SPRING REPORT
BRADENTON, Fla. — Rodolfo Castro had one hit all spring entering Friday’s matchup with the Toronto Blue Jays.
After the game, he still had only one hit all spring, but he could add a memorable trip around the bases to his spring training highlight reel nonetheless.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, with two outs, Castro lifted an 0-2 sinker out to left field. Blue Jays left fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. tracked back, caught the ball, then haphazardly flipped it out of his own glove as he jogged toward the warning track. Gurriel appeared to think it was a catch. Nobody else agreed.
Pirates third-base coach Joey Cora waved his arms furiously as Castro blazed around the bases. Gurriel was slow to pick it up, and by the time he did, Castro was already bounding toward home. He just barely beat the throw, sliding in for a ‘Little League’ home run.
It would eventually be the winning run for the Pirates, who were relatively quiet offensively game. The 7½-inning win moves the Pirates to 7-4-1.
On the mound
Chase De Jong started things with a solid three innings. Just two Blue Jays reached base against him, one on a leadoff walk in the second inning and the other on a leadoff double in the third. De Jong has yet to allow a run in five innings this spring.
Edgar Santana’s inning of work was especially encouraging after that, as he continues to work himself back into shape after missing all of 2020 due to a suspension for testing positive for PEDs. He struck out the first batter he faced swinging on a 94-mph fastball, then fanned Gurriel with a particularly nasty slider. Right-hander Sean Poppen allowed the only run after former Pirates minor league catcher Reese McGuire led off the seventh with a double.
At the plate
They did exactly enough to win, but neither of their runs was earned, and they only had three hits.
The first run came in the first. Center fielder Dustin Fowler reached base on a walk. He then stole second, and Blue Jays catcher Danny Jansen threw the ball past his second baseman, allowing Fowler to reach third as the ball trickled into the outfield. Then, he scored when the pitcher, Thomas Hatch, attempted a pick-off throw to third but threw it past third baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
The best piece of hitting came from shortstop Cole Tucker in the third. He went the other way on a fastball, lining it into right-center field for a double.
Up next
Game: Pirates vs. New York Yankees, 1:05 p.m. Saturday, George M. Steinbrenner Field, Tampa, Fla. Pitchers: RHP JT Brubaker for Pirates; RHP Corey Kluber for Yankees. Watch/listen: MLB Network (tape); KDKA-FM (93.7).
Lake Erie and tributaries (Erie County): Good steelheading was reported as snow melt on Elk, Walnut and Crooked creeks receded. Floating debris complicated fishing, but fresh silver bullets were sighted at creek mouths. Small areas of thin ice remained on the bay.
Conneaut Lake (Crawford County): Bluegills took bait under bobbers.
Lake Arthur (Butler County): Light fishing pressure was reported on recent sunny days.
Allegheny, Clarion rivers (Clarion County): Ice had cleared and waters were rising Thursday.
Piney Creek (Clarion County): The Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only stretch was stocked March 2.
North Park Lake (Allegheny County): Fair weather brought angling pressure to this impoundment enrolled in the Stocked Trout Waters Open for Year-Round Fishing program. Rainbows and golden rainbows were stocked Monday.
Allegheny, Monongahela, Ohio rivers (Allegheny County): High water continued to carry floating and submerged wood and debris.
Pine Creek (Allegheny County): Jeffrey Sindel of Butler released brown trout taken on nymphs in stable waters in the Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only section.
Bull, Deer creeks (Allegheny County): Many trout were caught and released following February stockings of the Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only sections.
Twin Lakes (Westmoreland County): The state is expected to deliver rainbow and golden rainbow trout Friday at both lakes managed for Stocked Trout Waters Open for Year-Round Fishing.
Loyalhanna Creek (Westmoreland County): Spin and fly anglers fished the receding flow of the Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only section, where trophy trout in the Keystone Select program were delivered in February.
Cross Creek Lake (Washington County): Anglers caught bluegills from boats and shore.
Dunlap Creek Lake (Fayette County): Rainbows and golden rainbows were to be stocked Saturday and will be available for catch-and-release only under Stocked Trout Waters Open for Year-Round Fishing regulations.
Meadow Run (Fayette County): Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only waters were to be stocked Thursday with brown, rainbow and golden rainbow trout.
File your report and high-resolution digital photos (1MB minimum) at fishingreport@post-gazette.com. Include name, age (for children), town, species, size, body of water and details of the catch.
— By John Hayes