Top prospect Mitch Keller rocked for four runs as Pirates lose to Tampa Bay
The Pittsburgh Pirates’ top prospect endured another rough start in spring training.
Right-hander Mitch Keller gave up a leadoff home run to Joey Wendle and allowed four runs in the first inning of a 10-4 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays Sunday afternoon at LECOM Park in Bradenon, Fla.
Keller walked two batters and gave up three hits, including an RBI single to Ji-Man Choi and a two-RBI double to Mike Zunino. Reliever Aaron Slegers gave up three runson three hits in two innings.
The Pirates got a solo home run by Pablo Reyes in the fourth and scored on Colin Moran’s sacrifice fly in the seventh, then added two runs in the bottom of the ninth.
Kevin Newman started the first five innings at shortstop and went 2 for 3. Ke’Bryan Hayes played the final four innings at third base and went 1 for 2. Hayes is 5 for 13 with three doubles and two homers in seven games this spring.
The Pirates are off Monday, and play the Baltimore Orioles at 1:05 p.m. on Tuesday in Sarasota. Chris Archer is scheduled to start against right-hander Alex Cobb. Steven Brault, Michael Feliz, Tyler Lyons and Keone Kela also are expected to pitch.
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Kevin Gorman is a TribLive reporter covering the Pirates. A Baldwin native and Penn State graduate, he joined the Trib in 1999 and has covered high school sports, Pitt football and basketball and was a sports columnist for 10 years. He can be reached at kgorman@triblive.com.
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