TAMPA, Fla. -- The Pirates got some good outings from their pitchers and made a couple nice plays in the field, but they could not crack into the win column for their spring schedule, tying with the Yankees, 3-3, in Gerrit Cole's debut Monday night at Steinbrenner Field.
It was supposed to be the spring opener for Chris Archer, too, but he was scratched Monday afternoon with neck tightness. The club described his status as day-to-day.
Archer doesn't exactly know where the tightness originated, but said it had been lingering for several days.
If this had been the regular season, Archer said he probably would have started.
"Figured it's not smart to go out there and force it Feb. 24," Archer said. "We have a lot of time."
The plan is to treat it and see how it progresses over the next couple days.
Derek Shelton isn't too concerned with scratching him.
"It's Feb. 24, so we're just very precautionary," Shelton said.
Archer was disappointed about not being able to get his season started, but didn't want to overcompensate for his neck and potentially hurt something else.
"I just would rather not expose myself if I'm not feeling 100-percent in February," Archer said.
• So the Archer-Cole marquee didn't come to fruition. Cole still pitched, and still looks good.
He only pitched the first inning, striking out Bryan Reynolds and Josh Bell and getting Adam Frazier to pop out. The fastball was sitting at about 97 mph.
Cole Tucker drew a two-out walk that inning, coming back from being down 0-2. Or as he put that scenario: "This is exactly how it goes in my nightmares."
"I thought Tucker was going to expand a little bit there, but he put together a good at-bat," Cole said.
Cole didn't lose Bell in the next at-bat, putting him away on three pitches.
"He looks pretty ready to go," Bell said. "He's got some serious ride on his heater right now. Pretty surprising for February."
• By the way, Cole didn't get any outs on three pitches or less. I bet I'm the last person who will ever mention that again for him.
• Chris Stratton made the start -- and his spring debut -- in Archer's place. He, too, went one inning, walking one and striking out Giancarlo Stanton.
"Just another day at the ballpark," he said.
His critique of his performance was pretty standard for this time year, saying he felt good but needs to work on his control.
"Overall, I'd say it's a good one to build on," Stratton said.
• Guillermo Heredia made a nice over the shoulder catch in the second, covering a good amount of ground behind him.
This was the second time he has played center this spring. I'm starting to get the impression he'll be the backup center fielder.
• Speaking of good defense, Adam Frazier and Tucker pulled this off in the fourth inning...
Smooth.#LetsGoBucs pic.twitter.com/CeQmY2G85P
— Pirates (@Pirates) February 25, 2020
Tucker always tries to make those type of web-gem type plays in practice with his double-play partner, whether it's Frazier, Kevin Newman or Kevin Kramer, but to actually pull it off in a game?
"I'd be lying to you if I said I didn't feel pretty good about that one," Tucker said.
• Jason Martin delivered a two-out game-tying single in the ninth to keep the Pirates out of the loss column. On Gerrit Cole night, no less.
• One more Tucker quote on his thoughts of facing his friend: "It was really weird seeing him on the other side, but 300-and-however million dollars will put you on the other side."
• Who pitched today:
Chris Stratton: 1 IP, 1 K, 1 BB
Geoff Hartlieb: 1 IP, 2 K, 1 BB
Edgar Santana: 1 IP
Yacksel Rios: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB
Luis Escobar: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB
Nik Turley: 1 IP, 2 K
Nick Mears: 1 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, 1 K
Sammy Reyes: 1 IP, 2 H, 2 K
Pedro Vasquez: 1 IP, 2 K