PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – In a wild game where the Rays got 8 runs off Pirates starter Mitch Keller, the offense came back late to make it a 10-9 final as Tampa Bay got the victory.
Who's got the Comm
A day after running through an unsuspecting Chad Kuhl going for a pop-up, first baseman Colin Moran didn't communicate with Mitch Keller on a slow dribbler up the line, allowing Austin Meadows one of the cheapest singles ever.
Meadows would steal second and score on a double in a gap by Joey Wendle. Keller would give up two more runs before leaving with just one out in the top of the first.
Due to new Grapefruit League rules, Keller returned for the top of the second and gave up a solo homer to the first batter. He would allow a single, but strike out the other three batters.
Keller would give up a homer to the former Pirate Meadows as part of 4 runs allowed in the third inning before leaving with two outs. His ERA this spring is 21.60.
"Today was probably frustrated," manager Derek Shelton said of Keller. "Fastball command has been an issue. He continued to miss up."
"The execution we have to get cleaned up. It would be concerning if we saw lack of stuff. Lack of execution we can definitely hone in on."
Ke Knock
KeBryan Hayes beat the shift with a single to the right side driving in Adam Frazier who tripled off the centerfielder's glove. That was Hayes fifth run batted in as he has a RBI in three straight games.
Hayes would later score on a 2-run homer to right by Bryan Reynolds. The second this spring for Reynolds.
Colin Moran would hit a 2-run homer in the 5th. His first of the spring and RBIs two and three.
A day after being reassigned, 2020 first round pick Nick Gonzales had a pair of hits, runs and RBI thanks to his first double of the spring.
"The ball he drove in the right centerfield gap," Shelton said. "I think that's what we saw when we drafted him. He gets the knock. He makes the diving play."
"We are talking about a kid who has never played a professional game. It was pretty cool to see. Really good swings by him today."
Alford in lineup
Four days after being in by a pitch on the wrist, Anthony Alford returned in centerfield. Coming off season-ending elbow surgery, Alford went 1 for 3 as he is in the three-way battle to be the starting centerfielder batting .375.
Centerfielder Jared Oliva, who did get a few games at the end of the 2020 season, had a 2-run double.
Glasnow back
Tyler Glasnow gave up 4 runs on 6 hits, 7 strikeouts in 4 innings on the day he found out he would be Tampa Bay's Opening Day starter. In other words, the former bewildered Pirate is now the ace of the Rays.
Three sent down
Bucs sent down their two best hitters this spring and a promising shortstop. Catchers Christian Kelley and Arden Pabst were each hitting 1.000, both were 1 for 1 with a double, although Pabst had a RBI.
The 27-year-old Kelley played in 8 games with the Pirates in 2020 going 3 for 9 with a double and 2 RBI. In 80 games in AAA in 2019, the righty-hitter batted .179 with 5 homers.
The 26-year-old Pabst was the Pirates 12th round pick in 2016. He played in 73 games in AA in 2019 hitting .192 with 4 homers. Pabst did not play in 2020.
Shortstop Ji-Hwan Bae played in 11 spring games getting 2 hits in 11 at bats with a RBI. Bae is a 21-year-old lefty hitter who played in 86 games in low A in 2019. He hit .323 with a .403 on base percentage with 25 double and 38 RBI. Bae also stole 31 bases.
Any of these players sent down can participate in games, so of the 15 yesterday and 3 today, you might see them in upcoming games.
Up Next
The last Grapefruit League off-day and on Friday night Steven Brault starts in Bradenton against the Orioles. Hear it on 100.1 FM and AM 1020 KDKA.
