Pittsburgh Pirates fall in spring training opener to Minnesota 5-3

Pirates lineup has solid afternoon but struggle with RISP

The Pirates were able to get plenty on base on Saturday afternoon with 10 hits and four walks, however, the Pirates in the process left 12 on base in the loss while going 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position.

Second-year catcher Henry Davis got off to a solid start this spring with a 2-for-3 day at the plate including a 103.8 mph line drive single in the third inning that helped set up an Edward Olivares two RBI triple just two batters later.

Two other Pirates had two hits on Saturday including veteran first baseman Jake Lamb, who signed with the Pirates as a minor league free agent this past offseason, and designated hitter Gilberto Celestino.

In the seventh inning, 25-year old outfielder Matt Fraizer who spent the last two seasons with Double-A Altoona had a line drive single that knocked in Carter Bins to cut the Pirates deficit to 5-3.

Other notables at the plate on Saturday for the Pirates included Termarr Johnson seeing time at the plate. The 19-year-old prospect was 0-for-2 in his pair of at-bats. Johnson, who was named the top second base prospect in all of baseball by Baseball America, will be worth monitoring in camp.