Afternoon notes, 3/17

Sunday, 17 March 2013 17:02

Written by Michael Sanserino

BRADENTON, Fla. -- This game was 3-0 before the Pirates had recorded an out. And the Yankees just kept scoring, beating the Pirates 11-9 today at McKechnie Field. A late rally by the Pirates was too little, too late.

Phil Irwin was not sharp. Mike Zagurski was not sharp. Jared Hughes was not sharp. Jeff Locke was the best pitcher of the afternoon, and the Yankees scored two runs while he was on the mound.

Here is your Good, Not-So-Good list…

The Good

Pedro Alverez – He put together his best offensive game of the spring. He drove a double off the wall in right-centerfield and hit another double down the right-field line. He finished 2 for 2 with two doubles, an RBI, a run and a walk.

Clint Barmes – Hit a solo home run, going 1 for 3. That said, the homer had a little help from the wind, and McKechnie Field isn’t quit as spacious as PNC Park.

Jeff Locke – It wasn’t flawless, but Locke struck out four batters in four innings, allowing two unearned runs. He didn’t give up a hit, walking one batter.

The Not-So-Good

Phil Irwin – He struggled to get ahead of hitters, which meant he couldn’t use his breaking ball as a weapon as often as he’d normally like. And when he was in position to use it as a weapon, he missed his spots.

Mike Zagurski – He inherited a pair of runners, walked one and then gave up a wind-aided grand slam to Melky Mesa.

Andrew McCutchen – He went 0 for 3 with a strikeout.

Starling Marte – He went 1 for 3 with two strikeouts.

Jared Hughes – Gave up his first earned run of the spring.

Travis Snider – He went 1 for 2 with an RBI. But his baserunning snafu was enough to earn a spot on this list. For those who missed it…. Snider was on first with Josh Harrison at the plate. Harrison hits a fly ball to centerfield that should have been caught. Well, it hit off Mesa’s glove and onto the field. Snider only saw the ball hit Mesa’s glove and assume it was caught, so he hustled back to first base. When he got there, he found Harrison on the bag, so he rushed to second. He was tagged out in the process, for the routine 8-6-3 force play.

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Tony Watson threw 23 pitches in a High-A game today at Pirate City. He said his shoulder felt fine, but he wishes he would have pitched better. He walked one batter, recorded an out and gave up three consecutive hits before the inning rolled over.

The most important thing is Watson felt fine afterward and believes his mechanics are in good order. He thinks he was a bit excited on the mound today and rushed his delivery.

He hoped to pitch again Wednesday – would like to do it Tuesday, but the Pirates have an off day. He could pitch Tuesday in another minor league game, but he said he would like to pitch against major league hitters.