PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) –Another game affected by the new safety rules in regards to Spring Training games as the Pirates and Blue Jays tied 2-2 after six and a half innings. Both sides agreed that was enough.
Each team had two runs, three hits and two errors. Each used six pitchers. I guess it will get more normal as the Grapefruit League season continues to realize the final score is less important than ever.
Just throw it hard
Starting pitcher Mitch Keller gave up a pair of runs on three hits in his lone inning of work starting. Keller said he had the improper mindset of trying to concentrate on throwing strikes instead of throwing hard. He said he had it figured out by the last fastball of the outing, a strikeout to end the inning at 97 mph.
“I just kind of said ‘F-it’ and threw it kinda hard like I’m used to and didn’t worry about where it went,” Keller said. “It played out nicely. When I throw harder I actually locate better instead of trying to throw strikes.”
“Good learning experience for me. Getting back to the way I used to feel.”
Keller threw 11 of 21 pitches for strikes and the lesson here.
“Let it rip and not think about throwing strikes.”
Alford homers
Coming off surgery to repair a broken elbow that happened in game on September 5, centerfielder Anthony Alford homered in his first Spring at bat. A solo shot in the second inning as the team’s designated hitter.
“It felt good to be able to go out there and get that first one,” Alford said. “It was kind of nerve-wracking playing against my old teammates. A lot of guys I came up through the system with and built a strong bond with. They are like family. It was a lot of fun.”
Alford is only able to throw it 150 feet currently, but expects to be back in the field soon.
Evans also returned
It was the first game back for third baseman Phillip Evans, who broke his jaw on August 8. Evans single in his first at bat in the third drove home the second run.
The righty-hitting Evans made the team last year after hitting .333 and leading the team in doubles and RBI and second with a pair of home runs in 2020 Spring Training.
Relievers 5 no-hit innings
Pirates relievers Kyle Crick, Chasen Shreve, David Bednar, Blake Cederlind and Blake Weiman combined to throw 5 hitless innings, walking one and striking out five.
Even year first round pick day
Pirates 2020 first-round draft pick Nick Gonzales entered the game in the fifth inning at second base and popped out in his only at-bat.
Centerfielder Travis Swaggerty, 2018 first round pick, relieved Brian Goodwin and struck out in his lone at bat.
Released in the off-season and back as a non-roster invitee, 2016 first round pick Will Craig started at first base and went 0 for 2.
A first round pick in 2014, Cole Tucker led off and went 0 for 3 with a strikeout as the starting shortstop.
Up Next
It’s the first home Spring Training game of 2021 with JT Brubaker scheduled to start against Detroit. Hear it Tuesday on KDKA-AM 1020 at 1:05p.