BRADENTON, Fla. -- Jonah Davis found out moments before the first pitch that he was going to be in the starting lineup for a major-league exhibition game.
That was crazy stuff for an outfielder who was the Pirates’ 15th-round draft pick last year from the University of California and spent his first pro season at rookie-level, short-season Bristol (Va.). He was brought over from minor-league camp for the day for depth purposes.
“It freaked me out a little bit,” Davis said with a smile. “I thought I was going to hang out in the dugout with the big-league guys and watch the game. I was really excited to get out there.”
Davis didn’t seem fazed by the circumstances as he hit two solo home runs while subbing for Starling Marte — a late scratch with lower-back tightness — in the Pirates’ 7-5 victory over the Orioles at LECOM Park.
Jung Ho Kang’s grand slam, his sixth spring homer, in the bottom of the ninth gave the Pirates their fifth straight victory. That pushed their Grapefruit League record over .500 at 13-12.
Davis’ first-inning blast came off David Hess, who is contending for a spot in the Orioles’ rotation.
“It was surreal,” Davis said. “I grew up a Yankee fan and I couldn’t believe I was on the same field with Melky (Cabrera) and (Francisco) Cervelli. The first person I saw when I got to the dugout after the first home run was Cervelli to high-five me.”
Davis connected again in the sixth against Nate Karns and said he “almost blacked out” while rounding the bases.
“The second one, it didn’t even click at first, then I realized I did it again,” Davis said. “My thoughts were just racing. It’s what I’ve dreamed of for 21 years. It was an awesome feeling.”
Davis showed outstanding power in the Appalachian League last summer, hitting .306/.398/.612 with 12 home runs in 51 games, confirming the Pirates’ thoughts that he was a steal in the 15th round. However, that is also four levels away from the major leagues.
“You get goosebumps watching these kids do things they’ve never done in a professional uniform,” Clint Hurdle said. “I love it.”
Kang went 2-for-4 and doubled in addition to hitting the slam. Cervelli added a solo homer.
With the score tied 3-3 after the eighth, both teams agreed to play under the experimental rule in which an inning starts with a runner on second base and no outs. The Orioles scored twice in the top of the ninth before Kang walked it off.
• Chris Archer allowed three runs in 3 2/3 innings in his final Grapefruit League start. He gave up four hits, walked three and struck out six.
Archer will pitch a simulated game at Pirate City next Tuesday while the rest of the Pirates are in Houston for the finale of a two-game exhibition series against the Astros. He will join the team in time for the opener in Cincinnati two days later then start the home opener April 1 against the Cardinals.
After holding the Orioles scoreless through three innings, Archer couldn’t get through the fourth. He also had some bad luck in the inning as he twice appeared to have batters struck out but did not get the call from home plate umpire Dan Iassogna. One of them, Trey Mancini, hit the next pitch for a home run.
Archer, though, was pleased with his outing and especially excited about getting most of his strikeouts on changeups.
“If I can command the fastball, then I can really use the changeup effectively,” Archer said. “I’ve worked on it a lot all spring and I’m happy with where it’s at right now.”
Tyler Lyons relieved Archer and pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings. The veteran left-hander has made three straight scoreless appearances since allowing five runs in 1/3 inning on March 12 against the Twins.
Kyle Crick worked a 1-2-3 inning. He had given up six runs in 4 1/3 this spring prior to Thursday.
• Kang will play shortstop for the first time this spring when the Pirates face the Rays at 1:05 p.m. tomorrow at Port Charlotte, Fla.
Kang last appeared at the position in a major-league game Sept. 17, 2015. He sustained a severe knee injury that day when the Cubs’ Chris Coughlin slid into him at second base while breaking up a potential double play.
Hurdle downplayed the significance of Kang at shortstop, saying the Pirates are “working through various emergency situations.”
• Jacob Stallings is scheduled to catch tomorrow. He left the game in the second inning Wednesday against the Twins because of neck tightness.
The Pirates said Marte’s injury is not considered serious and he was removed for precautionary measures.
• Francisco Liriano will start tomorrow against former Pirates right-hander Casey Sadler.
That does not mean Liriano has suddenly become an 11th-candidate for the fifth starter’s job. The veteran left-hander is in the running only for a bullpen spot. The Pirates plan to use relievers and minor-leaguers.
PERROTTO'S VIEWS
It's not the first time I've seen a minor-leaguer have a memorable day in a major-league spring training game. Yet it's always cool, and Davis has stamped himself as a player to keep an eye on in the farm system.
Kang continues to confirm the Pirates made the right decision by choosing him over Colin Moran for the starting third baseman's job Monday. However, it is curious that the Pirates will take a look at Kang at shortstop just four days later. Regardless of what Hurdle said publicly, it seems to me they are looking at Kang as a contingency plan if Erik Gonzalez does not pan out as the starting shortstop.
Lyons' bid to win a bullpen job appeared to be all but over a week ago. However, he has bounced back with three strong outings and is firmly in the mix to make the opening-day roster. While it's possible both could make the team, it still feels like Lyons is trailing Liriano in the Pirates' eyes.