North Shore Nine

The Pirates continued the home run show in Bradenton, defeating the Twins 6-3. Ke’Bryan Hayes continued his successful spring training with a home run to open the scoring in the fourth inning. Andrew McCutchen also hit his first home run of the spring in the sixth. Other Pirates hitters to score runs include Jason Delay, Matt Frazier, and Jake Lamb.

On the bump, Martin Perez continued to have a successful spring training, as he threw 55 pitches over four innings, giving up no runs and striking out two while allowing two walks and a hit. Roansy Contreras ran into some trouble in his start, giving up four hits and three earned runs in 2.1 innings pitched. He surrendered a home run in the top of the fifth, had a 1-2-3 sixth inning, and recorded one out in the seventh before three consecutive hits ended his start. Contreras did throw his fastball an average of 95.1 mph. In relief, Brent Honeywell ended the inning by inducing a strikeout and a groundout. Chase Anderson picked up the win with two scoreless in the ninth.

On the road in North Port, the Pirates played the Braves to a 6-6 tie. Caanan Smith-Njigba hit his second home run of the spring and drove in another run with a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning. Billy McKinney had a successful day at the plate, hitting a two-run double to plate two in the fourth and another run-scoring single in the fifth. A fifth-inning RBI single from Gilberto Celestino.

Marco Gonzales struggled in his start against the Braves, allowing two earned runs over three and a third innings pitched. Gonzales surrendered six hits and two walks while striking out just one batter. Colin Selby also struggled, giving up two earned runs in his one inning pitched.

The Pirates regroup in Lakeland tomorrow with a 1:05 EST start against the Tigers.