The Houston Astros handed the Pittsburgh Pirates a 10-2 loss at LECOM Park on Tuesday in spring training play. Despite Bryan Reynolds's 1-for-3 with an RBI effort at the plate, the Pirates could not overcome a sizable deficit. Mitch Keller worked 4.0 innings on the mound, allowing 6 earned runs on 4 hits. The Astros out-hit the Pirates 8-6 on the day. The loss is a minor bump as the Pirates continue fine-tuning ahead of Opening Day. The exhibition season is about preparation, and today provided the kind of reps the coaching staff needs to see.
Key Performers
Bryan Reynolds was the standout at the plate, going 1-for-3 with an RBI. His consistent contact set the tone for the lineup. The Pirates will be hoping for more of the same as the spring continues.
Oneil Cruz added to the attack, going 1-for-3, Ryan O'Hearn provided support, going 1-for-2, and Marcell Ozuna also contributed, going 1-for-3. The Pirates showed flashes of offense but could not piece together the big inning they needed.
On the other side of the diamond, Brice Matthews led the Astros offense with a 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI day. Zach Cole also contributed, going 1-for-3 with a home run and an RBI. Shay Whitcomb added a 2-for-3 with two RBI effort as well. The Astros offense proved to be too much for the Pirates pitching staff to contain on this particular day.
On the Mound
Mitch Keller took the loss after running into trouble, working 4.0 innings while allowing 6 earned runs on 4 hits with six strikeouts. He threw 85 pitches in the outing. The coaching staff will review his performance as they continue mapping out the pitching plan for the regular season.
The bullpen combined for 3.6 innings of work, allowing 4 earned runs while striking out ten. The Pirates continue to sort through their relief options as they build their Opening Day bullpen. Every inning pitched in the spring is an opportunity for pitchers to make their case for a spot on the roster when the games start counting.
Among the relievers, Noah Murdock stood out with 0.2 innings of 2-run work, striking out two. It was an impressive showing that could factor into roster decisions.
How It Happened
Astros got on the board first with a run in the first inning. Astros tacked on three runs in the third. The Pirates countered with a run in the third. Astros struck back with four runs in the fifth. Astros added two runs in the eighth. The Pirates responded with a run in the ninth. The Astros were able to score in four separate innings, keeping the pressure on throughout the contest. Astros out-hit the Pirates 8-6, with both teams playing clean defense. A crowd of 5,960 was on hand to take in the action.
Looking Ahead
Despite the result, the Pirates will take the lessons learned from this game and move forward. Spring training is about preparation and evaluation, not wins and losses, and the coaching staff gained valuable information about the roster today. There is still time to make adjustments before the regular season begins, and games like this one are part of that process.
