Grapefruit League Game 5: Pittsburgh Pirates 3, Atlanta Braves 3

The Pittsburgh Pirates played Grapefruit League game 5 of 33 on Tuesday afternoon

The Pittsburgh Pirates are now 0-3-2 in Grapefruit League play. On Tuesday, the team tied the Atlanta Braves by a score of 3-3. This was the team’s second tie in three days after tying the Detriot Tigers at 8 on Sunday.

Left-handed pitcher Steven Brault started for the Pirates on Tuesday afternoon, making his 2018 Grapefruit League debut. Brault pitched a pair of scoreless, hitless innings. The lone baserunner he allowed was a 2nd inning walk, and he also picked up a strikeout.

While Brault spent the bulk of 2017 in the rotation at Triple-A where he was named the International League Pitcher of the Year, and he made four starts at the Major League level, he seems destined to start the 2018 campaign in the Pirate bullpen. A bullpen role is what Brault is best suited for at the Major League level.

Rule 5 Draft selection Jordan Milbrath followed Brault. In his second outing of the Grapefruit League season, Milbrath allowed a walk and a hit, while recording a strikeout, in a scoreless inning of work.

In the top of the 4th inning the Pittsburgh Pirates drew first blood.

Bryce Brentz was hit by a pitch to start the inning, and then back-to-back doubles by Kevin Kramer and Eric Wood gave the Pirates a 2-0 lead. These were two of six doubles on the day for the Pirates.

Lefty Jack Leathersich, who is competing for a spot in the bullpen, would fail to hold this lead in the bottom of the 4th inning. Leathersich allowed a single to Kurt Suzuki and walked Nick Markakis before allowing a 2-run double to Charlie Culberson. This tied the game at 2.

The team would exchange runs again in the 7th inning.

Christopher Bostick and Jose Osuna hit back-to-back doubles in the top of the 7th inning giving the Pirates a 3-2 lead. However, Johan Camargo would then hit a leadoff home run in the bottom half of the inning off of Brett McKinney to tie the game and set the final.

Adam Frazier led off for the Pirates on Tuesday and went 0-for-3. Jordan Luplow also went 0-for-3, while Max Moroff and Austin Meadows went 0-for-2. Colin Moran was 1-for-2 with a double, and Jose Osuna was 2-for-2 with an RBI double.

Next: Pirates Mailbag: Feb. 26, 2018

On Wednesday, the Pirates travel to JetBlue Park in Ft. Myers to play the Boston Red Sox. Chad Kuhl will start for the Pirates and make his 2018 Grapefruit League debut in the process.