PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Pirates pitchers struggled for the second straight day, out-hit by the Phillies 12-3 and outscored 6-5. Steven Brault gave up three runs in three innings on five hits, a walk and a strikeout. It's the first runs the lefty has given up now in his third start of the spring.
Miguel Yajure, acquired in the Jameson Taillon trade, struck out three in a pair of innings, but also gave up 3 hits and two runs. The righty has pitched 5 innings allowing 3 runs, including a homer, a walk and six strikeouts.
"He's done a nice job," manager Derek Shelton said of Yajure. "Today he got behind twice and gave up 3-0 base hits. Just a learning experience of him of how to use his stuff. Initial reaction to him. I really like him."
Traditional HR
After a 'Little League' home run, rounding the bases on a dropped fly ball on Friday and a line-drive over-the-fence homer on Saturday. Infielder Rodolfo Castro hit a grand slam onto the roof (or tarp) over the left field bleachers on Sunday. The 21-year-old blasted a 1-0 pitch after Jakob Hernandez had walked Phillip Evans, Jared Oliva and Oneil Cruz.
"He's a great kid with the ability to play multiple positions," Shelton said. "You don't see many guys go up top on the thing (tarp). It's exciting to see our young guys do things like that."
The Dominican Republic native hit .242 with 19 HR and 73 RBI in 2019 combined in low and high A ball with a .456 slugging percentage.
Catcher Jacob Stallings also hit a monster home run with no one on in the first off Phillies lefty starter Matt Moore. Stallings has a four-game hitting streak with four RBI over that stretch.
Alford update
Returning to action after having elbow surgery in the off-season, it looks like centerfielder Anthony Alford is going to be ok after getting hit by a pitch on Saturday.
"He went through baseball activities today," Shelton said. "He has a contusion (on his wrist). It will be a day-to-day thing that we will monitor."
Reds pick up Pirates waiver
Recently designated for assignment, the Reds claimed pitcher Carson Fulmer off waivers from the Pirates.
The righty pitched in 10 games in 2020 between the Tigers and Orioles with a 4.35 ERA. Fulmer, 27, is 6-9 with a 6.34 ERA in 54 career major league games, 15 of those were starts.
Up next
Pirates travel 12.4 miles on Monday to play the Orioles in Sarasota. Again the Bucs face a Baltimore reclamation project. On Thursday is was Felix Hernandez, this time it's Matt Harvey. The former Mets All-Star signed just as training camp opened. Lefty Tyler Anderson starts for the Pirates at 1:05p.
