The Pittsburgh Pirates secured a 6-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on Sunday in spring training action. Konnor Griffin paced the offense, going 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI, giving the coaching staff plenty to be encouraged about as the exhibition schedule continues. On the mound, Hunter Barco turned in a solid outing, working 3.0 innings of scoreless ball with three strikeouts. The Pirates finished with 8 hits on the day while holding the Cardinals to 1. It was an encouraging performance for the Pirates as they continue sharpening the roster for the regular season. Games like these serve as a valuable measuring stick for where the team stands heading into the campaign.
Key Performers
Konnor Griffin was the top performer at the plate, going 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI. The long ball provided a major boost to the offensive attack. It was the kind of day at the plate that suggests good things ahead for the Pirates offense.
Jhostynxon Garcia provided support, going 2-for-2 with a home run and an RBI, Jared Triolo also contributed, going 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI, and Callan Moss chipped in, going 1-for-2 with a double and an RBI. It was a balanced attack that kept the pressure on from the first pitch to the last.
On the other side of the diamond, Yohel Pozo led the Cardinals offense with a 1-for-3 day. Despite those contributions, the Pirates pitching staff did enough to limit the damage and secure the victory.
On the Mound
Hunter Barco earned the win after grinding through his innings, working 3.0 innings while allowing 0 earned runs on 0 hits with three strikeouts. He threw 44 pitches in the outing. His outing provided the coaching staff with another data point as rotation and bullpen decisions loom.
The bullpen was sharp, combining for 5.3 scoreless innings while striking out nine. The relief corps did its job in protecting the lead after the starter departed. Managing the bullpen workload is a key priority during the spring, and every outing helps the coaching staff gauge who is ready for high-leverage situations.
Among the relievers, Antwone Kelly stood out with 3.0 innings of scoreless work, striking out two. The outing gave the coaching staff confidence in his ability to contribute this season.
How It Happened
The Pirates struck first, scoring two runs in the first inning. The Pirates pushed across two runs in the second. The Pirates plated a run in the fourth. Cardinals answered with a run in the fifth. The Pirates responded with a run in the seventh. The Pirates spread their scoring across four different innings, applying consistent pressure throughout the game. The Pirates out-hit Cardinals 8-1 on the day, with 1 error committed between the two clubs. A crowd of 4,754 was on hand to take in the action.
Looking Ahead
It was a productive day for the Pirates, who continue to put the pieces in place ahead of the regular season. The coaching staff will take the positives from this outing and use the remaining spring games to finalize the roster. Days like this one suggest the Pirates are heading in the right direction as Opening Day draws closer.
