Pittsburgh Pirates Tie New York Yankees in Grapefruit League Action

On Monday night the Pittsburgh Pirates played the New York Yankees to a 3-3 tie in their first night game of the Grapefruit League season

Monday night the Pittsburgh Pirates played their first night game of the Grapefruit League schedule. The Bucs traveled to Tampa Bay to battle the New York Yankees. Following a 3-3 tie on Monday night, the Pirates are now 0-3-1 in Grapefruit League play.

Originally, likely Opening Day starter Chris Archer was scheduled to make his 2020 Grapefruit League debut. However, due to a neck issue he was scratched from his start. The Pirates said this was simply precautionary and that he is currently day-to-day.

In place of Archer, Chris Stratton started for the Bucs. Stratton issued a one-out walk, but struck out Yankee All-Star Giancarlo Stanton to end a scoreless 1st inning. This was a strong spring debut for Stratton who is competing for a spot in the Pirate bullpen, although, out of minor league options, barring disaster this spring Stratton will likely make the Opening Day roster.

Former Pirate, and now owner of the richest pitcher contract in MLB history, Gerrit Cole made his Yankee debut on Monday night. In his lone inning of work, Cole posted a zero while recording a pair of strikeouts on 20 pitches. Pirate shortstop Cole Tucker was able to draw a walk, however, when he put together a great at bat after being behind in the count 0-2.

Geoff Hartlieb followed Stratton by striking out a pair and issuing a walk in a scoreless 2nd inning. Returning from Tommy John Surgery, Edgar Santana pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the 3rd inning. Hartlieb will likely begin the season in the bullpen at Triple-A, while Santana is battling for a spot in the Pirate bullpen.

With two outs in the top of the 4th inning Jacob Stallings smoked a double to left field. This was the first Pirate hit of the game. In the bottom half of the inning non-roster invitee Yacksel Rios allowed a single and issued a walk, but with the help of a 4-6-3 double play pitched a scoreless inning.

Luis Escobar took over on the mound for the Bucs in the 5th. With the help of a pretty 6-4-3 double play that saw Tucker go deep in the hole at short and fire a strong throw to second base, Escobar posted a zero in the 5th inning. This was one of multiple strong defensive plays by Tucker on Monday night as he continues to make his pitch to be part of the team’s Opening Day roster.

Both Rios and Escobar are non-roster invitees who saw MLB action with the Pirates last season. At one time Escobar was one of the team’s top starting pitching prospects, but his career has not gone as planned. As for Rios, he has a power arm and a higher ceiling than Escobar. Both players will likely begin the season in the bullpen for Triple-A Indianapolis as depth options for the Pirates.

With the Pirates leading 2-0 in the 7th inning, hard throwing relief prospect Nick Mears found himself in trouble. After three weakly hit singles, the Yankees had the bases loaded with just one out. Mears recorded a strikeout, but then a wild pitch and a single led to a trio of two-out runs for the Yankees.

A one-out walk by non-roster invitee catcher Andrew Susac started a 9th inning rally for the Pirates. Back-to-back two-out singles by Jason Martin and Ke’Bryan Hayes led to Susac scoring the tying run, which led to the game ending in a 3-3 tie.

It was another strong game for Hayes who was 2-for-2 off the bench. So far this spring the Pirates’ top prospect is 4-for-5 with a walk and a double. While he will not make the team’s Opening Day roster, he looks poised to make that difficult on Pirate brass.

Next up for the Pirates is a 1:05 match up against the Philadelphia Phillies back at LECOM Park in Bradenton on Tuesday afternoon. Joe Musgrove is scheduled to make his 2020 spring debut for the Bucs in the game.