Pirates Win Again, More Solid Pitching, Yawn

Mar 5, 2014; Dunedin, FL, USA; Pittsburg Pirates pitcher Jay Jackson (68) warms up during the spring training exhibition game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Florida Auto Exchange Park. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports

The Pittsburgh Pirates received more solid pitching today in their sixth victory of the Grapefruit League season.  Jay Jackson got the win after getting the start for southpaw Jeff Locke.  Travis Snider did the damage with his bat rather than his knife going 3-for-3 with a homer and driving in three runs.

We must admit, piling up win after win in the Grapefruit League season is enjoyable as hell.

Mar 5, 2014; Dunedin, FL, USA; Pittsburg Pirates outfielder Travis Synder (23) celebrates his home run with third basemen Brent Morel (79) during the spring training exhibition game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Florida Auto Exchange Park. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports

Jackson pitched two innings and gave up one hit while facing several Blue Jays regulars including Jose Bautista.  The Furman alum was able to get four flyball outs and two groundball outs.  The one hit was a line single off the bat of Dioner Navarro.

Mar 5, 2014; Dunedin, FL, USA; Pittsburg Pirates pitcher Duke Welker (53) throws a pitch during the spring training exhibition game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Florida Auto Exchange Park. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports

Crazy stat that shows the Pirates starters owning the Grapefruit League:  Pirates starting pitchers have not been charged with an earned run in the last ten innings–five games

Duke Welker was the only Pirates pitcher roughed up today.  It seemed more about location than anything because he started the inning by getting Anthony Gose looking.  A walk was followed by a groundout and it looked like Welker would get out of the inning, but a single and another walk loaded up the bases for Edwin Encarnacion who hit a two-run double.

From the fifth inning to the ninth, the Blue Jays had zero hits.

Mar 5, 2014; Dunedin, FL, USA; Pittsburg Pirates pitcher Joely Rodriquez (64) throws a pitch during the spring training exhibition game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Florida Auto Exchange Park. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports

Joely Rodriguez continued to pitch well and was hitless in two innings of work.  Rodriguez pitched against Blue Jays minor leaguers for the most part and recorded three groundball outs to go with three flyballs, two of them caught by Pirates minor leaguer Taylor Lewis.

The Pirates are winning game after game and they are doing so with their young talent in the lineup late in the game.  Good stuff Buccos.