North Shore Nine

Opening Day starter, Mitch Keller will have one more tune up start before taking the mound at LoanDepot Park on March 28th, but he looks ready to roll after shutting down the Tigers offense for four innings Saturday afternoon.

The Pirates jumped ahead with two runs in the 1st inning when Henry Davis pulled a hard double down the left field line to score Andrew McCutchen and Ke’Bryan Hayes. Both Hayes and McCutchen picked up two hits.

Meanwhile, on the mound, Keller, who hadn’t pitched since March 6th, struck out three over four scoreless. His only trouble came in the 3rd, when he allowed runners to reach 2nd and 3rd, but he was able to get Kerry Carpenter to ground out to get out of the inning unscathed.

Things did not go as well for Bailey Falter, who could very well be on the outside looking in for a spot on this staff. After being unable to complete his first inning, he came back out (I know, it’s spring, just go with it) for the 6th inning, where the beatings continued. He ended up giving up five runs (two homers) on seven hits, in 2 2/3 innings to raise his spring ERA to 8.03.

This was the first of a split-squad double header. The other half of the Pirates are down in North Port to face the Braves.