It was a rough St. Patrick’s Day on the hill for Pirates starter Mitch Keller. The Tampa Bay Rays jumped on Keller to start the game with the first three Rays batters reaching. Austin Meadows lead-off with a single then swiped second. A walked to Manuel Margot was followed by a double by Joey Wendle which scored Meadows. With one out Mike Brosseau lined a single to left scoring Margot. Then a sac-fly off the bat of Francisco Mejia plated the third run of the inning
Well after the top of the first start, the flood gate was opened. This is exactly what Rays fans want to see next month from their beloved defending American League Champs. A single run in the second and another crooked number in the third, four, and another single run in the fifth the Rays pounded out 13 hits through the five innings. Three of those pounds were all the bases from Austin Meadows in the third, Miles Mastrobuoni in the third as well and Ryan Boldt did it the inning earlier. Boldt and Mastrobuoni’s were of the solo variety while Meadows’ bomb had Boldt on after an RBI double. Ryan Boldt was an offensive juggernaut for Tampa Bay going 4 for 5 with 3 RBI. Joey Wendle was 3 for 3 as the Rays clubbed 18 hits for 32 total bases.
After failing to get an out in the third, Keller’s abridged spring outing was done. Hey that’s what these practice games are for, this is something Buccos fans want to see now not next month. Keller’s line is one that he will forgot and bury in the spring of 2021. 10 hits, 8 runs all earned, 3HR’s and a 21.60 ERA.
The Pirates would get offensive themselves scoring once in the first, twice in the third, twice more in the fifth and three times in the sixth. Pirate homers from Colin Moran and Bryan Reynolds highlighted the comeback bid that would come up a bit short. Moran led the Buccos going 2-3 and 2 RBI to go along with the homer.
The Pirates cut the lead to one, 9 to 8, after their 3-run home half of the sixth. The teams trading runs and the slug fest ended with a 10-9 win for the Rays.
Tyler Glasnow scattered six hits in four innings to pick up his first win of the season. Glasnow struck-out seven. Chris Mazza picked up his first save of spring training 2021.
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