Though he had been pitching in simulated games, Musgrove was curious how his body would react with more adrenaline pumping.

“I was actually looking forward to having that game intensity and turning it up,” Musgrove said. “Having to field a bunt play, a swinging bunt, and being able to move good was important to me. I wanted to see how a play like that would feel.

“Anytime it’s the first time you’re pitching in front of a lot of people, there is a feeling of being anxious to get out there. It was nice to get the jitters out of the way in the first inning and finish strong.”

The Pirates hit four more home runs, including a long two-run blast to left field in the first inning by Starling Marte, after connecting five times Thursday in an 11-2 rout of the Phillies. Also going deep Friday night were Josh Bell, Francisco Cervelli and Jung Ho Kang.

Kang has a team-high five home runs, accounting for all his hits in 24 at-bats.

Bidding for the starting shortstop job, Erik Gonzalez went 3-for-3 — all singles — after entering the game 3-for-25 this spring. That came a day after rookie Kevin Newman went 3-for-4 after entering that game 4-for-22.

“I’m working hard every day trying to get my timing with the bat,” Gonzalez said. “Sometimes you need a little good result to be happy. I’ve been waiting a long time to have the opportunity to be a starting shortstop in the big leagues. That’s why I’ve been working harder this year than ever. I want to just keep working and I know the result is going to be all right.”

Adam Frazier added two hits, including an RBI single.

Felipe Vazquez and Keone Kela followed Musgrove with one scoreless inning each but Kyle Crick gave up a three-run home run to minor-league infielder Tristan Gray in the seventh that drew the Rays within 6-5. Gray was the minor-leaguer the Pirates traded with reliever Daniel Hudson to the Rays last spring for Corey Dickerson.

Richard Rodriguez surrendered the tying run in the eighth inning. The Pirates remain 8-11 in Grapefruit League play following the tie.

 Minor-leaguer Nick Patten played the last two innings at first base after Bell came out of the game.

Patten, who grew up in Butler, was the Pirates’ 28th-round draft pick last year from the University of Delaware. He hit .195/.319/.347 with three home runs in 37 games for the rookie-level GCL Pirates.

Patten had the chance to be the hero in the bottom of the ninth as he came to bat with the potential winning run on second base but struck out to end the game.

Steve Blass was honored in a pre-game ceremony.

The radio broadcast booth at LECOM Park was renamed after him. Mayor Wayne Poston also proclaimed Friday as Steve Blass Day in Bradenton.

Blass is set to retire from the Pirates’ broadcast booth at the end of the season after 60 years overall with the organization. He has been with the Pirates so long that he was pitching for them in 1969 when they moved their spring training base to Bradenton from Fort Myers.

A pair of ex-Pirates were in the clubhouse before the game – Jose Veras and Jeff Reboulet.

Both now work for the Major League Baseball Players Association. They took part in the MLBPA’s annual domestic seminar that was attended by players on the 40-man roster.

Veras was a reliever with 2011. Reboulet finished his 12-year career with the Pirates in 2003, serving as the primary second baseman after Pokey Reese sustained an early-season injury.

The Pirates visit the Tigers at 1:05 p.m. Saturday at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Fla.

Chris Archer will start for the Pirates against left-hander Mike Moore. Archer has not allowed a run in two starts and five innings this spring.

Also scheduled to pitch for the Pirates are Michael Feliz, Jake Barrett, Clay Holmes, Geoff Hartlieb and Brandon Waddell. It will be Barrett’s first appearance since being claimed off waivers from the Giants on March 1.

The Pirates will get to catch up with former teammates Josh Harrison and Jordy Mercer, who both signed as free agents with the Tigers. Harrison spent the last eight seasons playing for the Pirates, and Mercer the last seven.

Legend has it that Marchant, the former mayor of Lakeland, is buried underneath home plate.

PERROTTO'S VIEWS

There is lots to like about Musgrove, but the one thing he does better than anything is throw strikes. Thus, the zero walks in his first time out was both impressive and a good sign that he should be ready to go for the third game of the regular season at Cincinnati.

Vazquez already looks in midseason form as his fastball was clocked at 101 mph. Kela bounced back well after giving three home runs in an inning in his last appearance in a major-league exhibition.

Crick's spot in the bullpen is secure and it's never wise to put too much stock in spring training stats. Thus, the fact he has given up five runs in 3 2/3 innings isn't a cause for concern.

You have to feel for Patten as he had the chance to get the walk-off hit for the team he grew up rooting for in Butler in a game being broadcast back to Pittsburgh. It would have been a nice finish, but it didn't work out.

 

Loading...
Loading...