SPRING REPORT
PIRATES 3 YANKEES 2
BRADENTON, Fla. — The game Saturday was supposed to be about one oft-injured Pirates pitcher facing his former teammates. Instead, it featured a player still with the club who also has battled a dizzying array of ailments.
With Jameson Taillon pitching against the Pirates for the first time since they traded him to the Yankees this offseason, Gregory Polanco supplied all the offense the Pirates would need in a 3-2 victory at LECOM Park, running their spring record to 3-3-1.
Polanco went 3 for 3 with a two-run single in the third inning and a solo home run in the fifth, the right fielder’s second long ball of the spring. He also stole a base and scored a run while improving his average to .455 (5 for 11) through seven Grapefruit League games.
“I’m not thinking about injuries, nothing like that,” Polanco said. “Just worry about playing baseball. I’m healthy. I’m enjoying every moment, not taking anything for granted and having fun. Trying to stay healthy and do my best every time.”
On the mound
The story was Taillon pitching against his former team, and the right-hander enjoyed a strong two-inning start. He allowed two hits and struck out four, throwing 24 of 39 pitches for strikes.
The start was supposed to have gone to Gerrit Cole, but with rain in the forecast, the Yankees had Cole stay home and throw live batting practice instead. The Pirates did the same with Mitch Keller, who threw a two-inning simulated game (39 pitches) Saturday morning.
While Cody Ponce — starting in place of Keller — struggled with his control and gave up a home run to Yankees right fielder Jay Bruce, Carson Fulmer and Geoff Hartlieb followed him with three strong innings.
Fulmer struck out three. Hartlieb was aggressive and accurate with his sinker, retiring the side on just 11 pitches.
At the plate
Polanco talked earlier this spring about making more consistent contact and keeping his bat in the zone for a longer period of time. Check and check.
The first two balls he hit went 104.6 and 104.4 mph — rockets. The home run came on 1-0 changeup that he drove to center. It was the perfect picture of what he’s trying to do here.
“Any time early in camp when you’re starting to find your groove and you’re able to barrel some balls up like he did [Saturday], it’s definitely a good sign,” manager Derek Shelton said.
Seeing his first game action with the Pirates, Dustin Fowler singled in the fourth, crushing a four-seam fastball 106.5 mph to right field. Meanwhile, Bryan Reynolds had a couple of long atbats and picked up his first two hits of the spring, both singles.
In the field
With the Pirates searching for a backup catcher, Michael Perez delivered a strong throw to nail Yankees runner Thairo Estrada at second to end the second. Perez added a double in the fifth.
“It was good to see him drive that ball,” Shelton said. “And he’s done a nice job catching — blocking the ball, good target. He has really good energy behind the plate. He has very good awareness of what a pitcher is trying to do. The initial opinion of him is very good.”
Up next
Game: Pirates vs. Orioles, 1:05 p.m. Sunday, LECOM Park, Bradenton, Fla. Pitchers: JT Brubaker for Pirates; TBA for Orioles. Also for Pirates: RHP Chase De Jong, LHP Sam Howard, RHP Kyle Crick, RHP David Bednar, LHP Chasen Shreve. Watch/listen: AT&T SportsNet; KDKA-FM (93.7).
-- By Jason Mackey