The Pirates jumped out to a 3-0 lead in Tampa but couldn't gain control of the game in large part because Francisco Liriano didn't have his and lost to the Yankees, 6-5.
Chris Archer was once again on point, extending to 3 innings and once again pitching scoreless ball. Facing a highly representative NY line-up, Archer allowed a leadoff single to Bret Gardner, got Aaron judge to hit into a double play and after allowing another single to Giancarlo Stanton he retired the next 7 batters.
"It didn't matter whether I was facing guys in rookie ball or former and future MVPs," Archer explained. "Cervy (Francisco Cervelli) and I had a game plan and stuck to it. Overall, again, being healthy, stepping away with positive results is always a good thing," although Archer says he's more about the process than the results. (Hear more Archer below.)
But he certainly can't complain about the results – 5 innings, 8 strikeouts, 1 walk and just the 2 hits today against a line-up featuring at least 7 Yankees regulars
As for Liranio – who still has to win a job this spring – he entered the game in the fourth inning and walked all 4 batters he faced and before Geoff Hartlieb could get out of the inning the score was tied and when Hartlieb gave up a home run the next inning the Bucs found themselves behind.
But as has often happened this spring, the Indianapolis players rallied. Cole Trucker tripled, scored on a Keven Kramer single, then Kramer stole second and after 2 walks, scored on a sac fly by Ke'Bryan Hayes giving the Pirates a 5-4 lead. However, after Dovydas Neverauskus pitched a scoreless seventh, Jesus Liranzo gave up a 2-run shot in the eighth and the Buccos farmhands went down meekly in the ninth.
The first run came in the second inning when Erik Gonzalez reached on a bunt single, stole second and eventually scored on a sacrfrifice fly by Bralen Jackson, a game-day call-up and former Washington Wild Thing who replaced Bryan Reynolds who experienced "left hamstring discomfort."
Jung Ho Kang and Francisco Cervelli hit back-to-back homers off J.A. Happ in the third for a 3-0 that was short-lived.
