The Pittsburgh Pirates rolled to a 5-3 victory over the Detroit Tigers at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium on Saturday in spring training action. Esmerlyn Valdez paced the offense, going 1-for-2 with an RBI, giving the coaching staff plenty to be encouraged about as the exhibition schedule continues. Hunter Barco worked 3.0 innings on the mound, allowing 3 earned runs on 3 hits. The Pirates finished with 9 hits on the day while holding the Tigers to 6. The Pirates will take confidence from a well-rounded effort on both sides of the ball. Spring training is about building toward the regular season, and this was a step in the right direction.
Key Performers
Esmerlyn Valdez was the offensive highlight at the plate, going 1-for-2 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.
Yordany De Los Santos also contributed, going 1-for-1 with an RBI, Termarr Johnson chipped in, going 1-for-2 with an RBI, and Derek Berg added to the attack, going 1-for-2. Multiple contributors at the plate made life difficult for the opposing pitching staff.
On the other side of the diamond, Austin Slater led the Tigers offense with a 1-for-2 with a double and two RBI day. Kerry Carpenter also contributed, going 1-for-3 with a triple. Eduardo Valencia added a 1-for-1 effort as well. Despite those contributions, the Pirates pitching staff did enough to limit the damage and secure the victory.
On the Mound
Hunter Barco got the start, battling through his outing, working 3.0 innings while allowing 3 earned runs on 3 hits with three strikeouts. He threw 57 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 was outstanding, combining for 6.0 scoreless innings while striking out five. 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. Thomas Harrington recorded the save to close out the game.
Among the relievers, Michael Walsh stood out with 1.0 innings of scoreless work, striking out two. It was an impressive showing that could factor into roster decisions.
How It Happened
The Pirates struck first, pushing across three runs in the second inning. Tigers struck back with three runs in the third. The Pirates answered with a run in the sixth. The Pirates tacked on a run in the eighth. The Pirates spread their scoring across three different innings, applying consistent pressure throughout the game. The Pirates out-hit Tigers 9-6 on the day, with 1 error committed between the two clubs. A crowd of 6,937 was on hand to take in the action.
Looking Ahead
The Pirates will look to build on this positive performance as spring training winds down. With the regular season rapidly approaching, outings like this one provide confidence and continuity for a roster that is rounding into form. Every remaining exhibition game is another chance to sharpen the details before the games start counting for real.
