Pittsburgh Pirates 6, Atlanta Braves 3

On Tuesday afternoon, the Pittsburgh Pirates improved to 9-3 in Grapefruit League

While the outcomes of Spring Training games are completely meaningless, it is still more fun when your favorite baseball team wins than loses. Right now, that is what the Pittsburgh Pirates are doing. After Tuesday 6-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves, the Pittsburgh Pirates are now 9-3 in Grapefruit League play.

Trevor Williams made the start for the Pirates. Unfortunately for Williams, he would find himself in trouble throughout the afternoon.

In the first inning he held the Braves scoreless, but this included hitting Brandon Phillips with a pitch with two outs. Then in the second inning he allowed a single and a walk to start the inning. However, Chris Stewart threw out Anthony Reckner who attempting to steal third base. Then, Stewart helped Williams completed a strike him out throw him out double play to end the inning.

In the third inning Williams would allowed three runs on a single, a walk, and a strikeout. Trevor Williams got lifted with just two outs in the third inning, as John Kuchno would come in to get the final out of the third inning. Two of the three runs Williams allowed were inherited runners that scored with Kuchno on the mound.

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Steven Brault, who is competing with Drew Hutchison and Tyler Glasnow for the fifth starter’s spot, took over in the fourth inning. Brault allowed three hits, he walked a batter, and he struck out three batters in three scoreless innings pitched.

In six innings pitched this spring Brault has allowed one run on a solo home runs, six hits, one walk, and four strikeouts. Through his first three spring outings, Brault has done all he can to make his case for making the team.

Jared Hughes, Antonio Bastardo, and Tyler Webb would each pitch a scoreless inning following Brault. Hughes pitched a 1-2-3 seventh inning, which included a strikeout. Bastardo struck out a pair of batters and allowed a single in the eighth. Then in the ninth, Webb struck out a batter and allowed a hit.

Hughes and Bastardo have both struggled this spring, so it was encouraging to see scoreless outings from them. As for Webb, it will be very difficult for the Rule 5 Draft choice to make the team. That said, he has had a strong spring (four innings pitched, three hits allowed, one walk, and two strikeouts) thus far this spring.

At the plate, the Pittsburgh Pirates got input from a variety of hitters. Adam Frazier started at third base and hit lead off, he finished the day 2-for-3 with a double. Chris Stewart, in his first start of the spring, caught four innings and was 0-for-1 with a walk at the plate.

Left fielder Chris Bostick was 1-for-2 with a walk and a RBI.

The two stars, however, were Austin Meadows and Jose Osuna. Meadows, the Pirates’ top prospect, was 1-for-3 with a two-run home run at the dish. Meadows, a left-handed hitter, hit his home run off of veteran left-handed starting pitcher Jamie Garcia.

As for Osuna, he continued to be one of the team’s hottest hitters this spring. He finished the day 1-for-2 with a solo home run. Osuna has now hit three home runs in Grapefruit League play.

Phil Gosselin started at shortstop and went 0-for-3, while John Jaso finished 0-for-2. Kevin Newman took over for Gosselin in the top of the sixth inning. Newman finished the day 1-for-2 at the plate.

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Next up for the Pittsburgh Pirates is a game against the Dominican Republic’s World Baseball Classic team. The Pirates and Team DR will play at 1:05 PM on Wednesday at LECOM Field in Bradenton, Florida.

Gerrit Cole is scheduled to start for the Pirates. Tyler Glasnow, Angel Sanchez, Dan Runzler, and Pat Light are all scheduled to pitch as well. They will be pitching against teammates Gregory Polanco and Starling Marte who are both members of the Dominican team.

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