Derek Holland not only became the first Pirates pitcher to go 5 innings this Grapefruit League season, he pitched into the sixth which, alas, only gave him a chance to allow his third solo home run of the afternoon while, once again, the offense was nowhere to be found as the Bucs lost to the Tigers, 4-1, in Lakeland.
Holland breezed through the first inning then served up a first-pitch homer to CJ Cron in the second. A few pitches later Jeimer Candelario got a ball up into the wind blowing out to left which landed beyond the fence just out of the reach of Guillermo Heredia. Holland then proceeded to get the side in order the next 3 innings. The lefty was so efficient that he came out for the sixth and allowed another solo homer, this time to Cameron Maybin. In all, Holland pitched 5-and-a-third innings, allowed 4 hits, 6 strikeouts and no walks on 62 pitches.
Holland said 2 of the home runs balls were on him. "As soon as I came in, Oscar (Marin) said 'you've done it again; you guided it,'" Holland said, shaking his head. He said Cron's HR was legit, though. "I don't even now if it's landed yet."
"But overall I thought today was outstanding," concluded Holland who was throwing to catcher JR Murphy for the first time. "Great job by him of game-calling, working in and out, up and down; I really think it was better than the (pitching) line indicated."
Holland is in on a minor league contract but, while Derek Shelton says it's too soon to say, it sounds like Holland has a spot, probably in the rotation. "It's not like he's on a tryout since he has 10 years of service time," the manager said before the game, "but he's done a good job, pitched well and we're going to continue to give him innings and evaluate him.
Chris Stratton and Robbie Erlin pitched scoreless relief, Erlin was really good but Shelton wanted to get Dovydas Neverauskus some work and Neverauskus gave up a run in the ninth.
The Pirates had trouble with lefty Matthew Boyd, who effectively mixed up his pitches ranging from fastballs at 94 to beaking stuff in the low 70s. The exception was JT Riddle who started at third base this time. Riddle singled and was stranded in the second inning but after he led off the fifth with his third triple of the spring he scored on Socrates Brito's blooper down the right field. Riddle hit the ball hard a third time but right at the first baseman for an out
Jose Osuna had the only other hit.
Erik Gonzalez played second base and was hitless in 3 at-bats. Colin Moran played first base and also went 0-for-3, plus Moran booed by fans when he fielded a foul ball and his underhand toss failed to make it over the high screen then rolled it into the dugout to deny the disappointed fans the coveted souvenir.
Tomorrow is a scheduled off day, but some pitchers will still work. Chris Archer (who isn't crazy about simulated games) will pitch in a sim game, along with Michael Feliz and Richard Rodriguez.
Joe Musgrove is slated to start Thursday at LECOM Park against the Blue Jays, who simply won't go away. It will be the fifth game between the teams over the course of 11 days, but also the final one this spring. Meanwhile, the Bucs have 4 more games against the Tigers for a total of 6 in all.
Director of Sports Medicine Todd Tomczyk's weekly injury update was brief. Steven Brault will be evaluated later this week but even if all goes well it sounds like Brault will not be ready for the opener 2 weeks from tomorrow.
