SPRING REPORT

PIRATES 4 BLUE JAYS 1

On the mound

Nick Kingham allowed a run and three hits in three innings in a 4-1 victory against the Toronto Blue Jays, the Pirates’ first of the spring. He walked two and struck out two.

“Things are coming out a little bit better, a little more crisp,” he said. “I got a feel for the breaking ball in the latter half of the game.”

Kingham engaged in a protracted battle with Curtis Granderson in the third inning, with Granderson fouling off several pitches. After flying out, Granderson shook Kingham’s hand as they made their way back to their respective dugouts.

“He goes, ‘I’m sorry man. I’m sorry, my bad,’ ” Kingham said. “‘Way to keep fighting, keep going.’ He didn’t have to say that, so that was really cool.”

At the plate

Sean Rodriguez hit his second home run of the spring. Austin Meadows hit a two-run shot over the boardwalk in right field. Corey Dickerson, who, like Siegrist, has also not played, will hit live BP once more Friday and could get into a game this weekend, Hurdle said.

In the field

David Freese looked comfortable at first base. In the third inning, he lunged to his left to catch a Roemon Fields line drive, pivoted and tapped the bag in time to double off Gift Ngoepe. He and Kingham also executed a pickoff of Kevin Pillar.

Up next

Game: Pirates at Orioles, 1:05 p.m. Where: Ed Smith Stadium, Sarasota, Fla. Internet: Pirates.com.