Derek Holland allowed a home run to former Pirate Austin Meadows and one run turned out to be the difference as the Pirates lost to the Rays, 2-1, in Port Charlotte.
Holland allowed nothing after that, aside from a pair of walks. He struck out 2 with 2 walks over 4 innings and felt, with that notable exception and a couple of others, his control was on point.
Keone Kela allowed one run in the sixth on a walk and a hit. Chad Kuhl, Kyle Crick and Nick Burdi each pitched a scoreless frame, with Burdi notching 2 strikeouts.
DH Josh Bell singled in his only two at-bats. After going 4 games without a hit, Bell has 4 hits in the last 3 - the 2 singles, a double and a home run.
Erik Gonzalez, coming off foot surgery, made his first 2020 appearance at third base to ease him in. "We know he can play all 3 positions (also 2nd and SS) and being out of the middle should limit his movement," according to Derek Shelton. Gonzalez did start a 5-4-3 double play. He went 0-for-3 at the plate but knocked in a run on a ground out..
Catcher Luke Maile played for the first time since February 25th (hamstring) and went 0-for-3, including a strikeout.