The Pirates’ Jared Jones doesn’t know what to call it yet, but he wants the two-seam sinking fastball he unveiled yesterday in his first start of the spring to be “something nasty.” That’s what it was, according to manager Derek Shelton.
Jones threw the pitch five times in his 27-pitch outing. He gave up a hit and a walk and struck out three of the seven batters he faced in a 2-1 loss to the Braves. The scary part: The Braves scored a run off David Bednar in the 4th inning and the game-winner in the 5th on a single by former Pirate Bryan De La Cruz off Colin Holderman. Ke’Bryan Hayes had two hits for the Pirates.
The Pirates are trying a variety of players at first base in the absence of the injured Spencer Horwitz. They’ve added Adam Frazier and Nick Yorke to the mix. Shelton says they want to get a look at a lot of guys before they decide what direction to take.
The Bucs split the squad today for two games. In Bradenton, Bailey Falter starts against the Blue Jays. In North Port, Mike Burrows starts for the Bucs against the Braves.
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