Davis continues to rake, Ortiz discovers a slider

LAKELAND, Fla. — If there was one thought that governed the Pirates’ 8-5 loss to the Tigers on Saturday at Joker Marchant Stadium, it’s that narratives really can change.

Henry Davis, the catcher who wasn’t allowed to catch in 2023, has suddenly shown that he can in fact catch. In addition to homering for the fourth time this spring, Davis threw out a runner trying to steal, the latest bit of evidence that his defensive work has been way better than anticipated.

At this point, especially with Yasmani Grandal hobbled, it certainly seems like Davis will break with the big club. How else for the Pirates to proceed?

As far as Luis Ortiz, we keep waiting to see the triple-heat he was slinging as a rookie in 2022.

It hasn’t arrived and certainly wasn’t there on a hot day in Lakeland. The righthander, competing for a rotation spot, gave up two runs on three hits in the first, as his fastball command and velocity lacked.

Then something funny happened: Ortiz began to pitch. The slider was about all that he had, and that was enough. Ortiz threw it for strikes. He threw it to spots. He got swing and miss.

The result was Ortiz getting back on his feet and evolving as a pitcher to the point where he even leaned on his changeup, a pitch that has made strides, as well.

“I felt good with the slider,” Ortiz said, with assistant hitting coach Christian Marrero translating. “I was using it a little bit more today. Fastball was a little bit out of the zone, so I felt like the slider was the pitch to get back in the zone and attack with it.”

Ortiz has a 3.38 ERA in eight innings this spring after going with 3-1 with a 3.64 ERA and .227 batting average against in his final six starts of 2023.

Is it enough to nail down a rotation spot?

Tough to tell. But the growth experienced against the Tigers should serve Ortiz well — if and when the fastball command returns.

“I still feel very confident with my fastball,” Ortiz said. “That’s something I’m working on and will be using moving forward.”

The Davis homer was easily the highlight of the game for Pittsburgh (6-8-1).

It occurred in the third inning and was on a fastball at the bottom of the zone; Davis barely left the box by the time it sneaked inside the left-field foul pole and sizzled its way over the fence for a 42 lead.

“I’ve been happy with my at-bats,” Davis said. “When you’re catching, you’re seeing plenty of pitches all the time, more so than any other position. I definitely feel like it helps in that regard.”

On the mound

Colin Holderman followed Ortiz and allowed bloop singles before Keston Hiura made him pay. The former Brewer and longtime Pirate killer connected on an 0-2 cutter that caught too much plate, sending it out to right-center for a three-run bomb that put Detroit in front 6-4.

At the plate

Jake Lamb staked the Pirates to a 2-0 lead four batters in by dropping his barrel on a low-and-away curveball for a wind-aided, 337-foot homer.

It continued a solid spring for Lamb, who began the game hitting .389 in his first eight Grapefruit League contests.

“This guy has eight years in the big leagues and has had some really good years,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said.

After the Tigers tied the score by scoring twice off Ortiz in the bottom half, Canaan Smith-Njigba pushed the Pirates in front with his third homer in the past four games.

Also protecting the plate with two strikes, SmithNjigba delivered a similar swing, making contact on an up-and-away fastball and letting the wind work.

In the field

With Ortiz struggling, throwing seven consecutive balls to open the inning, Davis threw out Hiura trying to steal.

Up next

Quinn Priester will get the ball, as the Pirates host the Phillies at LECOM Park. The right-hander has a 2.25 ERA in four spring innings.