O's Hit 3-Run HRs; Pirates Miss Opps In 10-9 Loss

Today’s Game: 

It was a bullpen day for the Bucs as Sean Poppen, Richard Rodríguez, Michael Feliz, Chris Stratton,  Luis Oviedo, Edgar Santana and Yerry De Los Santos were on the bump against Baltimore. Erik Gonzalez is at second with prospect Liover Peguero at short. Brian Goodwin is in center with Tony Alford in left and batting leadoff. Todd Frazier is back from back tightness and played first.

Poppen had some bad mojo in an outing that was forgettable – he gave up a two-out, two run bleeder in the second, and was relieved by Ric Rod, who gave up a three-run dinger. Rodriguez then worked a quiet third before Feliz gave up another three-run blast in the fourth, once again a two-out dagger, after the Bucs had fought back to knot it at 6-6. Stratton and Oviedo put up zeros in the fifth and sixth before Santana surrendered the 10th O run off two doubles in the seventh. Yerry De Los Santos walked two and whiffed two in a scoreless eighth.

The bats were hot enough. Phil Evans and Wilmer Difo both drove home runs in the first, even with E-Gon cut down at the plate. Peguerro doubled in another tally in the second. Tony Walters plated a pair of Buccos in the second and Liover sent his third runner home, but the Pirates lost another guy at home when Wolters was gunned down tagging on a fly to left. A pair of leadoff infield raps in the seventh resulted in another run, albeit by DP. The Pirates loaded the sacks with no outs, but another DP hurt though it did plate a run. Then an Evans infield single plated another Corsair to shave the deficit to 10-9, and that’s how it ended. 

Notes:

• Phil Evans had four hits, scored three, drove home a pair and played pretty decently in the outfield. Tony Alford, Todd Frazier, Brian Goodwin, Tony Wolters and Liover Peguerro each banged out a pair of raps. The Bucs bubble guys are tryin’ to make the final roster decisions tough, and that’s good.
• Tonight was the Pirates last scheduled spring night contest. Their Opening series features three afternoon games at Wrigley, so the next night game is April 5th at Cincy.
• After yesterday’s game, the Bucs assigned LHP Braeden Ogle and 3B/OF Hunter Owen to minor league camp.

Tomorrow’s Game:

Tyler Anderson gets the call against the Tigers on Friday at Bradenton.Trevor Cahill, Duane Underwood Jr., Kyle Crick and Sam Howard are scheduled to follow.  It’s a 1:05 start and will be on AT&T SportsNet