The Pittsburgh Pirates dropped a 6-1 decision to the Tampa Bay Rays at Charlotte Sports Park on Sunday in spring training play. Despite Konnor Griffin's 1-for-3 with a home run and an RBI effort at the plate, the Pirates could not overcome a sizable deficit. José Urquidy worked 3.2 innings on the mound, allowing 3 earned runs on 6 hits. The Rays out-hit the Pirates 11-4 on the day. Despite the result, the coaching staff gathered useful data on the current state of the roster. Spring training losses sting, but the information gained will inform decisions as Opening Day approaches.
Key Performers
Konnor Griffin was the key contributor at the plate, going 1-for-3 with a home run and an RBI. His ability to drive the ball out of the park was the highlight of the afternoon. Performances like this give the Pirates confidence that the lineup is rounding into form.
Jhostynxon Garcia chipped in, going 1-for-1, Bryan Reynolds added to the attack, going 1-for-3, and Dominic Fletcher provided support, going 1-for-1. While there were individual bright spots, the lineup could not string hits together consistently.
On the other side of the diamond, Cedric Mullins led the Rays offense with a 3-for-4 with a home run and four RBI day. Jake Fraley also contributed, going 3-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Jonathan Aranda added a 2-for-3 effort as well. The Rays offense proved to be too much for the Pirates pitching staff to contain on this particular day.
On the Mound
José Urquidy took the loss after putting together a workmanlike effort, working 3.2 innings while allowing 3 earned runs on 6 hits with four strikeouts. He threw 61 pitches in the outing. It was a useful learning experience as the Pirates evaluate their pitching depth heading into the regular season.
The bullpen combined for 3.4 innings of work, allowing 3 earned runs while striking out four. Spring training gives the coaching staff a chance to evaluate bullpen depth, and today provided useful information about the current state of the bullpen. Each reliever is auditioning for a roster spot, and innings like these factor into those decisions.
How It Happened
Rays got on the board first with three runs in the third inning. Rays added two runs in the fifth. Rays tacked on a run in the seventh. The Pirates countered with a run in the ninth. The Rays were able to score in three separate innings, keeping the pressure on throughout the contest. Rays out-hit the Pirates 11-4, with both teams playing clean defense. A crowd of 5,744 was on hand to take in the action.
Looking Ahead
It was not the outcome the Pirates were looking for, but spring training provides a forgiving environment to work through the rough patches. The focus remains on preparation and development, and the coaching staff will use today as a teaching opportunity. The regular season is right around the corner, and every game is a chance to improve.
