Drew Hutchison Hammered, Again, As Bucs Fall To Red Sox

The Pittsburgh Pirates are now 19-10-1 in Grapefruit League play after a 9-2 loss to the Red Sox

On Tuesday night, the Pittsburgh Pirates hosted the Boston Red Sox at LECOM Park in Bradenton. Drew Hutchison, who is competing for the final spot in the Pirate rotation, made the start for the Bucs and was hammered. This led to the Bucs losing to the Red Sox.

The battle for the final spot in the Pirate rotation is a three-man race. This race is between Drew Hutchison, Trevor Williams, and Tyler Glasnow. While Hutchison appeared to have a leg up entering the spring, his past three outings may have changed this.

Drew Hutchison threw 92 pitches in just 3 2/3 innings pitched on Tuesday. In his 3 2/3 innings of work Hutchison allowed nine runs on 10 hits, two walks, two home runs allowed, and he struck out three batters.

Hutchison also uncorked a pair of wild pitches on Tuesday night. This is just one of the many examples of how badly Hutchison has struggled with his command in recent starts.

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This start came on the heels of Hutchison allowing 12 runs on 17 hits, four walks, and a home run in his previous two outings. In these two outings, he pitched just eight innings.

While Rum Bunter has been a big proponent of Hutchison throughout the offseason and the early part of Spring Training, he absolutely can not open the season in the Pirate rotation. The final spot in the Pirate rotation should be Tyler Glasnow. If not Glasnow, then it should be Trevor Williams.

Entering Spring Training the final spot in the Pirate rotation was Drew Hutchison’s to lose, and he has done just that. He can not open the season in the Pirate rotation.

Setup man Daniel Hudson pitched the top of the fifth inning for the Pirates. Hudson pitched a 1-2-3 fifth inning for the Pirates. He capped it off with a strikeout.

In the sixth inning, Clint Hurdle handed the ball to Antonio Bastardo. Bastardo allowed a leadoff single to Brock Holt, however, he was able to pitch a scoreless sixth inning. This included striking out the final two batters he faced.

Juan Nicasio pitched the seventh inning for the Pirates. Nicasio allowed a single but struck out the side in a scoreless inning of work.

Yet again, Adam Frazier bat leadoff for the Pirates. This time it came while starting in left field and also playing shortstop. He went 0-for-3 with a walk. Josh Harrison started at third base and went 0-for-3, Starling Marte and Andrew McCutchen both went 0-for-3 as well.

Francisco Cervelli returned to the starting lineup for the Pirates on Tuesday. He caught seven innings, and went 0-for-3 at the plate.

John Jaso started at first base, and also got work at third base, and went 1-for-3 with a walk and a double. Designated hitter Josh Bell was 1-for-3 with a walk and a RBI. Philip Gosselin went 1-for-3 with a walk, and Alen Hanson was 0-for-4.

Jose Osuna continued his hot spring going 2-for-2 with a RBI.

Next: Pirates Make Four Roster Moves

Tomorrow, the Pirates will play their final Grapefruit League game. At 1:05 PM they will the Phillies at LECOM Park in Bradenton. After a day off on Thursday, the Pirates will travel to Montreal to play the Toronto Blue Jays in their final two exhibition games.