SPRING REPORT
BRADENTON, Fla. — JT Riddle has made just 14 starts in the leadoff spot in his three-year career. You wouldn’t know it by how he performed in an 8-4 Pirates loss Sunday to the Detroit Tigers in a split-squad game at LECOM Park.
The Pirates signed Riddle for $850,000 Jan. 31 for extra infield depth, and he made a solid early statement by drawing an 11-pitch walk to start, making a heads-up play on the bases, collecting two hits (including a triple) and scoring a run.
“I want to go out and give everything I’ve got and play as hard as I can for however long I’m out there,” said Riddle, a shortstop who started at second base. “It’s the way I grew up, the way I’ve always played. Go out and play hard.”
On the mound
Derek Holland started and went 12⁄3 innings, striking out five and allowing two earned runs, the first on a leadoff home run by Detroit center fielder JaCoby Jones.
Holland tinkered with his pitches and kicked himself for not executing his last one — which got hit for a runscoring double — but all in all came away pleased with the performance.
“I know I’m competing for a job, but I want to make sure I have everything where it needs to be,” he said. “If I make this team, I want to be prepared going into the season.”
The game could’ve been framed as an early battle between Holland and Steven Brault for the fifth starter spot, although Brault threw just eight pitches, the result of his slower-than-usual buildup this spring. Those eight pitches were executed well, however, giving Brault and the Pirates a 1-2-3 inning.
At the plate
Some interesting stuff from 6-foot-7 shortstop prospect Oneil Cruz, who laced a double the opposite way to score a run in the second, then flailed at a pitch and struck out looking an inning later. In the second, Cruz was a smart read to score on a squibber to the left side from Riddle.
The other group
Trevor Williams gave up four earned runs over two innings in a 4-3 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies at Spectrum Field in Clearwater, Fla. First baseman Jose Osuna finished with two hits, including a run-scoring single in the third inning. Kevin Newman went 1-for-3 with a run scored.
Taking the mound for the first time since April 22, 2019, Nick Burdi pitched 2⁄3 of an inning, giving up a hit and a walk with one strikeout.