The Pittsburgh Pirates ended a two game Spring Training losing streak with a 3-1 victory against the New York Yankees Friday evening. The Pirates are now 2-2 on the season.
In the second inning, the Pirates put up two runs. Pedro Alvarez hit a one out opposite field single to extend his Spring Training hitting streak to three games. He scored on Tony Sanchez’s first home run of the spring which was hit to right-center field. The homer was hit off Yankees left-hander Chris Capuano [0-1].
The Pirates scored their final run in the fifth inning when Jaff Decker continued his Spring Training tear. Decker hit his first home run also to right-center field off Jose Ramirez and in the process also extended his hitting streak to three games. On the spring, Decker is hitting .571 and has four RBI as he tries to earn a bench spot. Decker appeared in seven games for the Pirates last season and did not register a hit in five at-bats.
The Yankees [2-2-1] got their run in the eighth inning of Angel Sanchez. Eddy Rodriguez hit a double to left field and was driven in two batters later by Francisco Arcia.
Jeff Locke [1-0] started this game for the Pirates allowing two base runners in two innings while also striking out two batters. Arquimedes Caminero, Charlie Leesman, Collin Balester, Adrian Sampson, Blake Wood and Wilfredo Boscan each pitched a scoreless inning. Caminero, who enters camp out of options, struck out three batters in his inning of work. Sanchez pitched two-thirds of an inning with Ryan Beckman pitching the final third of an inning. Boscan earned the save as he pitched the final inning.
The Pirates will host the Tampa Bay Rays Saturday in a game set to begin at 1:05 PM. A.J. Burnett will start his first game of the spring for the Pirates while Alex Cobb will do the same for the Rays. Nick Kingham, Tony Watson, Jared Hughes, Antonio Bastardo, Brad Lincoln and Rob Scahill are all scheduled to throw for the Pirates.
Photo courtesy: Rant Sports
