Another February day, another loss in Grapefruit League play for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Starter Trevor Williams allowed four runs and six baserunners while retiring only three in an 11-4 loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Friday at LECOM Park.
The Pirates fell to 0-7 this spring, losing on consecutive days to a Baltimore team that lost a combined 223 games the past two regular seasons. The Orioles beat the Pirates, 13-0, Thursday in Sarasota and had 32 hits over 17 innings the past two days against Pirates pitchers.
John Ryan Murphy crushed his second homer of Spring Training.
— Pirates (@Pirates) February 28, 2020
Box Score: https://t.co/1Kx4ljp8MN pic.twitter.com/61whLc02sn
The only runs the Pirates scored came by way of a grand slam by catcher John Ryan Murphy, who was a late add to the lineup after Luke Maile was scratched because of left hamstring tightness.
The Pirates have hit two home runs this spring. Murphy has hit both.
‼️GRAND SLAM JOHN RYAN MURPHY‼️#LetsGoBucs pic.twitter.com/cIrrf8mv8l
— Pirates (@Pirates) February 28, 2020
Gregory Polanco played the five innings in right field and doubles, and Bryan Reynolds reached base on each of his three plate appearances (two walks and a single).
Williams joined two other prospective Pirates starting pitchers in allowing runs: Steven Brault was charged with two on four hits in 1 1/3 innings, and Chad Kuhl allowed two over 2/3 of an inning.
Blake Cederlind continued to have a strong start to spring, striking out two of the three batters he faced.
Veteran lefthander Derek Holland is the Pirates’ scheduled starter for Saturday night’s game against the Minnesota Twins in Fort Myers, Fla. Richard Rodriguez, Dovydas Neverauskas, Clay Holmes, Robbie Erlin, Miguel Del Pozo and Williams Jerez also are scheduled to pitch.
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