The Pirates lost a 12-9 slugfest to the Astros in an exhibition game in Houston. Pittsburgh went with an all-reliever pitching rotation for the game. Francisco Cervelli hit a two-run homer as the Pirates scored three in the first inning, but Keone Kela and Geoff Hartlieb surrendered seven runs in the third, and Alex McCrae gave up five in the 6th and 7th innings. Adam Frazier went 2-for-4, drove in two runs and scored a pair of runs in defeat. The Pirates will wrap up their exhibition season this afternoon against the Astros in Houston, with Brandon Maurer starting for the Bucs.
They will start the regular season on Thursday in Cincinnati.
