A double dose of feeble bats in split-squad
9 hits, 3 runs the sum total for 18 innings
BRADENTON, Fla. — Judging spring training games strictly on outcomes can be a pointless task, but perhaps Thursday’s at LECOM Park warranted a double take for some.
On a split-squad day, a group of Pirates composed of mostlyprojected starters were nearly no-hit by the Yankees in a 9-1 loss while the other squad tied Toronto 2-2 in Dunedin, Fla. It took an infield single by Matt Frazier in the bottom half of the ninth to wipe away a donut under the Pirates hit column. Drew Maggi took care of the bagel beneath the run tracker with a solo shot two batters after Frazier.
The Pirates had their fair share of hard-hit balls, however, aside from Maggi’s nodoubter. Oneil Cruz continues to see the ball well, as he smoked a ball to left-center to lead off the bottom half of the first, which was ultimately caught. The Pirates scuffled otherwise.
A trio of Pirates reached base by means other than a hit. Jason Delay was hit by a pitch and both Bryan Reynolds and Carter Bins walked. Other than that, it was slim pickings.
Out in the field, there were a number of bright spots, but none better than an assist by center fielder Travis Swaggerty. With runners on first and third and one way in the top of the fourth, New York’s Oswaldo Cabrera lofted a fly ball 266 feet to straight-away center. Swaggerty camped under it and delivered a perfect strike to Delay for the nontraditional 8-2 double play.
A former first-round pick, Swaggerty missed a good chunk of the 2021 campaign with season-ending shoulder surgery and only played in five major-league games last season. Now healthy, he’s produced eye-popping plays in back-to-back days. In a 8-7 loss to the Tigers on Wednesday, Swaggerty hit a 433-foot threerun homer.
Unlike last spring training when he was returning from injury and seeking out reps while getting back up to speed, Swaggerty is a full go in his bid to earn a spot on the opening day roster.
“This year, the leash is off.
I’m healthy, I’m good to go,” Swaggerty said. “It’s just getting myself ready and if I do that, take care of my business, things will work out.”
The group that traveled north to face the Blue Jays fared better both on the mound and in the batter’s box. The Pirates’ five relievers who followed Roansy Contreras and Colin Selby produced six shutout innings. The aforementioned duo had positive moments, too, including Contreras racking up three strikeouts in his two innings. Pittsburgh’s offense didn’t do much better on the road, however. One of the runs came on a bases-loaded walk drawn by Chris Owings. In 18 innings Thursday, the Pirates mustered nine hits and three runs.
At the plate
In Dunedin, Connor Joe went 2 for 3 with a double that was his first of the spring. An offseason pickup via a trade with the Rockies, the career .258 hitter against left-handed pitching has a chance to craft a regular role in the Pirates lineup.
On the mound
Mitch Keller showed shades of his former self, but not the version who excelled down the stretch last season. Although he threw as hard as ever, up to 98 mph, he also gave up two home runs. A couple of bloops, along with an impressive homer by Anthony Volpe on a high and outside slider, were enough to spoil an outing Keller was otherwise pleased with.
“I’ve never seen a hitter do that to my slider,” Keller said. “I just need to get it down and away more, I guess. Other than that, I thought I was really good.”
Keller, who had a 3.09 earned run average in the second half of the 2022, did make one mistake he’d like to have back in the form of a two-run shot by Rafael Ortega. A Keller sinker sneaked over the heart of the plate and Ortega ripped it out to right center.
Quotable
“I feel like right now, I’m playing with a chip on my shoulder, trying to make this club and I’m doing everything I can to do that,” Swaggerty said.
Up next
The Pirates will travel south Friday for an evening game with Baltimore in Sarasota. Vince Velasquez will make his Pirates debut on the mound.