BRADENTON, Fla. — The Pirates lost to the Boston Red Sox,12-6, at JetBlue Park. Here’s what you need to know from the day’s action:
On the mound
Joe Musgrove made his second start of spring and gave up six runs on eight hits with two strikeouts and no walks over four innings.
“Early on, I had a really good sinker,” Musgrove said. “I was able to get some groundballs on some good sink down in the zone. Just didn’t feel very consistent with my delivery today.”
Musgrove, whose spring starts were delayed by a mild shoulder injury, said he continues to feel healthy as he works on getting that consistent motion back. He will next pitch on Sunday against the Toronto Blue Jays in Dunedin.
“My ball just didn’t have anything on it,” Musgrove said. “I had a hard time breaking 92 [mph] out there. But I feel good. I don’t feel like I’m hanging it all right now. I feel like I had another inning in me, or two.”
Manager Clint Hurdle agreed with Musgrove’s assessment.
“The two-seamer, when it was down, was really good,” Hurdle said. “The fastball command overall was probably inconsistent. I thought he used his cutter very well today. Pitches were elevated at times.”
Kevin Siegrist gave up four runs in two-thirds of an inning.
Pittsburgh sports news in my inbox? Yes, please.
Get the PG Sports Feed newsletter each weekday here.
At the plate
Third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes, the Pirates’ No. 4 prospect according to Baseball America, hit his first Grapefruit League homer. Jordan Luplow and minor-league outfielder Bligh Madris also homered. The Pirates lead the Grapefruit League with 41 home runs in 26 games.
Ryan Lavarnway doubled in the ninth inning, scoring two, and Jordy Mercer had two hits, including a double.
In the field
Francisco Cervelli hit a comebacker at Red Sox starter David Price, who managed to regain his composure and throw him out on a close play at first.
Up next
Game: Pirates at Minnesota Twins, 6:05 p.m. Wednesday.
Where: CenturyLink Sports Complex, Fort Myers, Fla.
Radio: 93.7 The Fan.
Elizabeth Bloom: ebloom@post-gazette.com, 412-263-1750 and Twitter @BloomPG.
First Published: March 20, 2018, 9:21 p.m.
