Take 5: Kevin Gorman’s first exhibition game at PNC Park was strange, wonderful

07/19/2020 Sports


About an hour ago

Perhaps the best way to describe the first 2020 baseball game at PNC Park is to say that it was an exhibition game that looked like a regular-season Major League Baseball game, played as a spring training game, and passed itself off as for a full house Instead of an empty stadium.

Strange and wonderful all in one.

The Pirates’ rookie manager Derek Shelton was there for the wonderful against the Cleveland Indians on Saturday night, savoring his first chance to see the city skyline from the shelter as he faced off against another major league team in PNC Park.

That counts for something, even if the result doesn’t.

“I think throughout the day it was kind of a buildup with the thrill of being out on the field here in a real game, putting on the uniform,” Shelton said. “We have been in shorts and T-shirts, especially the staff, for the past three weeks. So being out there and just watching the game, the full referees, the night game, visiting the team was a lot of fun. …

“I think there was definitely a different jump in our step today. As we have discussed, our boys have been really good. The intensity and energy has been very good. It was a little different. It was a little palpable. “

The stadium was empty, apart from the staff and the media, so the noise he heard on television was largely fabricated. The Pirates played an endless loop of automated crowd noise mixed with interruptions of Vince Lascheid’s recorded organ music and player performances with backing songs. Some of them added atmosphere, others made you scratch your head, like playing the song “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” without fans.

“Not true, the authentic noise from the fans you hear,” said Pirates pitcher Joe Musgrove. “It runs through the speakers, so it’s kind of weird.”

A strange start to a strange season in an even year.

1. Grooving: Musgrove threw three scoreless innings, allowing one hit (Francisco Lindor’s single in the first), one walk (to designated hitter Franmil Reyes in the second) and five strikeouts (three in the first and two in the third).

The right-hander looked good, just a day after being announced as the starter for Opening Day Friday in St. Louis.

“Yes, very good,” Shelton said. “Very strong. The last start before the start of Opening Day is a gradual reduction start with all three innings, but really sharp. I thought the ball went well out of her hand. She executed her plan. Very happy with that. “

Musgrove mixed his plumb and slider to keep the Cleveland bats quiet. He was efficient, throwing 30 of his 40 strike releases. And he showed poise, struck out Carlos Santana after allowing Lindor’s hit in the first, and doubled Reyes at first after a line from Tyler Naquin.

“Yes, I mean, I went out and treated this as the first game of the year,” said Musgrove. “As for intensity, my only goal was to get out there and dominate. I no longer try to work on anything, I don’t try to add releases. I’m not necessarily trying to fine-tune anything. It’s just going out there and competing and having an idea of ​​that fanless atmosphere and having real competition in the box and not taking on your own boys. I was able to pitch a little differently than I was pitching to our boys the past two weeks. I felt very well “.

2. Highlights: Colin Moran started third, hit fifth and went 2 for 3, with a double in the second and a single in the fourth. … Erik González started at shortstop in place of Kevin Newman, who Shelton said was “a little upset” but could have played, if necessary, and went 2-for-3, scoring the game’s first run in the fifth and driving. in another in the sixth. … First baseman Josh Bell missed twice before crushing one of the left center wall in the sixth and scoring with a Gonzalez single. … With Gregory Polanco testing positive for covid-19, Guillermo Heredia started in right field and hit a two-run single. … Steven Brault and Chad Kuhl pitched, each pitching two scoreless innings. … Lindor made a fantastic stop behind second base and the glove turned to César Hernández to force Jarrod Dyson to choose a fielder at fifth.

3. Lowlights: In his first audition for the nearest role, Kyle Crick fought mightily. He entered the eighth against Cleveland substitutes and walked with the first two hitters he faced, forced a pop fly and then gave up a single to load the bases. Christian Arroyo cleared them with a double to tie the game. The Indians added another run when Yu Chang doubled down on Dovydas Neverauskas, so Crick allowed four runs (all won) on two hits and two walks without strikeouts.

In his first audition for a regular role, José Osuna started as a designated hitter but went 0 for 4.… Moran was first fired in the fourth inning. … Reliever Nick Burdi threw the ninth, allowing Daniel Johnson a double, hitting Beau Taylor with a pitch and giving up Greg Allen’s single.

2834957_web1_gtr-bucs07-07142020

Chaz Palla | Tribune-Review

Pirate catcher Luke Maile during base run practice Monday, July 13, 2020 at PNC Park.

4. See you later, Luke: The Pirates lost to receiver Luke Maile during the season when he was hit by a pitch to his right index finger Thursday in a game within the squad and had surgery on Friday.

Signed as a free agent this offseason, Maile was a defense specialist expected to endorse Jacob Stallings. It is the second year in a row that the Pirates have lost a free agent to a hand injury that way, since Lonnie Chisenhall was hit by a pitch in an exhibition game against Houston and never played last year.

That makes John Ryan Murphy the backup and gives Andrew Susac, who was added from Altoona, the opportunity to make the team the third receiver or be added to the taxi squad.

“It is really unfortunate for Luke,” Shelton said. “I think, as I had told you guys, he was in one of the best places he had ever been in his career swinging the bat, which was very evident in terms of how he looked during our intra-squad games.” Every time you lose capture depth, it’s kind of scary, but I’m so happy that we have Murph here so we can catch him. “

5. Cole’s Exposure: Pirates shortstop Cole Tucker replaced Adam Frazier and played at second base against Cleveland, allowing Oneil Cruz, called up from Altoona, to play shortstop in the last innings, and he could soon see some time in another position. .

With a shortage of outfielders, Tucker did field exercises with Tarrik Brock in anticipation of playing all three places. With Polanco out, the Pirates have only four outfielders at camp.

“I think there is a chance that we could see it bounce,” Shelton said. “He is extremely athletic, which makes him versatile. And if there is a possibility that we can put it on the field in different places, I think we will probably try to do it. He is a very good athlete and has carried it. He’s excited to be out there. … I think he has the ability to play all three without much trouble. “

Kevin Gorman is a writer for the Tribune-Review. You can contact Kevin by email at [email protected] or by Twitter.

Categories:
Pirates / MLB | sports

Designed by Tricksfast Solutions
© Copyright 2024, All Rights Reserved