Bullpen sends mixed messages

CINCINNATI — On one hand, Pirates relievers struck out 11 batters and walked one unintentionally in 9⅔ innings in the opening series against the Cincinnati Reds. On the other, the bullpen surrendered the winning run in all three games.

“I like our bullpen,” manager Clint Hurdle said after the Pirates lost Thursday to the Reds, the second consecutive game they lost in walk-off fashion.

“Our bullpen's going to be one of our strengths. The one thing that you lose sight of when you talk about your bullpen not coming up, maybe and getting things done, is the opportunities your offense doesn't produce to put runs across, where sometimes you can maybe go at it different ways.”

The corps features new faces Arquimedes Caminero, Rob Scahill, Radhames Liz and Antonio Bastardo, allowed six runs, five earned, in those 9⅔ innings. Three came Monday on Todd Frazier’s home run against Tony Watson. An ill-timed walk and hit batter from Liz led to the goahead run Wednesday. Scahill allowed a double to Frazier Thursday that put the eventual go-ahead run in scoring position, though the run scored when Gregory Polanco dropped a line drive.

“The Pirates have had a good bullpen the last couple years,” Scahill said. “It was nice to be a part of it and see it from inside the bullpen and see how these guys prepare.”

Scahill and Caminero throw hard, and Bastardo is another left-hander who can throw a slider and changeup in addition to his fastball.

“They're aggressive. We've thrown strikes, we get after people, they all showed small sample size of what they can do in the spring,” Hurdle said. “You've got to like the velocities on the fastballs, you've got to like the spin pitches that they have.”

Kang debuts at short

Jung Ho Kang made his first appearance in the field, taking over shortstop as part of a double switch in the ninth. He made a routine play on a ground ball.

Hurdle said he will try to put Kang in the starting lineup at some point in the weekend series against the Brewers in Milwaukee.

Injury update

Chris Stewart (strained right hamstring) began his rehab assignment Thursday with Class AA Altoona.