The Pirates are a .500 team, at least 20 games into the Grapefruit League schedule, after beating Baltimore, 6-5, called after 8 innings by mutual consent.
It was a Deja vu sort of an afternoon at LECOM Park because we’ve seen this all spring – Mitch Keller still not profiling as a Number One starter and Kevin Newman not making many outs.
Keller pitched into the fourth inning, giving up 4 runs on 7 hits and a walk. He struck out 3, all within the first batters he faced. It was rockier after that but, at times, he looked much better than the results.
“I threw a lot more strikes today and that was the main thing,” Keller said, “just going in and filling it up, letting my stuff kind of play.”
“They hit a lot of singles through holes so I can’t really be too mad about that,” he shrugged. “I got some good contact that I was looking for but one of those days where stuff was falling; just have to go back and look at it and hopefully make some better pitches next time out.”
His manager was basically on the same page. “Today was a step in the right direction,” Derek Shelton agreed. “The previous starts he’d struggled with fastball command. Today he gave up some hits but it was the best off speed stuff we’ve seen from him and his command of the fastball was definitely much more consistent. The velocity was good (mid-to-upper 90’s so I was happy with his outing.”
Shelton was also encouraged by Trevor Cahill’s Pirates debut. The 33-year old right-hander was so economical with his pitchers, throwing 12 of 17 for strikes, that he pitched two innings. Dune underwood followed with one scoreless inning which included 2 strikeouts.
Shelton has to be thrilled with his shortstop, Newman, who continues to live on the bases – 3 more hits today. He is so hot this spring he doesn’t really need any help but he got some anyway from the official scorer in the 6th inning. Newman hit a slow bouncer toward third, a routine play even with Newman’s speed, and when it was bobbled he was given a hit.
Earlier he had doubled and scored in the first inning then singled and scored in the third. Not that it will translate to the regular season but Newman is now 14-for-20 –- that’s a .700 average. “If anyone wants to hit .700, I’m all in,” Shelton chuckled. “I mean, sign me up for that”
Erik Gonzalez had 2 hits to raise his average to .379 but, with Adam Frazier hitting .577, appears slotted for a back-up role. Phil Evans, once again making a strong bid for the bench, knocked in 3 runs with a sacrifice fly and a 2-run single.
Shelton is also bringing back his spring training T-shirts, today honoring FELT - Feeding Empty Little Tummies - a Manatee initiative to fight childhood hunger.